"THE FAMILY" "How much longer must we wait?" "This the day of my baptism, celebrated in our house in the new" "Prati district, bought on hire-purchase by my grandfather:" "In 20 years it'll be ours." "Among those posing, my grandfather's the one in the armchair." "I'm the one in the baby carriage, in the arms of the little Adelina, niece of our servant, Nunzia, who you can see back-right." "Don't move!" " My eyes were crooked!" " I felt like laughing!" "She is my mother Before getting married, she studied singing." "Instead of lulling me to sleep with cradle songs, she sang love songs and... .. arias from lyrical operas to me." "Millina, Margherita and Luisa are my father's sisters, unmarried." "This is doctor Giordani, our family doctor." "Single." "My grandfather teaches literature at the University of Rome." "Amateur poet and Carducci's detractor." "It's about him that he likes saying:" ""The republican lion has become the queen's poodle."" " What will you be, a genius or an idiot?" " A lot of talk!" " He'll be a son of God." " A modest career." " I want some water!" " That would be had for you!" "You'll get a stomach ache, a fever, and typhus!" "The child to whom my grandmother lists the consequences of greed... .. is my uncle Nicolino, my mother's brother." "He came from Macerata." "This child is my cousin Enrico." "He also came for my baptism." "He lives in Rome." "He's the son of Michelle and Ersilia, whom my aunts call... .. "the Cairoli brothers"." "Why don't you sing something?" "Come on!" "Carlo: the name in German is Karl, means "free man"." " Remind him that when he's older." " Yes, father." "And finally, my father, official with the Ministry of Public Education." "Come, Susana's singing!" "He has artistic tastes and dedicates his free time to painting." "The "Girl with Fruit," which Giordani seems to be admiring, is one of his works." "Plaisir d'amour... .. ne dure qu'un moment." "Chagrin d'amour... .. dure toute la vie." "Chagrin d'amour... .. dure toute la vie." " Catch him!" " Get hold of him!" "I'm 10 years old." "My brother Giulio is 7 and Enrico is 12." "The infantry cap he's got on is his father's, uncle Michele." "He came home from the front because of a serious family matter." "One, two, three!" "You're dead!" "What are you doing?" "What are you doing?" " Are you crazy?" " Shut up!" "Look if anyone's coming." " How much?" " Half a lira." " Too much." " That's all it is." " Let's share it." " What?" " I've seen everything." " You couldn't have, you're dead." " I'll tell uncle Aristide everything." " Spy!" "Tattle-tale!" " Thief!" "Thief!" " Get the Austrian!" "The Austrian infantry is the worst there is," "When they attack, they shit themselves with fear!" "Bombace, repeat after me!" "Bombace, repeat after me!" " The Austrian infantry..." " Kids!" "Kids..." "Grandpa's dead." "Courage, miss." "Come." "Thank you, doctor, for your devotion." " I'm very attached to your family." " We know that." "Thank you." " Unfortunately, this time, science proved to be useless." " Cover yourself carefully." " It's pouring outside." " The tram stop is quite close." "You have been so kind!" "Have courage." "Your father wouldn't like seeing you like this." "I will." " Be an example for your sisters." "Goodbye." " Goodbye." "That'll teach you using my powder!" " I didn't." " It was you!" "You've finished all the french powder..." " .." "I had bought from Bertozzini!" " Not me." " Then it was you!" " You're always exaggerating, like your sister!" " I'm exaggerating?" " You both are!" " I'd say the three of you do." " I should break this on your head!" " Try." " You're an old maid!" " I know who's an old maid!" " One has only got to watch the smiles..." " .. you throw on Giordani!" " You throw them on every man!" " I can't take it anymore!" "I'll kill myself!" " No, I'll kill you!" " Stop it!" " Goodbye, kids." "Your aunt..." " Enough with the scenes!" "Your aunt says goodbye to you for ever!" " Stupid!" " I want to die like Tosca!" " Open the door!" "Don't be stupid!" "Curse on you!" "Shameless women!" ""Brunello got away from that possessed black man."" ""Now he's dying with laughter..."" "To make him look taller, put a cushion under him." " His feet didn't touch the ground." " Mother said: "Sit up straight!"" "Here's daddy." "Giulio, come to the table!" "Carlo, put that comic book away." " Giulio, have you washed your hands?" " Yes." "What's the matter?" "What happened?" " Good evening, dad." " Good evening, Aristide." "Today, I was ashamed of being the head of this family." "The other night, doctor Giordani, coming out of here, right after my father's death, risked getting into prison." "He had to explain to two policemen... .. why he was lacking the money to buy his ticket." " He was robbed in this very house." " Must have been Adelina." "Is there a thief in this family," " who has stolen a lira from the doctor?" " Half a lira!" "Yes, half a lira." "It was you." "Shame on you!" "You dishonor this house!" "Daddy, I also did it." "We won't do it again." "We'll give the doctor the half lira back, and we'll ask him to forgive us." " We haven't spent it yet." " How could you do this?" " Giulio." " Yes, father?" " Giulio!" " He's talking to you." " I've answered him." " You see, Giulio..." "Your brother had the courage to confess." " So did I." " No!" "You let it slip." " Same thing." " No, it isn't!" "You've got no merit for it." "Carlo's loyal, you aren't." "You're a thief and a liar!" "Sunday afternoon we won't go have an ice-cream cake in Esedra square." "Now, you two go to bed without any supper." "Go!" "Move!" "Poor doctor Giordani, what a shame!" " Arrested by two policemen!" " Like Pinocchio." "There's nothing to laugh about!" " Can I get them a sandwich?" " Yes, but we don't know about it." " Coward." " What?" " Coward!" " Who's that?" "You are!" "You boasted only so that daddy would compare you to me!" "I didn't tell you were the one to steal the money, and I was just looking out!" "You didn't say it so you could show of with me!" "You make me sick!" " You must die!" " Enough!" "Die!" " Do you give up?" " No!" " Ah!" " Give up!" " I give up." " Prices are high." " Sure, if you go to Cottini!" " He's the best." " The wife has grown old." " She's fat." " I wonder how did that happen?" "It's because of the troubles her husband gives her." "Adelina, here's the saffron." "Take care!" "You can't go out anymore." "They drive like if they were at the race-track!" "Hey!" "Don't move!" "Now father seldom goes to the Ministry." "As an inspector he doesn't have a timetable to follow." "He spends his afternoons painting mother's portrait... .. while she writes long letters to her brother, Nicola." " Madame, the eggnog's ready." " Thank you." "If you go on moving, I'll never finish it!" "You don't stand still, not for a second!" "I'm giving private lessons of Italian, when I'm not at the University." "De Santis tries to establish a connection..." " .. between literature and society." " He doesn't try." "He made the connection." "From which philosophy did he draw the dialectical concept according to which..." " .. man is the goal of art?" " Professor Tabanelli says the goal of art is the well-being of the nation." " Really?" "Old Tabanelli has really caught up with the times!" "Yes." "When he enters the class, he even expects the roman salute." "De Santis tries to establish..." "Establishes a connection between literature and society." "How do I look?" " A moustache confers authority." " A little less to a woman." " Will you teach after graduating?" " Yes, Italian and History." " We'll be colleagues." " I'd wish it!" " Good evening." " That's how you're studying!" "Good evening." " The chocolate is for you." " It's five o'clock." "Since I've been sick, eggnog and biscuits every afternoon!" " What did you have?" " Pleurisy." " Tuberculosis." " Carlo!" "With three years of hypernutrion and pneumothorax I'm cured." "Silly boy!" "Giulio, what are you doing?" " Nothing." "She's just a blondie." "You're much better." " Stop it!" " Adelina..." "Cut it out!" " Onion!" " Garlic!" " No, onion!" " I said garlic!" " You must always contradict!" " Onion!" " Garlic!" " You should take bromide." " Aunt Matilde's swan!" "I'll send you both to the hospital!" "Understood?" " Too much stuff!" " I told you." " Don't bring the crunchy snacks." " The liqueurs?" "We'll take care of it." "I'm not the only one." "Many colleagues and friends have already left." " How will you manage in Paris?" " I don't know." "Somehow, even if I have to be waiter." "What are we doing here?" "The fascists have a clear road." "We're talking about philosophers that had already isolated the bacillus of fascism." ""A man submits the will of everyone to his own."" ""if united in one person, the people is called State."" "Crouched under the monster's legs, we hope it'll die on its own." "If we all leave, do you think he'll die sooner?" "Giulio, you open." "Instead of smoking." " Good afternoon!" " Good afternoon to you!" " Are you Carlo?" " For the first time in my life I wish I was!" "I'm his brother." "Come, I'll take you." " Good afternoon." " Good afternoon." " Have you seen her?" " Short hair, short skirt." " And short brain." "We'll be waiting for you to come dancing." "You can't take too much of Carlo." "I'm Adriana, Beatrice's sister." "She's in bed, with a fever." "I'm sorry to hear that." "Thank you." " My cousin Enrico." " Cousin Enrico." "If I may." "I'm off to see what are they up to." " Won't you sit down?" " Thank you." "I've read it in the tram." "Beatrice's progressing thanks to you." "That's if she hasn't copied it." "That's what I'm trying to teach her." " Observation and appropriation." " "it's more difficult to observe..."" " ".. than to invent."" " Good!" " I didn't come up with this." "Gioacchino Rossini." " I say!" " Are you astonished a musician also knows other things?" " Are you a musician?" " Conservatory, tenth year." "Have you had your snack?" "it's five o'clock." " What else did Beatrice tell you?" " A lot." " You're serious, rigorous..." " Boring?" " No, on the contrary." " She says you're very funny." " That's slander." "Then, she says you're very handsome." "Don't be shy about it, Beatrice's in love with you." "With me?" " She's only a little girl!" " She's one year younger than me." "Enough, the lesson's over!" "Let's go dancing." "Alright with you?" "My name's Giulio." "Carlo didn't tell you my name because he's jealous." " Who's this tramp?" " Must be an artist." " Sure, let's call her an artist!" " Why aren't you dancing?" " He wants to attract attention." "He behaves disdainful and superior." "We don't care if you aren't dancing." "The same goes for you, Enrico." "They're two joy-killers." "Carlo's learning from Enrico." "With pleasure." " When did he invite her?" " He gave her the apache eye." " What?" "Of course, he's going to Paris!" " I'm going!" " She gave me the date!" " Yes, because you told so." "You're not going at Adriana's." " Yes, I am!" "What's the matter?" "Enough, Giulio!" " Get up!" " You're always angry with me." "He started it!" " Aristide, the slippers." " He was sick." " We were kidding." " If he was sick, I'll sleep with Adelina." " You're not funny!" " Carlo." " Yes, father?" " Nothing." "Shut the light and go to sleep." "Good night." " Good night." "Good night, boys." " I'm going!" " No, I am." " You wouldn't be in love with he; would you?" "Now I'm also writing long letters." "As soon as I leave Adriana... .. I run home and I write them." "We've been seeing each other daily for 3 months." "Beatrice doesn't know about us." "Adriana says she'd suffer too much." ""My love, I sometimes ask myself what are we hiding from Beatrice."" ""A love made up more of disagreements and quarrels than of happy moments."" ""I know my faults." "I'm jealous, pedantic, selfish."" ""Try and have patience with me."" "Miss Beatrice." " Good afternoon." " Hi, Beatrice." "Good afternoon." "My mother's portrait remained unfinished." "Had she been more disciplined, maybe daddy would have finished." "Before dying, she wanted to be left alone with me." "She said to me:" ""Take care of Giulio."" ""Giulio's weak."" " Good afternoon." "Is Carlo in?" " Yes." "Come in." " Thank you." "Come." "I'll call him right away." "I'm sorry." "I'm sorry." "Don't cry, my darling." "Take these wet clothes off." "I'm sorry I'm leaving tomorrow." "I'll only be away for a month." "Everyone is capable of falling in love in spring." "Then one must see if love endures the rain." "Ours shrinked." "Carlo, I'm off studying." "The lecture Margaret Long will give in Milan is important for me." "I understand." "No, you don't understand." "You're more important than everything for me." "Neither will I." "I don't think I'll make it." "You must help me." "Where am I going?" "What do I care about Margaret Long?" "Stop me from leaving." "No!" "Stop." "Now I'm leaving." "I have to leave." " Will we see each other tomorrow?" " No, I'm leaving." "You said you won't go." "What kind of love is ours, if we can't separate for one month?" "As far as I'm concerned we can separate for ever." "Adelina, show the lady out." " I can leave on my own." " Wait!" " Let me go!" " Adriana, stop." " Let me go!" " Don't shout." " You're arrogant!" " Let's talk." " One can't talk with you." " Come back into the house." " No!" "When I think I've been lying to my sister for all these months!" "I don't care about your sister." "You're two fanatics, two hysterical girls!" " Good evening, my aunts." " Hi, Carlo." " Good evening, miss." " Thank you for coming." "Thank you." "Farewell, Carlo." "From Palatino to Celio lays one of the most beautiful avenues... .. of mussolinian Rome." "I got married and I have two children, Paolo and Maddalena." "I'm teaching Italian and Latin at the "Umberto I" highschool." "But today's Sunday." "Here's Paolo!" "Here we go!" "One, two and here we go!" " The plane is out of gas." " Breakfast's coming!" " I don't want no bread and butter." " Here it is!" " For Paolo." " Here it is." " Coffee." " And this is for daddy." "This is for Maddalena, the tiny one." "Maddalena, get down from the can" "Daddy, take me to ride the donkeys." " We'll see about that later." " Now you're taking your bath." "I'm clean." " You must take a bath every Sunday." " Come on!" " Then no donkeys." " "Who wants to have fun..." - "Can take a little pain"." " Aren't you coming?" " I must study." "I've a Romanic Philology exam in two months." "Don't laugh!" "Why are you laughing?" "The phone!" " Carlo!" " I'll take it." "Carlo, the phone!" " Yes." " It's a long-distance call." " It's from Paris." "Must be from Adriana." "Hello?" " Adriana." " Oui, oui, mademoiselle, ici Rome." " It's Adriana from Paris." " I understood that, mother." " Aren't you coming?" "Yes, we're all just fine." " Even Adelina's fine." " Have you had the test?" " Which test?" "The one I was supposed to have in October?" "No, I'll take it next October." "I couldn't take it before." " Today I'm in a contest." " You'll have a concert?" " What?" " She's playing!" " How beautiful!" " They're broadcasting it on the radio." " Do you know who I met in Paris?" "The apache." "The apache?" "Oh, of course, Enrico!" "Carlo, do you know who she met in Paris?" "Your cousin Enrico." " He married a beautiful girl, Juliette." " He got married." " They've got a daughter, Claudine." " Clotilde?" " Claudine." " Claudine!" "How's Enrico doing?" " He works in a print shop..." " ..for an antifascist newspaper." " He works in a print shop." "He introduced me to other Italians." "There're lots of political refugees here." " Some are leaving for Spain." " We understand." " Ask her how's Paris." " Seine's riverside?" " The avenues?" "It's a wonderful, free city." "You can say whatever you think." "You're set on politics!" " The door!" " Who can it be?" " On the streets, on the faces of the people." "There's a beautiful spirit with the new government." "How are things in Italy?" " Enough, Adriana..." " Madame Susanna, it's your brother." " Nicolino." " Bye." "When are you coming to Rome?" " Daddy, have you seen uncle Nicola?" " You're beautiful!" "Give me a kiss." " Susanna." " Bye, say hello to Paris." " How are you?" " How are things?" " Disastrous." " Hi, uncle." "Carletto, how are you?" " Why are you still in your pajamas?" "Are you sick?" " No." " Hi, Luisa." " What a nice uniform!" "Makes you thinner!" " You look swell!" " I'm like a dancer." " What a day!" " How's things?" " What's new in Macerata?" " What should be new?" " Are you tired?" " Uncle Nicola, how are you?" " Alright." " Do you want some water with lemon?" " Better some wine." " Daddy!" "Daddy, did you see uncle Nicola?" "Eight hundred town clerks together in the Foro Mussolini." "They made us march for two hours, then we waited him for three hours." "Five hours in all, in the sun." "He came, at last." " Himself, in person!" " How's he from up-close?" "He's satisfied." "Even if I was tired, I also was very satisfied." " Everyone was satisfied." " Yes." " That's for sure." "Go on." " He comes close to me, stops in front of me, looks at me and says:" ""Town clerk from...?" I get flustered and answer:" ""Wherever from you'd like me, sir!"" " What a shame!" " You can say that again!" " Pretty soon Macerata will have a new town clerk" " Go ahead, laugh!" "I'll have to speak to my superior, or I risk losing my job." " Like Carlo did." " Forget it." " It's true." " I told you to cut it out!" " You..." " What happened with Carlo?" " Would you like some more meatballs?" " Adelina!" " Nothing yet, but this month he has to decide!" " I want him to realize that joining the fascists means nothing!" " Yeah, sure!" "To defend your ideas, you say they aren't ideas." "And it's true, they aren't." " How funny!" " Why should I join them?" " Because it's mandatory." " You see?" "So it must mean something!" " Eat." "It means that, in order to keep my job, I have to lower myself like him?" " How have I lowered myself?" " Forget it." " He doesn't mean you." " If everyone was like you!" " Fascism would be so garish." " And isn't it?" " I'd like a little more respect." " It's not about you, Nicola." " I think it is." " What do I care?" "it's your family, do as you wish." " Right." "Carlo can do what he likes." " And you agree with him?" " I'm happy." " I won't set foot in this house again." " He promises, but never keeps his word." "Laugh!" " Paolino, let's play a game now." " Which one?" "Paolino, come!" " Uncle Nicola." " Paolino!" " I'm here!" " He isn't here." " Paolino!" " Uncle!" " He isn't here also." "Have you seen Paolino?" " I can't find him." " Uncle!" " Binda's competitor?" " Learco Guerra." " I'm here." " Have you seen Paolino?" " He isn't there also." " Giulio, help me." " I'm here." " Have you seen Paolino?" " Uncle!" " Paolino!" "Come out!" "Paolino!" " Come out." " I'm here!" " Paolino!" " Are you under here?" "Then you're here." " I'm here." " Where are you?" "I'm here!" "Come play with me." "Mother!" " Paolino!" " Come on!" " What is it?" " Paolino, what are you doing?" " Paolino!" " I'm sorry." " What did you do to him?" " We were playing." " The game we were playing when you were little." " It's a stupid game." " It always is my fault." " Come to daddy." " It's nothing, be a good boy." " Paolino..." "I like the things... .. that are made sweetly... .. and that speak of love." " Enough now!" " You're fat!" " I didn't touch the food!" " I've seen you at the pantry last night." " I'll kill myself!" " I'll kill you!" " Open!" " I'll kill you!" "Here it is." "Turn." "Stop." "Cut it out." "Come on, Giulio!" "Stand still." "You're going to wrinkle the shirt!" "Please, stop!" "You know I suffer when you're not here." " Then don't suffer when I'm here!" " Giulio!" " Is it true that you're going to Africa?" " It's a military secret." " If I go, I'll write to you." " Sure, with all the chicks there!" "It's Adriana!" "The Italian Republic must have it's own fundamental law." "The Constituent Assembly..." "Enrico died in Spain in 1937." "From 1943 Adelina is no longer with us." "She works with her brothers and makes a lot of money on the black market." "Daddy." "Giulio has just come hack from India where he has been a prisoner for two years." "Alright." "I got back my high-school job, and I'm now an assistant lecturer." "But my income doesn't yet allow us to buy real coffee." "I dreamed you were dying last night." "Were you sorry?" " No." " What do you mean?" " Dreaming someone's death lenghtens his life." " Then it's alright." "The Republic is proclaimed on this, 2nd of June..." " Good morning, ma'am." " Good morning." " Good morning." " Good morning." "Our liberty will be characterized... .. by four fundamental requirements:" "Peace..." " Here I am." " Hi!" " Two hours in line for half a pound of potatoes." "Giulio, wake up. it's almost one o'clock!" " Your chicory!" " You drink it." " I already did." "Why should we both suffer?" "You're not the only one who went to war, who were made a prisoner!" " Salgari!" " It's great." "You can't go on like this!" "If I'm a nuisance..." " Why do you act like a clown?" "!" " To alarm you a little." "So?" "You're the one who won the war." "You're kind!" "Are you coming to dinner tonight?" "Adriana's coming, with her fiancée." ""She took the rose and cried"." " Where's that from?" " Silvio Pellico, "My prisons"." " Hi, father." " Hi, Paolino." " Uncle, look what I've found for you... .. at the bookstore near the school." ""The Adventures of a Boy from Paris", by Luigi Boussenard!" " How wonderful!" "Dammit, wow, oh my!" " Damn it!" "The Sonzogno edition." "With the original illustrations!" "Dammit!" "Wow!" "Oh, my!" " How are you, uncle?" " Better, then worse." "Chapter 1: "The Devourer of Men"." " You look great, Adelina." " So do you..." "So do You, professor." " Professor?" " So do You, Carlo." " We grew up together." " Adelina has brought us... .. meat, olive oil, flower, butter, sugar." " I told her we'd pay at the end of the month." " It doesn't matter." " It does!" " Where's the silver fruit bowl?" "For the oranges..." " Forget it." " It should be here somewhere." " No, we sold it, along with many other things," " piano included." " Yes, we couldn't manage to keep everything." " We've let half the apartment." " They're good people." " Their house in the south was bombed." " They are not good people." " Why not?" " Nothing, she likes nobody!" " Me?" "Slanderers!" " What have they done?" " They never greet me!" " You, which don't know how to behave." " I'm the only lady here!" " You're hysterical" " You're mad!" " Mad!" " Why do I accept this!" "?" " I'll kill her!" "Why do I accept this!" "?" " No!" " Uncle Nicola's figurine!" " I'll kill her!" "As you see, nothing's changed." "Adelina, aren't you going to say hello to Giulio?" "Giulio?" "Giulio's back?" " May I go say hello?" " Always such a sweet girl!" "Mama, what's wrong?" "Beatrice, what happened?" "Beatrice!" " Why are you crying?" " I don't know!" "Maybe it's because we're seeing Adriana after all these years, or maybe because if I had graduated, there would have been an extra income." " Don't worry." " Or because I have no idea how to cook this lamb." " It's a rabbit." " It's a rabbit?" "Yes." ""A few words were enough to reassure the boy..."" ""... that the men from the escort were beginning to keep an eye on things."" ""My brave sailor!" "Rest assured, we're saved."" "Second chapter." ""A slave market"." ""How human livestock is paid for." "A blackman's word"." "Hi, Adelina." ""Setback, the rise and fall of an African king"." ""Three men for nine pounds of salt..."" "".. memories of two Europeans"." "Despite the social and political differences that divide us," "I believe that in today's Italy there is a euphoria, a tension, a stimulation." "Thank you." "A superficial observer would only see a grand confusion, and not the desire to discuss and to debate, within the parties, in the press, between ex-enemies, after the silence fascism forced you to." "Don't you think so?" " Carlo, the architect is talking to you." " Yes, I was listening." "Go on, continue." "You, Italians, are going through a difficult, but very stimulating moment." "For you, Frenchmen, Italian situations, the more difficult they are, the more stimulating you find them." " I was saying something else." " I say... .. we are living in a very difficult time, but also very fertile, constructive, and rich in authentic moral tensions." " And that's what..." " Come on!" "J'ai compris" "Yes, we even understand other languages in Italy." "Nous les comprenons." "As I was trying to say before, without doubt, our history is marked by serious bloodshed." "We've had so many dead." "Many have lost their minds." "But this is the right price to pay... .. for this change in our society." "That's exactly what I had said!" "We, Italians, are finally confronting our ideas." "And we have many!" "Sometimes too many!" " Carlo, are you listening?" " Of course." " You're saying the same thing." " Yes." " Please, don't interrupt." " I'm sorry." "I also think we're saying the same thing, if I may." "And even though you speak of euphoria and happiness, you don't seem very happy." "I think you're a bit upset, discontent, and quite irritated!" "Hearing you talk I even thought... .. you don't like too much this new course of history." " Me?" "!" " You see the kind of impression you're making?" "That I'm a fascist?" "Some one with no political views?" "I'm with the Action Party." " Do you know Ferruccio Parri?" " Yes." "My party has contributed a lot to these social changes... .. you speak so much about." "It has given lessons in rigor and combat even to you, Frenchmen." " To us?" " Yes, and I'd better not get into the details." " I'm having trouble following you..." " Even better!" "But, I assume your mood is due to..." "Private, rather than political reasons." " No!" " Besides, we know intellectuals are... .. chronically dissatisfied." "No!" "I'm very satisfied, very satisfied." "A little less when someone tries to demonstrate me... .. he's saying the same things I do, and this is not true," " especially when it's about you Frenchmen." " Again?" " Yes." "Because things are not the same." "Everything depends on the criteria, on the intent with which the concept is put forward." "It all depends on what the one who proposes proposes to do." "It depends on what he aspires to." "That's why the need to see the who, the how, the when, the where." "For instance, if I told you now..." "You." "If I told you..." "It's just an example" "Understand?" "Answer the question!" " You and Jean-Luc went to "La Scala" yesterday?" " Yes, it was fabulous!" " Listening to Toscanini it's an unique experience." " I can see that." "So now we're changing the subject to alleviate the tension... .. I've made?" "But what will foreigners think?" "You tell me, so we'll see if we're saying the same thing." " He's an imbecile." " It's because he's nervous." "Maybe it's part of the euphoria and tension... .. we were talking about." " Fine!" " I'm sorry." "I'm sorry, Adriana." " Why are you asking for forgiveness?" " You said he was an imbecile." " He hadn't heard me." " You apologize in my place?" "You seem a petty house wife." " And you, a boor!" " Alright!" " What's the matter?" "He called me an imbecile and I didn't notice." "Maybe he's right after all." "Forgive me, Beatrice." "Forgive me." "Forgive me." " I don't think I'll marry him, after all." " Why?" "He's funny, kind." "He loves you." "But I don't love anyone." "Father couldn't paint and you can't sing." "An artistic family." "Giulio and Adelina got married in '48," "They live on Emanuele Filiberto st., and have adopted a girl:" "Marina." "Paolino graduated..." "He's in every contest, wins them all, and then refuses the job." "He wants to study some more." "Maddalena, we're not going to a beauty pageant!" "Only two suitcases each." "One of grandma's suitcases!" " Mother, are the suitcases ready?" " Yes." " At last!" " I'll take them." " Yes." " Two suitcases for mother!" " Why are you leaving so late, madame?" " Don't call me "madame"." " We're ready." " Do you need anything?" " Check if the windows are closed." " Alright." " They've grown peaceful." " Yes." " You can't hear them since aunt Millina died." " Poor souls!" "You still aren't ready?" "Hurry up!" " Cut it out!" " Paolino, are you taking Giulio's manuscript?" " You haven't yet found the time to read it?" " I've told you." "I've had exams until yesterday." "I'll finish reading it in Santa Marinella." "Alright?" " Here it is, dad." " Here it is." " I'll read it afterwards." " It took me two years to write it." " True!" " I've polished it, but maybe it still is too long." " It's beautiful." " It's so true, so touching." " "The Waste". it's a good title." " Yes, Carletto." "My adventure in life." " It's very beautiful." " You've already said that, dear." " Will you join us on Assumption Day?" "I don't know, we must start work." " We've found a place for the laundry." " Good." " On Merulana st." "There will be a lot of people going through there." "Then will open one in Zama Square." " There will be a chain." " Laundrettes are the future." "Yes, but writing and laundring..." "Won't you make a choice?" " Coming through!" " Dante was in the laundry guild." " No, goldsmith's." " Medicine and botany!" " True." " Bravo!" " Get dressed." " Giulio, will you take mother downstairs?" " You ready, mother?" " Let's go." " Mother!" "Here we are." " Madame!" " Why did you put the coat on?" " It's cold in Terminillo." "We went to Terminillo on Christmas." "Now we're going to the seaside." " Must I also go?" " Yes." "Will you take care?" " Yes." " I'll take the luggage." " Come, madame." "Marina, come." " Easy." " Grandma in the 1.400 and the aunts in the Giardinetta." " Have you closed the gas?" " Yes, mother." "Father, I took the chess, the Scrabble, and the cards," " .. so we can play in the evenings." " Come on!" " Father!" " The light." " Have a nice trip, professor." "Please, take care of the plants and send the post to the address I gave you." "Paolino will bring you immediately the keys for my sister." "Goodbye." "Dear Beatrice, thanks for inviting me." "I'll take advantage of your house, but I won't be able to come and see you, because I'll be in Rome only for one day, for the Rai audition." "Then I'll be off to Genoa, Marseilles, and then, finally, hack to Paris." "Come." "Come." ""An welcome to my sister."" "Hi, Adriana." "Adriana, it's me." " You scared me!" " I'm sorry." "Excuse me." "Damn you!" " How are you?" " I didn't know you were in Rome." " And you?" "How are you?" " Fine." "You look great, Adriana." "I'll take a broom." "Careful with the glasses." "I came to meet some of my students... .. who are working on their thesis." "Thank you." "Two thousand people were saved by the ships that rushed to help them."" "It's 15:00 and the "Andrea Doria" is rapidly sinking." "The "Andrea Doria" dies in a hole no bigger than 70 meters."" "Christian Democracy Party delegates came together in Rome." "MP's Fanfani speech was polemic against extremism." "He has declared he doesn't intend to be part of any agreement... .. that would compromise the Nation's democratic continuity." "The most talked about writer in America has taken a famous wife." "Having taken off her greasepaint and having escaped Hollywood studios," "Marilyn found her refuge in Arthur Miller's arms." "Hi." "A mosquito bit me." "There's no way out this year." "A storm's coming." "Have you seen the lightning?" "You know..." "Here it is again!" "Do you know what I've thought about in all these years?" " About that slap." " What slap?" "Yes..." "I never thought about it." "You've forgiven me, but I haven't." "I'll slap you now, so we'll be even." "Yes, slap me." " I'm going." "I'll call a taxi." " I'm coming with you." " No." " Yes!" "I said no." "Help me, Adriana." "How could I help you?" "Will you come and live in Paris with me?" "Would you like that?" "We could start another life together." "Or would you like me to come to Rome and be your clandestine mistress?" "And from time to time I'd come here to visit my sister." "What do you want?" "I'd like a taxi in 45 Scipione Emiliano st." " Thank you." " Adriana, please!" " No." "Listen." "In all of these years, when I wasn't thinking at you, and you were not thinking at me, we even had happy moments." "Let's go back to them." "Do you agree?" "It will be easier for you, than it is for me." "I'm alone, while you have the University, the books, politics." " And them, more than anything else." " Yes, but you're never here!" " No, Carlo!" " You always go away." "There won't be another time!" " Let me go." " The other time you also went away during a storm." " You're mad!" "Don't leave me alone, please!" " Adriana!" " No!" "I'm sorry." "Don't you ever throw away anything from here?" "I didn't have any time." "But I should." " Are you comfortable, dad?" " Yes." " Fine." " Here." " Thanks." "The watermelon's good!" "Because the watermelon's a desire never fulfilled." " Paolino!" "Carlo!" " Ssh!" "At last a little peace!" "What a pain in the butt seaside is!" "Since you went away..." " .. it's all been a madhouse." " Why?" "Aren't you having fun?" "With five silly women?" "Maddalena, mother, grandma, aunt Margherita and aunt Luisa." "Even that moron Armando was there." "Of course it wasn't easy for you also, here, in Rome, with aunt Adriana!" "She's always so over the top." " isn't it true, dad?" " What?" " I said aunt Adriana's always over the top." "Yes, she rather is." "Did you go to the reunion with your socialist comrades?" " Yes, but I quarrelled with them all." " You always fight... .. with those that think like you." "Maybe you should get together with those that think differently." "Dialectical dissatisfaction." " Someone's been rummaging in here." " Who's Armando?" " The Zeppelin's missing." " Who's Armando?" " Maddalena's fiancée." " You are engaged?" "What for?" " You get engaged to get married." "Take it easy." "You always are so hasty! "I'm getting engaged, I'm getting married..."" "Calm down!" "You must first graduate, help me at the University..." "Then you'll start making some money and building your independence." " You'll see everything more..." " We want to get married as quickly as possible." " What do you mean?" " Right away." " With whom do you want to get married?" " Who's Armando?" " He's a boy full of ideas and passion." " He's willing to take risks to change society." " Quite so!" "Do you realize you've just drawn a dickhead's portrait?" "I'm sorry." "That's not what I meant." "I don't even know him!" "But you must reason, Maddalena." "Do you understand?" "You're going away and..." "I hold you to be the most reasonable person among us." "You're the most intelligent in this house." "I need you." "Intelligence needs company." "Otherwise, on it's own, it gets poisonous." "I can talk to you." "And you can talk to me." " Can't you?" " You're selfish, dad!" " Mother, what are you doing?" " Throwing everything." " You won't throw anything." "I'm sorry, but..." "Explain to me what are all this gadgets for." " Everything has a "why" in this room." " Even this." "Mother, I love you a lot." " I'm happy to resemble you." " How do you resemble me?" " We aren't the intelligent ones around here." " Every family needs a dope." "Why are you saying all this?" " What if dad was the one?" " What, the intelligent or the dope?" "That's the question, mother." "You must first settle your life, and then you'll marry him." " He's an intelligent, valuable man." " He's a dope." " I won't allow this!" " I'll marry him." " No!" " It really is snowing!" " Damn it!" "Look at Paolino!" "What's he doing at this hour?" " Paolino, what are you doing?" "Can't you see it's snowing?" " Come down, mother!" "Close it!" "What a silly son you've got!" "When did it last snow?" "In 1951." "No, in 1950." " No hot-water bottle for me?" " I asked you if you wanted one," " but you're playing stoic when around the others." " Lend it to me." "Take your cold foot away!" " What are you thinking at?" " At my age you don't think anymore." " You only remember." " What an old man's rhetoric!" " And how are these memories?" "Nice?" " No." "Those are the worst." "They make you say: "it was better before." A thing one should never say." "All in all, bad memories are the best." "Always complicated, my professor!" " Here it is!" " What?" " A thought." "Tell me." "I love you." " It's not a memory." " Stupid!" "It's the snow that was missing!" "It's in '50 that you last told me that." "Give me back my hot-water bottle." " Here's another thought." " It's the good night!" "Courage." "Maybe Beatrice deserved better." "Snow makes me happy." "Doesn't it you?" "Yes." "Depends." "Maybe that's the difference between ordinary people and an union man." "Ordinary people enjoy snow, the union man thinks about those handling the shovels." " Maddalena." " Yes?" "Do you think your father respects me?" "Yes." "I think he does." ""As a flower that lives and dies And can be enjoyed no more."" ""Let's take our pleasure!" "While its ardent, Brilliant summons lures us on."" ""Let's take our pleasure of wine and Singing and mirth"" ""Till the new day..."" "".." "Dawns on us as in Paradise"" ""Violetta to Alfredo:" "Life is just pleasure."" ""Alfredo to Violetta:" "But if one still waits for love ...."" ""Violetta to Alfredo:" "I know nothing of that - don't tell me ...."" ""Alfredo to Violetta:" "But there lies my fate."" "Let's take our pleasure Of wine and Singing and mirth."" ""Till the new day..."" "".." "Dawns on this paradise of ours."" ""Music is heard from other room." "What's that?"" ""Violetta:" "Would you like to dance now?"" ""ALL:" "Oh, what a pleasant thought!" "We all accept."" ""Violetta:" "Let's go then!"" ""Violetta turns suddenly pale."" ""On the Verona castle the mid-day sun does shine."" " Hi, dad." "Hi, Carletto." " Hi, mother." " "Murmuring in the sully..." " "Sunny"." "".. green meadow, the Adige flows..."" ""... and king Theodoric, old and sad, in the bathroom sits."" ""I'm not giving concerts anymore." "I teach." "Who knows, does, who doesn't, teaches."" ""Like you, professor: "" ""I had that small surgery I had been postponing for so long."" ""Nothing serious, but I was scared." "I still am."" ""I didn't tell Beatrice." "She'd have been worried."" ""I'm stalling because I don't have the courage to tell you..."" ""Yes, I do have it." "I'm getting married, Carlo."" ""Would you have expected it, at my age?" "Chekhov says: who's afraid of solitude, "" ""shouldn't get married." "He might have wrote this when he was very young."" ""My fiancée's name is Victor but he's an Italian."" ""He's fashion designer." "He's a few years older than me and he's a great friend.." " "Shall we return, Your Majesty?" "They await us at home." Grandpa!" " Yes?" "Will Theodoric go to the house where they await him?" "Read the poem until the end, and you'll find out." " But why am I reading it if you're not listening?" " I was." "Is it true that your grandfather always argued with Carducci?" " Who told you that?" " Uncle Paolino." " Who was right?" " I don't know." "But now you're reading Carducci's poems, and not my grandfather's." ""What a terrible beast, It is surely the least!"" ""Only the Virgin Mary knows when I shall return."" "Don't ask me to read you a poem ever again!" "All women think about having a careen and wives shouldn't?" "You know what they call women who gain success with a bed?" " Tarts?" " Whores." " Such words!" "If our daughter has made a decision, let her follow her way!" "Love is like a cough, you can't hide it." " I guess Armando is still coughing and she's gotten over it." " Carlo!" "She goes away, leaves a son behind, destroys her family and you're laughing!" "The family should start with ourselves." "One shouldn't give up one's own happiness." " Right?" " Yes, father, you're right." "I'm proud of you." "How much stuff!" "Fortunately, there's a lot of room in my sister's house." " Is it yours?" " Yes." "I wanted to tell you..." "If you want, you can stay." "Thank you very much..." "I'd do it, especially for Carletto," " but it'd be tasteless." " True." "All the same, I'm happy Carletto will be staying with us a little longer." "I won't forget you, or your wife." " Are you taking this?" " No, my sister has some." "It's your sweater:" " And the record player?" " They gave it to you." " But you used it." " Take it." " Alright, thanks." " This is yours." " And this, yours." "Here." "Carletto, what are you doing?" "Come watch the TV, Zurli the Magician is on!" "Today Carletto is 8 years old." "Enrico's widow, Juliette, has come to Rome, with her daughters Claudine... .. and the little Juliette the second." "She's precious." "Carletto likes her a lot." "Come on, Juliette, don't cry!" "It's nothing." "Come on!" "Did you know?" "You are Juliette the 2nd, and I'm Carlo the 2nd." "Come, let's play a game." "Silence, a game is something serious." "Everyone of you says: "I am..." And then reads his note." "Carletto, give me your hat." "Blue notes for the little gentlemen, and pink for the lady ladies." "Let's start with Juliette." "Pick your note and say: "I am..."" " Take the pink one." " The presents?" " Later." " There's major prizes." " I'm a witch." " A witch!" "We knew that." "With that face of yours!" "Your turn now." " You have to say: "I am..."" " I am..." " Very good." " It's our wedding present for Adriana." "Do you like it, Juliette?" " Yes." " And you, Claudine?" " It's beautiful!" " Have you seen it, Marina?" " Te souviens-tu de tante Adriana?" " She told me you were born." "I didn't get your name on the phone." "I was saying: "She's called Clotilde?"" " She was answering: "No, Claudine!"" " Who's missing?" " Where's aunt Margherita?" " She doesn't live here anymore." "She's with the nuns." "After aunt Luisa died, she was praying aloud all day long." " Pick a blue note." " I am..." " I saw you last week." " You did?" " You were at the Ariston cinema." " Ah, yes." " Was it him?" " Yes." " I'm an astronaut." " Who's missing?" "You are." "Tastes change." " I'm an astronaut." " Who's missing?" "You are." " I'm a great singer." " Alright." " You, Marina?" " Me what?" " Who are you?" "Or, what would you like to be?" "Marina, answer your uncle." " And who are you uncle?" "And what would you like to be?" " I?" "I'm out of the game." " You only say so, but you're the one running it." " Well put!" "Alright, children." "Now, the prizes." "Don't tell him anything." "Bye." "Adelina, is Giulio alright?" "He seems preoccupied." "He has a lot to worry about." "Clothing industry is complicated." " You have a shop?" " Fortunately, not any more." "It went under." "Now Giulio's in whole sales, but he has few products." "We have a lot of debts." "Hello." "Is there Mr. Terraciani?" "He's too good, too sensitive." "Who's missing?" "You'll make her cry like this." "Don't cry." "You two, go find your sister." "Dear, Terraciani!" "How are you?" "You seem happy." "I'm calling from Rome." "I wanted to tell you..." "How's your family?" "Everybody fine?" "I'm glad." "The children?" "I wanted to tell you... .. that I can't pay the promissory note due for the day after tomorrow." "Children..." "My nephews." "As I was saying, I can't pay..." "He's always on the phone." " Excuse me." " Please." ""if you'll happen to see a young couple in the woods..."" "".. and if the boy's hand is intertwined with the girl's..."" "".. you should know they are the inseparable Dimo and Rika."" " I didn't know that." " Hungarian fairy-tales are the best." "But the oldest text in Hungarian..." " .. is a funeral song from the 13th century." " Really?" "Look how well you can see your house from here!" "There's the window to dining room, the living room, and the balcony." " I've seen you many times." " And I've seen you." " Look, there's Voganch" " Yes." "He's a precious dog." "A dog and three kids, that's all my husband left me." " What a bastard!" " Italian?" " Hungarian." " Just as well." " What do you do?" " I work in the Alessandrina Library." " But I do other things as well." " Interesting." "I also like books a lot." "You've got a lot of freckles!" "Tons!" "I like them!" "How do you say "freckle" in Hungarian?" "That's prettier than "freckles."" "You're right, but If you could divide the interest, then next month I can pay the first part of the interest." " I'm going." " Plus the 25% from the first of the 24 promissory notes." "That should be acceptable, no?" " Uncle Nicola, what a surprise!" " A disaster." "The trains and buses all on strike." "Can't even find a taxi!" " Come in." " How are you?" " Fine, and you?" " Like poor old men." " It's Carletto's birthday!" " I didn't bring a present." " It doesn't matter." " What a crowd!" " Carlo, look who's here." " Uncle Nicola!" " How are you, Carlo?" "Why have you locked yourself in there?" "They could have warned me that that bloodsucker Nicola was coming!" "They probably didn't know." "You know he stops by every so often." "Giulio, open up!" "Don't say my name!" "Everyone leave me alone!" " I want to die!" " Don't say that." "I want to die!" "Giulio, open up!" "Don't say that." "Go over there, pull him aside, and tell him calmly." "if you explain it he will understand." "It can happen to anyone to go through hard times." "Alright?" "There we are." " I'm going." " Courage." " How am I?" " Fine." "Go." "There were no buses at Termini anymore, so I walked." "But I got lost." "I asked someone for direction." "They told me I only had to follow the Muro Torto." "I walked for two hours." " Uncle Nicola, I don't have the five million." " How are you?" " I didn't know you were here!" " Now you know." "You won't see a single lira." "The last month I made 25.000 lire... .. because I sold three years from my "Mickey Mouse" collection." " It's not the right moment." " When will I give you that money?" " We'll find a way." "What is there to sort out?" "I owe you a fortune!" "I can find a way with you." "I have a golden tooth." "Gold is high these days." "I can take it out right away." "Have you gone mad?" "I didn't say anything." "Or I could give you father's grave." "We'll put him in the ossuary." "Alright?" " Have some water." " Has he lost it?" " No, he's kidding, aren't you, Giulio?" "I'm not!" "Do you want a kidney, an eye, my liver, my heart?" " What do you want?" " What is it that you want?" " I don't have the five million!" "But I wasn't asking for it!" "I don't have it!" "I don't have it!" " I don't have it!" "." " Come on!" "Don't get mad." "And you, mister Nicola, you always make Giulio angry." " Come on!" " Happy Birthday to you!" "Happy Birthday to you!" " Careful." " Happy Birthday to you, Carletto!" " Happy Birthday to you!" " Come, children." "Well done, father." "I liked you." "You must put them out with only one blow." "Make a wish." "Come on!" "Bravo!" " "What a shame!", Aunt Luisa would say." " Aunt Margherita..." "It made me laugh and cry at the same time." " Giulio has upset me many times." " My father was right." "Perhaps it was also my fault." "I knew you'd say that." "But why?" "Because I've criticized him, or I felt sorry for him." "One expects more from a brother." "Don't smoke, it's so bad for you!" "Ln the main lecture hall at the university, behind the desk, the students wrote:" ""The professor is a jerk"." "And I give classes under that..." "The best part of parties is when we are alone talking." " What were we talking about?" " About us." "Perhaps we didn't give enough attention to Paolino." "The children that don't make trouble get less attention." "This house has never felt so large." "Adelina took care of the funeral." "Always so friendly and helpful." "She and Giulio opened a herbal shop." "I've been retired for two years." " Grandfather, I'm going." " Bye." " Have a good trip, Carletto." " I took this" "Show me." "Bye, aunt." " When I come back, I'll tell you if I liked it." " You can take it." " Bye." " Bye." "Bye." " Where's he going?" " I don't know." "He comes and goes." "The youth don't settle for what we wanted before, they try to come up with new dreams." "As a matter of fact, they don't know what they want." "That's the first time I've heard you use a cliché." "It really must be the end." " Clichés always have a grain of truth." " Another one!" "To please you I should only speak in paradoxes." "It amused me, once." "Every season has its fruit." "And that makes three!" "Now all you have to say is that one has only one mother, and that blacks have rhythm in their blood and you'll have them all." "Alright." "The youth are right." "They're more sincere than their elders." "And they'll change this society that their parents have made so disgusting." " Is that better?" "it's not a cliché?" " Yes, but at least it's a fresher one." "Enough!" "I've spent 50 years arguing with you!" "I'm fed up with it!" "Besides it makes me older." "When did you find out?" "I had my doubts..." " But I spoke to Beatrice and she told me." " When?" "In December." "When she came to see me after Victor broke his femur." " You should have told me." " You've always known it." "I knew that Beatrice knew about us?" "Are you crazy?" "Yes." "You knew it." "You sensed it." "For 50 years Beatrice kept silent so she wouldn't lose you." "We all said nothing." "What a shame!" "What stupidity!" "What are you saying?" "If it's true, if she kept silent it was because... .. she knew I had married the right woman." "She knew that with you, I'd have been unhappy, both of us would." "We would have split up a hundred times, we'd have hated each other, like we did." "That's what would have happened, a hellish life!" "Without Beatrice, our home and our family, would not have existed." "You should have told her that." " I'm leaving." " Go, leave like always!" " And you remain behind, like always!" "It is evil that makes people leave." "You all leave, it's for the best." "Arteriosclerosis is a bad sickness." "I'm leaving." "I don't want to risk catching it." " Call me a taxi, if you remember how it's done." " No, I don't, call it yourself." "Hello?" "Please, send a taxi to 45 Scipione Emiliano." "Yes." "Thank you." "Bye." "Bye." " Good morning, ma'am." " See you later, Anna." " ls the professor eating well?" "He looks a little thin." " He usually does." " He didn't want anything today." " Take care of him." " Don't worry." "Adriana and me quarrel with the old persons' intolerance." "Instead of love, we're now tied by a resentment... .. that may still be love." " Hello, pop!" " Hello, Paolino!" " You need anything?" " No, no." " Are you coming to dinner tonight?" "Marika made canneloni with jam and paprika on them, but they're good." "No." "I have some soup from yesterday and I'll make two eggs." " Thanks." " Then come after dinner." "There's "Bontà Loro" tonight." " OK, maybe after I eat." " OK." " Bye!" " We'll be waiting for you!" " Thanks, Marika." " Come on in." " Thank you, ma'am." " Bye, Carlito." " Hello, grandfather!" " Hey, Carletto!" " How's it going?" " Fine." "You're looking well!" "Even a tie!" " You did that?" " Yes." "A copy." "It's nice!" " Then..." " Here we are." "Delicious!" " "I was looking at the river and it was like it was taking away..."" "What?" ""It was like it was taking away..."" "".. all that had happened to the men, and me, in all of these years."" ""A new life was waiting for me."" ""Rome, 1956."" "Did uncle Giulio really write this?" " Will you get that, Carletto?" " Yes, yes." " Hello Uncle Paolino!" " How are you?" " Fine, and you?" " Alright." " Hello, Auntie Marika." " Good afternoon." " Hello." "Hi, twins." " Hi." "How are you?" " Fine." " Hi." " Hello, uncle Guilio!" " My dear!" " How are you?" " Fine." "And you?" " Fine." " Auntie Adelina!" "How's it going?" " Fine, and you?" " Fine." " Don't close the door." " There's Marina." " Aunt Marina?" " Hi!" " How are you?" " Fine." " And you, what's your name?" " Marina." " Marina?" " Hello, mother!" " Hello, sweetie!" " Hi." " Hello." "How are you?" " Fine." " Hi, brother!" " Vito!" " How are you?" " Nothing!" "Go on, take this to the closet." "Wow, what a place!" "Hello!" " Dad!" " Hi, Carletto." " How are you?" " Fine." " Hi, Carletto." " Hello." " Hi!" " Hi." " Hi, Carletto." " Hi." " Hi, Carletto." " Hi." " You look fine." "We see you at last!" "Hi." " Hi, Carletto." " Hi..." "Loredana." " Hi." "Hi, Carletto." " Hi." "Come in." " Hi." " How are you?" " Fine." " Hi, Carletto." " Hi, Carletto." " Hi, aunt." " Carletto!" " Comment vas-tu?" " Fine." " Claudine." " Hi, Carletto." " Hello." "Hi, Juliette." " Hi." "Carlo, I have something to confess to you." "Me also." " You go first." " No, you." " No, you're the oldest." "Speak." "Do you remember when you gave me that manuscript to read, around 1956?" "Yes, "The Waste:" "The Secret Diary Of A Failure"." "So?" "I told you had read it, and had found it null, inconsistent," " and even a little ungrammatical." " You always were so kind to me." "But I hadn't read it." " I was basing myself upon personally knowing it's author." " A liar!" "I have a liar as a brother and I didn't know it." "Coup de théâtre." " A myth crumbles." " Don't exaggerate." " Deep inside you've always despised me!" " That's true." "However, a few days ago I found the manuscript." "It was in a bookcase in our bedroom." "So, I've read it, and..." "It's fantastic!" "Fantastic?" "Really?" "Fantastic." "it's a work of great sensitivity, of great subtlety." "Yes, Guilio, I've been underestimating you for nearly 70 years!" " Ah, and this is how you tell me?" " How should I say it?" "Carletto, let's make it clear." "You are responsible of depriving Italy of a great writer." "Let's not get carried away, let's not exaggerate!" "You've said it." "10,000 copies..." "at roughly 10,000 lire... .. Ten percent for the author... 10,000 copies by a 1,000 lire per copy is 100 million..." "Carlo..." "You've totally screwed up my life, damn you!" "You see that?" "I was right." "You're venal!" "Yes, a little." " And you?" "What did you want to confess?" " Nothing." "You remember when we were kids, I always told you: "I have something to confess", so that you'd say "Me, too!"" "You always had something to confess to me, I never did!" "You want to say I was a hypocrite and you were always sincere?" "Yes... .. or maybe not?" "Take it easy." "You're fine like that." "Don't trouble yourself." " You came, too." " Yes, Carletto insisted so much." " If he hadn't insisted you wouldn't have come?" " I can even leave." " How many people are here?" " A lot!" "They're all here." " It's a big family, I don't know even half of them!" " Me even less!" "Am I handsome?" "You're the type of man that is average when young, but... .. when he ages, gets worse!" "." " They're calling you!" " I didn't hear." "Because you're deaf." "I'm going, so you can put on your lipstick." " Such nice people!" " We're ready." " Congratulations, grandpa!" " Happy Birthday." " Congratulations!" " Uncle, go near aunt Marina." " I've set at 1/60." " Alright." " You never grew a moustache." " No!" "Loredana, I can't see you." " Do you think you look well with a moustache?" " Attention." " Loredana, up in the chair." " Alright." "So, I came to be 80 years old." "ls it a lot?" "Or not?" "It should be the most beautiful age." " Are we ready?" " Can you see Armando?" " Yes." "Are you sure?" " Who's he?" " If it's not a party crasher, it must be one of your nephews." "He's cute." "Here we are." "Here we are."