"Gemma!" "Where're you going at this hour?" "Wait a second." "I'II get dressed and come, too," "I'II accompany you." "Gemma!" "Gemma!" "Where're you going?" "hello, madame Vagnuzzi!" "congratulations to the professor!" " hello, madame Vagnuzzi!" " hello." " How is the professor?" " Fine, thank you." " What can I do to help you?" " well..." "listen..." "Listen, mister CarIi, I've got here a golden bracelet I'd Iike to... .. get rid off, because I don't like it." "You buy gold, don't you?" "Yes, madame." " How much coud I get on it?" " The workmanship's modern." "We'd need a connoisseur." "I can weight it, madame." "1 20 and 70." "I heard you were leaving, congratulations." "I imagine the professor's happy." "Of course, for us is... .. a loss, but, on the other hand, that's what always happens." "Rome takes the best men." "What is it?" "I'm sorry, I'm very... .. sorry, but it's a fake!" "GiIded copper." "It isn't worth anything." "Nothing?" " hello, Mangerotti!" " hello, professor." "Thank you." "Ah!" "Mangerotti, I was forgetting." "This is the key to my drawer." "This is the list with the books I've lent to my colleagues, and this is my Rome address." "Try and get them back, if possible." " This is for you." " Thanks, professor!" " Don't mention it!" " Oh!" "Excuse me!" " Yes." "Professor Nicodemi says that, if you leave today, not to... .. forget about him." "Because he has to speak to you." "O, no, I'm not leaving today, I'm leaving tomorrow." "tell him we've still got time." " Understood?" " congratulations!" " Thank you!" " Thank you, good day." " Good day." " Good day, professor." " Good day." " Good day, professor." " Good day." " Good day, professor." " Good day." "Vagnuzzi!" "Vagnuzzi!" "I'm very pleased.." " Good day." " Good day." "You, appointed professor.." ".. of Physics at the Rome University." "That's fine!" "For once, one who deserves it gets to go to Rome!" "Thank you, dear Fiso." "Thank you." "My dear EIiseo!" "congratulations, professor!" "AII the best for your appointment." " Here." " Oh, no, no." "Don't bother!" "We'II come, anyway, this evening, if you don't mind," " to play a little serenade for you." " Oh, no, no..." "Oh no, no!" "It's your turn." "Those who use us know it: marriages, promotions, nominations." "You'II be the first in tonight's round." " well, alright..." " The first one." " Goodbye." "Good day!" "Corriere della Sera..." "Corriere della Sera, please." "Here it is." " Good day." " Good day." "Corriere della Sera..." " Good day, professor!" " Good day." " congratulations!" "Listen, Nannina!" " Oh!" "Good day, professor." " Good day!" "Nannina!" "boil a little water." "By the way," " when are we leaving?" " The day after tomorrow." " Ah!" "Good." " Where's Gemma?" "In her room." "She locked herself there." "She must be tired, poor soul." "Ah, she doesn't feel well, I don't understand why." "She wanted to go out alone this morning, and I told her." "I didn't know what to do." "Leave me alone!" "Go away!" "But it's me, Gemma!" "Open up!" "What's the matter, Gemma?" "So, we're leaving the day after tomorrow...!" "Are you happy?" "I've already bought tickets, even for EIvira." "Of course, we'II do her the favour to go on... .. having her as our guest, even in Rome, but, she should, at Ieast, take care of the tickets." "And then, look, you tell her..." " Franco... you see..." "I'd Iike..." " What, my dear?" "O, nothing..." "still, I don't know, I don't remember what..." " .." "I wanted to tell you." " alright, you'II remember later." "Oh!" "The trunks?" "How do we stand with the trunks?" " I've only just begun." " Very well." "Look, you... .. take care of everything but the books." "I'II take care of those." "And get some help, there's your mother, and EIvira, aren't they?" "By the way, you should call your mother." "She doesn't know we're leaving the day after tomorrow." "It doesn't matter, she's coming to dinner, tonight." "Good night to every one!" "Ah!" "One moment..." "Nannina!" "..." "well, you can say you're very lucky to have me with you, in Rome." "I bet you don't know anyone, do you?" "well, exactly as I thought, but don't be afraid, I'II be there." "I know everybody, and everybody knows me." "I'II open for you... .. doors you don't even imagine!" "closed circles!" "In'35..." "Oh, no!" "How stupid of me!" "In'36 I was in Norway... .. and from Norway to New York." "Uhm..." "I have such.." ".. nice friends in New York, the Matarassos, they have... .. such a Iarge fortune, you don't happen to know them, do you?" "I managed to get to Paris in time for the "Grand Prix", and to accompany Prince Groskoff to Capri." "Uhm, the poor soul, he always said his life without me was like a desert." "A desert with no oasis." "You'II see the shops in Rome are something else than here!" "And the cinemas!" "There are so many of them..." "And we'II go out every evening, won't we?" "When you have such a wife you must let her be seen, by Jove!" "And we'II also make a Iot of conquests, won't we, Gemmina?" "Come on, Vagnuzzi, don't pull that face, for God's sake!" "Eh, I'm here, and I keep my eyes open!" "well, I might not exactly be... ..what they call a madre nobile, but you have been... .. so sweet to me, that I don't know what I... .. wouldn't do to see you happy." "It'II be splendid." "splendid!" "We'II be together, for ever." "We'II never seperate." "always together, always!" "always!" "Enough!" "Ah!" "..." " Ah!" " help!" "..." "help!" "..." " Murderer!" "..." "Ah!" " Leave me alone!" "..." "Leave me alone!" "Go away!" "Go away!" " What?" "What happened?" " Madame... madame... .. is not feeling well." "please, go away!" " No..." " calm down, Gemma!" "calm down!" "It's nothing!" "please, everything's over!" "Look at me, my love..." "Look at me!" "It's me, it's Franco!" "please, open your eyes!" "Gemma!" "..." "Gemma..." "No!" "..." "Water!" "Water..." "She should be in prison!" "In prison!" "I'II put you in prison!" "Stop!" "..." "Stop!" "..." "Stop!" "I hope she didn't go crazy!" "But I..." "I don't know!" "Don't understand." "Must cure her." " call a doctor!" " already did!" "Nannina's calling right now." "What shall we tell the doctor?" "We can't tell him the truth!" "O, my God!" "I'm scared!" "She went away like a wild beast!" "I've seen her!" "She stopped a car!" "She went away!" " We should have kept her here!" " I couldn't." "My God!" "What if she went to the police?" "Madame, tell me what you know." "What I know?" "About what?" " Gemma must have had some reason." " I don't know." "What did EIvira do?" "I don't know." "Who is it?" "I've called." "The doctor's out and they don't know when he'II be coming back." " Come!" "drink!" " WeIIdone, thank you." " The phone." " I'II take it." "Go on." "I needed it!" "I really needed it!" "Of course, you can't compare it with.." ".. french cognac, but if nothing better's available..." " Isn't it true, doctor?" " would you please give me some information?" " Why?" " It's a necessary formality." " O, yes." "What is your name?" "Ah!" "Easy... easy..." "easy..." " What is your name?" " O..." "My name is Coceani." "Yes, countess EIvira Coceani." " NationaIIity?" " stateless." " domicile?" " 2 Mura st." "With the Vagnuzzis." " Professor Vagnuzzi!" " The cause of the accident." " What?" " The cause of the accident." "How did you get hurt." "An accident." "A simple accident." "I was slicing... .. the bread and... you know how it happens, the knife slipped." " Pretty strange..." "Downwards." " Some people!" "The wife's in convulsions, and who do they call?" "The ambulance!" "And insists." "Seems to have gone mad." " Do you want to take it?" " Who is it?" "How should I know!" "Some professor Lagnuzzi..." "Vagnuzzi..." " What did you say?" " told him to wait a little." "So, doctor, what do we put down?" "Didn't you hear?" "What the lady said." "hello!" "Yes, I understood..." "Yes, professor, I'm Sertori." "paolo Sertori..." "Yes..." "Don't worry." "I'II be right there." "Are you taking it?" "Yes." "I'II be through with it in half an hour." " Bye, Simonetti." " Bye, Sertori." " What was his name?" "Sertori!" " Yes." "Why?" "Ah..." "CouIdn't he happen to be count Fabrizio's son?" "Sure he is." "He put into his head to work." "If I had the 2,000 hectares his father has..." "But he says he... .. has quarrelled with his dad." "He cut his allowance." "It is PaoIo Sertori." " Has he been here long?" " Not even a month." "I'II prepare a hot-water bottle." " Nannina..." " Yes..." "fill this up with hot water." "Excuse me, doctor." "tell me in all honesty, Sertori, is it serious?" "I mean, is her reason in danger?" "Not at all..." "It's a shock." "Don't worry if she won't be herself for a couple of hours, or even till tomorrow morning." "They usually don't." "That's how it develops." "Tomorrow she'II be better." "With this sedative, a spoon every 3 hours, you'II see, she'II rest." " will I find a chemist's open?" " Yes." "There's the one when turning... .. into the square." "They'II surely prepare it in half an hour." " Excuse me, doctor..." " Yes." "half an hour, with going and coming back, it means..." " .. one hour, can I borrow your car?" " Of course!" " Thank you." " Don't mention it." "What are you doing here?" "What d'you want?" "You have already hurt my daughter." "Go away!" "Go away!" " But, madame, what did I do to Gemma?" " Mother!" "..." "Mother..." "You, go down." "Go to sleep." "Yes, madame." "No!" "No!" "Nothing!" "It's nothing." "It's me, Gemma." "Your mother." "Calm yourself." "Calm down." "Try to rest." "I never thought I'd see you like this." "I shouldn't have left you." "One might say we grew up together." "Without me even realizing you existed." "If, from a certain moment, I reliazed you existed, it was only by accident." "Ah!" "It's you!" "..." "I was sleeping." " Why did you wake me up?" " To see your eyes." "Ehi!" "How romantic!" "But what got into you?" " Let's go!" "Let's take a walk!" " But it's so hot!" "Let's take a dive in the pool!" " My God!" "What time it is?" " Five." "Come quickly, paolo!" "I'm late." "What happened?" "What's the matter?" " Your sisters!" " Beh!" "What do they want?" "As miss Marphy must take her bath, while miss Marphy... .. takes her bath, I'm to stay with the kids." "Anna's doing." " Forget it Gemma!" " Come take a walk with me!" "You know very well I can't." "Beh!" "Can you tell me what you're up to?" "Marphy's been waiting for an hour." "Yes, please excuse me, I was with PaoIo!" " Ah!" " And... then I went to pick up the rackets." "Weren't we supposed to play a double, afterwards?" "Yes, but we have MarceIIo." "We already are four, don't you worry." "will you be back next year?" "Yes, but how will we go through all these months?" "I'II never forget this summer." "Yeah, sure... when you'II be in Rome... these are only words." " We'II write to each other." " D'you think we already have enough memories... .. togethr to be able to stay separated for ten months?" " What d'you mean?" " You haven't even kissed me." "It's twenty past eight." "I think they're exagerating." "For the Iast fifteen days, every evening..." " .. there's the same thing." " D'you want me to go look for them?" " No." "please, don't move." " well, the good thing is holidays... .. are almost over." "Good evening to everybody!" "I'm sorry for being late." " Good evening." " Dear aunt, captain, dad." "The poor mad had forgotten how to go forward." "On the other side, what could I have told him?" "It pained me a Iot, but put yourself into my shoes." "But what did you answer him?" "Nothing!" "What could I have answered him?" "Daddy doesn't want it?" "!" " Who is it?" " It's me." "I was going through the corridor and I heard you." "What happened?" "You tell him, Gemmina." "You tell him, I don't have the guts." "It's that MarceIIo has proposed to Anna." " No!" " Great, don't you think so?" "And you, Anna... what do you think?" "I don't care, you know it very well." "Ehi!" "But it's you that'II get married, not father!" "Yes, one heart and one hut." "You must be mad!" "Letting go of such an oppurtunity!" "TaII, rich, distinguished, nobility, what more could you ask for?" "And, then, you love him, and when love's involved, father won't stop you." "He wasn't speaking to my sister, but to me." "The words Gemma was expecting me to say, I never had... .. the courage to say them, not then... .. and, unfotunately, not even later." "Leave it." "Leave it." "I'II carry it." "Thank you, Vittoni." "Bye, Anna!" "Bye, Topazia!" "Goodbye." "Who knows where we'II be next year?" "Isn't it so, MarceIIo?" "I want to go in Norway." " Bye, Gemma!" " Bye, MarceIIo!" "tell the gardener to bring the suitcase to the station." " Here's the gardener!" " Bye!" "Goodbye!" "Bye!" " Are you taking Gemma with you?" " I will, if you have nothing against it!" " Is there a place for me also?" " Come, get in!" " PaoIo, move yourself" " I'II return with Luciano!" " Luciano, or with Gemma?" "No way." "You'II do me the pleasure to return with us." "Come on, paolo, have you decided, or not?" "We have to leave!" "Thank you, Vittoni, paolo returns with us." "Very well." " Drop by my rooom tonight." " Have you seen?" "Have you seen?" " cold?" " A little." "CouIdn't we raise the top?" " We'd lose time." " Take this." "Oh, thank you!" " Do I Iook good?" " Very!" " PaoIo..." " Yes, Gemma." "We won't be seeing each other tomorrow." "I know it." "I'm also only thinking about that." " Gemma!" "..." " What?" "tell me!" "Ah, nothing." " What's the matter?" " We're already there." "Here's my metropolis." "What hour will you get in Rome?" " At two!" " Listen, Gemma, why don't you come to Rome with us?" "Stop joking, Luciano!" "You're boring." "But I'm not joking!" "Who knows what a bore winter in this... .. hole can be." "Listen, Gemma, come to Rome with us!" "I'II get you a nice... .. little apartment." " Cut it out, Luciano!" "Come on!" " Yes, but at Ieast he... .. offers me something." "What about you?" "Haven't you got anything to say to me?" "Yes, Gemma, yes!" "I had something to tell you." "You knew it, I knew it, and I didn't tell you anything." "It was our last... .. chance. I let it pass." "Have you forgiven me, Gemma?" " Bye, Gemma!" " Bye, Luciano." " Mother!" " Gemma!" "Did you have a nice trip?" "I was expecting you on... .. the train!" "tell your friends to come up!" " No!" "No!" " Ask them if they don't want to freshen up a bit." " Maybe have something." " No!" "I'm telling you, they're in a hurry!" " So long, paolo." " Goodbye." "Come on, paolo!" "Let's go!" "Coming!" " Here's the scarf!" " You keep it." " Won't you be cold?" " No, no." "will you think about me a little?" "Listen, Gemma, I have so many things to tell you." "It's late by now." "No, no, it isn't late!" "I'II write to you, Gemma!" "I promise." " When?" " Tonight." "It's true, I wrote to you that evening, and many other..." " ..evenings, from then on." " Bye, Gemma!" "It's for you that I've fought against time, against distance..." " Bye!" " Against my father who forbade me to think about you." "As if that'd have been possible..." "And we only made love like this, in writing." "Until when, suddenly... silence." "I then found out you had got married." "Nothing else." "And, in the end, today, that you had tried to kill someone." "Where's my place, Gemma, in all of this?" "is it my fault for what's happening to you?" "How're you?" "Thank you." "Everything's alright." "Rest assured." "Listen, Sertori, you're a childhood friend of Gemma's, aren't you?" " Yes." " So, you know the milieu, the town." "I'd Iike, in any case, if possible, not to be too much talk..." " .. about this thing." " CategoricaIIy." "Thank you." "Come, drink!" "Drink, my darling!" "Let me do it." "Come!" "Drink, my darling." "You'II see it'II do you good." " Did Coceani call?" " No." " No one else?" " No." "I imagine you must also be tired, why don't you go home?" "There's Nannina downstairs, she could see you off." "No!" "No!" "I'd feel to bad." "You should, rather..." "No..." "I'm not sleepy." "Go downstairs and tell Nannina to make some coffee." "Gemma!" "What have you done?" "Have you lost your mind?" "I've always loved you." "And, still, I've been a bad... .. mother." "When I think a simple word would've been enough for, maybe," ".. nothing to have happened." "I should have spoken right away." "Right from the start. immediately." "That day you came back from... .. holiday." "But I didn't have the courage." " Mother!" " Did you have a nice trip?" "I was expecting you on the train!" " Tell your friends to come up!" " No!" "No!" "Ask them if they don't want to freshen up a bit." " Maybe have something." " No!" "I'm telling you, they're in a hurry!" " May I, madame?" " please." " If I may, madame..." " Speak, mister Gavinato." " Can I have a word with you, madame?" " please!" "When are we going to eat, madame?" "You must have a little patience today, my daughter has arrived!" "You know, madame, I have to go to the office!" "alright, alright, mister Gavinato." "You'II see you'II get there." " Hi!" " darling, have you had a nice trip?" " excellent!" " What a nice car!" "Who was the one driving it?" " Someone called Vittoni." " Vittoni?" "Who's he?" " Someone from Rome!" " And the other one?" " What d'you mean PaoIo!" " PaoIo?" "I really should decide on... .. wearing glasses!" "Are you hungry?" "No." "I had a huge breakfast before leaving." "No, Gemma." "I had to rent your room to a professor." "This is your room, now." "You know, you'II have to be patient." "would you Iike a caffeIIatte?" " No, thanks." " Did you have fun?" " A Iot!" " You could have written to me a little more often." "So... tell me." " Isn't there anything new?" " Mother, if you'd only know... .. how happy I am!" "Happy for being back home?" "No, not for that." "As a matter of fact, I'II be leaving here soon." " You'II be leaving?" " Yes, soon." "I don't understand anything." "What happened?" "Come on, tell me." " I thought there was something!" " We've made it, mother!" " This time, we've made it!" " Come on, tell me!" "Don't keep me guessing!" "Are you at Ieast sure?" "O, rest assured!" "I know what I'm saying." "This time it's done." " Does he love you?" " Of course." "He loves me." " Is he rich?" " The richest of them all." "And young." " Does he know you don't have anything?" " Why should he..." " .. care about that?" " Do you love him?" "Imagine, I'II have clothes, cars, servants, voyages abroad, a house in Rome, important people, and you who were... .. making fun of me." "You said I wanted too much!" ""Poor, Gemma"..." "D'you see now?" "Now you can see if I was a fool or not." " And who is he?" " Try guess!" " I bet it's Pietro CeIIesi!" " The CeIIesis are not that rich." " Count Bandini, then!" " He doesn't have a dime, that one." " You wouldn't be dreaming, would you, Gemma?" " Rather than being awaken from... .. this dream, I'd prefer to die." " But who is he?" "tell me!" "Andrea Bonacci!" " That moron," " who does nothing else but talk about books!" " The marquis GigIiocci?" " What are you saying!" " Enough..." "tell me!" "Look!" "well, yes, paolo." "It was so easy to guess." "I should have talked to her then." "I lacked the courage." "The next morning I was still thinking about how to... .. tell her, and still hadn't found a way." "The post..." "Foresi!" "hello, postman!" "It's for me, isn't it?" "Mother, leave me alone." "Gemma!" "Open!" "Let me in!" "There's something I have to tell you." "Oh, it's you?" "I'm sorry, madame, for having rung, but, as usually, I've yet again..." " .. forgotten my keys." " Oh, no trouble at all." "please!" "Who is it?" "Has your daughter come back?" "Yes, she has." "Didn't I tell you yesterday?" " O, yes, yes." "Indeed you have!" " She never sings, rest assured." "It just happened." "For the first time." "I'm pleased you understood everything so quickly." "Bye, mother!" "I'm off to the cable office!" "My daughter, Gemma, professor Vagnuzzi, our new guest." " How're you." " glad to meet you!" "Pretty!" "AII the best." "Let's only hope she doesn't take... .. to studying canto." "Unfortunately, it wasn't one of those... .. holiday flings, that vanish before... .. winter comes." "Gemma only thought about Paolo anymore." "And his letters... .. were becoming more and more passionate as days went by." "What was I supposed to do, o, my God?" "What?" "Speak to her?" "It was too late!" " Hi!" " Hi." " hello!" " hello." "It's kind off difficult working in peace here, isn't it?" "!" "You look exactly the same as Betazzi does." "The history and geography..." " .. teacher." " How long did you study?" " Three years!" " Which?" " Third grade!" " Ah!" "I'd have thought the fourth." "But I do say, your room really is a mess." "Yes it is, but I Iike it this way." "I must ask you not to touch... .. anything here!" "Because the Iast time your mother tried... .. tidying it up, everything turned into an disaster." " You see?" " Ah, you play chess!" "And... with whom do you play?" " alone." " That must be fun!" "And what's that?" " A coat-hanger." " Nice..." "You think I'm stupid, don't you?" "No!" "This is a 3-D representation of a.." ".. nuclear explosion provoked by cosmic rays." " Thank you, now all's clear." " My pleasure." "And... what good is this coat-hanger?" " It serves to nothing." " Does it mean that everything that you do: your calculations," " your Ieactures, they all serve to nothing?" " To nothing." "As far as I'm concerned, I Iike things everyone can understand, and that..." " .. are useful." " Yes, yes, that's easy to see." " Where're you going this evening?" " To the cinema." "would you Iike to come?" " Brodetto, madame?" " Come in." "please come in, mister Gavinato." "So?" "Are you coming?" "No, thank you." "I don't feel like it." "And then, it's raining." "Why don't you go with mister Gavinato?" "Good idea!" "Come, Gavinato, I'm buying!" "Me?" "No, no, thank you, professor." "If I don't take my... .. nine hours sleep, the next day I don't feel too well." "well, patience!" "Good night to everyone." "Good night!" " Good night!" " Good night, professor!" "Good night." " Good night, madame." " Good night." " Good night, miss." " Good night." "It's the fifth or sixth time he has asked you, and you have refused." "You're wrong, if you ask me." "He's in love!" "Can't you see that?" "His problem!" "I'm not available!" "And even if I were?" "Madame Gemma Vagnuzzi..." "imagine the boredom!" "He's such..." " .. the professor type!" " You've become big-headed, Gemma." " And, unfortunately, it also is my fault!" " But what is there to see... .. in a suburb apartment, always in the kitchen, with the kids... .. crying, without a servant." "And all for the sake of... .. the professor pursuing his wonderful career, with the least..." " .. possibiIe distraction." "Ah, don't you see!" " And, still, he's the only who'd marry you." "I Iike you saying that, because that means you haven't... .. looked into my drawers." "If you would, you'd find so many.." ".. letters, and, especially in the Iast ones, it's obvious he.." " .. wants to marry me." " Who?" "paolo!" "No, Pietro." "Bye, mother." "I'm going to bed." "Yes, yes... go on writing, it's useless, anyway." "Something tells me... .. that everything will amount to nothing." "Oh, no!" "Listen!" "Knock on wood." "Don't even joke about it." "You seem gay today, miss Gemma." "Why, professor, did you ever see me cry?" "No." "It's true." "Even for crying you need some kind of humanity..." "I was forgeting you are an expert on that." "When are you leaving for the famous villa?" "Soon, professor!" "Imagine, we won't be seeing each other for two months!" " How nice jet-set is!" " What will you be doing..." " .. this summer?" " well, I can't decide between Biarritz... .. and Juan les Pins." "I'm so uncertain about that," " .. that I'II remain here." " An orgy of check games!" " Cut it out!" " Don't mind." "But are you really sure you're going?" "What d'you mean?" "Me, staying here during summer?" "It'd need at Ieast... .. another world war for that!" "Post!" "Foresi!" " Mother!" "It's for you." " For me?" "Are you sure?" "Hi, mother!" "Hi, Gemma." "What is it?" "You're pulling such a face!" "Gemmina!" "Listen." " Gemmina." " Yes." "Come sit down here for a moment." " I have bad news for you." " What news?" " I've met with count Sartori." " Ah... and?" "It's really bad news I'm giving you." "Poor Gemma!" "Come on, say, don't keep me hanging!" "The count, he..." "I'm very sorry about it, believe me." "He has been very kind..." "all in all... .. he won't be able to have you as his guest at his villa." "Of course, he said you'II be able to go on seeing Anna and Tobacci, but not at the villa anymore." "What d'you mean, it's not only for this year, but also..." " .. for the future?" " Yes." "He says it's better for everyone, if you don't go there anymore." "And PaoIo?" "tell me the truth!" "It's because... .. of PaoIo that they don't want to see me anymore!" " Yes, it is because... .. of him." "But what's the use of getting mad now?" "It's useless, anyway..." "He doesn't see me fit to enter his family." "Of becoming his daughter-in-Iaw." "True, I'm unfortunate to be called Foresi." "And, besides, I'm not even rich." "Nor rich, nor noble, there's my fault." "It'd be enough that I were the daughter... .. of a big milan industriaIist..." "What can you do about it, Gemma?" "Don't think about it anymore!" "Oh, no!" "absolutely not!" "We're both grown-ups... .. and we'II get married even if his family doesn't want it!" "I'II write to... .. him to come right away here, and I'II tell him how things stand!" "No, promise me you'II do nothing of the kind, and that you'II stop writing to him." "So they should win?" "To let them treat me like a servant?" "I'm even going to send him a cable!" " Saying what?" " That he should come right away, because I have to talk to him." "Come here." "Listen to me." "There are many very serious motives, different from what you think, and that make... .. absolutely impossible this marriage of yours." "But you, if you love me, you shouldn't... .. ask me what they are, and you should do what I tell you." "I don't see any other reasons, besides the ones I've already said." "That's why I'II tell him to come." "Gemma..." "you are causing me a great pain." "I prefer hurting you than acting without... .. knowing why!" "There is a reason." "Then say it!" "You see, mother, you've let yourself be intimidated, when this is the moment to put your foot down and show them we aren't less then them." "You aren't less than them, because you are of the same blood." "What d'you mean?" "When a young girl, me and count Sartori, yes, Fabrizio Sartori, we were in love and you were born before... .. I got married, you're his daughter." "Like Anna, paolo and the other one." "I couId have never forseen PaoIo would... .. fail for you." "Have you now understood, why this... .. marriage is impossible?" "So... me and paolo..." " .. we're brothers!" " Yes, exactly!" "And you've waited up to now to tell me this!" "Kind of late." "Eh... there's something, Gemma, I haven't yet told you, Fabrizio, your father, yes, has set a small sum, nothing much... .. really, deposited at the Monte dei Paschi bank." " A sum that's going to be your dowery." " Cut it out!" "I spit on..." " .. their money!" " Gemma!" "Where're you going, Gemma?" "What's happening?" "Professor!" "Stop her, I beg you!" "She's gone crazy!" "Who knows where she's going!" "Stop her!" "Miss Gemma!" "Miss!" "Why am I always stumbling on you?" "Tell me, Gemma, my child, am I also guilty... .. of having thought that, in spite of everything, you could be... .. happy with someone else?" "Thank you very much." " She seems to be better!" " You'II see she'II sleep now." "She's burning." "She has a fever." "Why... why did she do it?" "Not even you thought... ..she was capable of such a thing." "But, who is she?" "Who is she?" "And it's today, only today, that you ask yourself such questions." "And it's been two years since you first saw her." "Of course, it was easier marrying her, than trying to understand her." "Gemma!" "Where're you going, Gemma?" "Professor, I beg you, stop her!" "She's gone crazy!" "Who knows where she's going!" "Stop her!" "Miss Gemma!" "Miss Gemma!" "Why am I always stumbling on you?" "Come on, calm down." "calm down!" "Can I know, once and for all, what d'you want from me?" " Nothing!" " Then why're looking at me that way?" "I?" "You seem so agitated!" "What'd you expect?" "To console myself with you?" "Or, maybe you want... .. to propose to me?" "My mother's upstairs, do you want to ask her..." " .. for my hand?" "Go upstairs, go!" " What if I did?" " would you find it so strange?" " Absurd, that's how I'd find it." "Have you understood?" "Absurd!" "Thank you, miss, and have a nice Assumption day." "Thank you." "Gemma!" "Gemma, how are you?" " Look who's here!" "How're you?" " Not bad." " Anna, wait here!" " glad to meet you." "D'you know you are gorgeous?" "Ah, lovely!" "But Katia wanted to see your house, so we came by!" "How come you remembered?" "Yes... but I told them:" ""You'II see she won't be there. "" ""It's impossible she's still here on this heat!"" " What luck meeting you!" " Your place's..." " .. nice." "Picturesque." " Why are you still in town?" "Aren't you coming at the villa this year?" " No." "We'II go to the sea!" " Where?" "I don't know." "Mother wanted Riccione, but I think we'II end up..." " .. going to Forte..." " Good for you!" "Send us a postcard." "Yes, to us also!" "To us also!" "Sure!" " And don't you forget me!" "Bye, Gemma!" " Bye." "Goodbye!" "Bye!" "So long!" "What are you reading?" "It's boring, isn't it?" "I've seen you from my window a little while ago." "Who were those people in the car?" "Friends." "Ah." "Friends... .. friends... from the villa?" "Yes... from the faimous villa." "What did I do to make you... .. happy?" "Have I, maybe, been a good husband?" "I've always given you everything you wanted." "A nice house, with a beautiful vista." "That only you liked, Vagnuzzi!" " And what's near by?" " The Tobacco Manufacture." "excellent!" "So, instead of us smoking, we'II inhale nicotine." "Come, my dear." "Look." "This will be our bedroom!" "beautiful... .. airy... isn't it?" "full of light..." "Yes, yes." " Beh!" "Good day!" " Good day!" "When did you bother to know what she... .. wanted... what she liked." "And you?" "You did... .. nothing to meet her halfway, to help her." " Have you moved?" " Yes..." "Let's see!" "What move did you make?" "This one!" "No!" "No!" "No!" " Why?" " Don't you see you've moved your queen into check?" " Why?" " Yes.." "look, I'II take it with my bishop!" " I'm afraid you won't learn!" " Of course I won't, as long as you shout like this!" "But you always make the same mistakes!" "always the same!" "well,... in the end..." "it's only a game." "exactly!" "Games are the most serious thing on earth!" "If I play, it's for having fun." "That's nonsense..." "Come on, go to bed." "I can see you're sleepy!" "Come on!" "Be a good girl, go!" "Let's go!" "Be a good girl." " already to bed?" " Yes..." "I've got work to do!" " Then, we won't be going out tonight?" " You know I must finish... .. my book, if you want us someday to go live in Rome." ""general Cadorna wrote to the Queen:" "If you want... .. to see Trieste, look at a postcard "" "But why this very evening?" "We've been married for a year, and you've forgotten, naturally." "It's like I don't even exist!" "Like you..." " .. you don't even see me!" " Come on." "You don't always say such things." "I know it." "For you, I only exist in one way." "But, what more do you want?" "Eh!" "She was right." "You never bothered to find out what she was thinking." "It was enough for you to joke with her, to make a little fun of her." " You have already finished?" " well, I'm sorry, I must leave right now." "Come on!" "You were reading, of course." "You ate..." " .. and didn't even notice I wasn't there." " Where were you?" "At the "CIT"." "I must think about a place for this summer, don't I?" " I already did." "We're going to Vidiciattico." " Where?" " Vi-di-ciat-ti-co!" " Where's that?" "It's a village above Porretta." "In the Toscan-EmiIian... .. Appennines." "I used to go there as a kid." "It's high up, you know!" "almost 4,000 m." "And then, it's cool, quiet..." "Yes!" "especially..." " .. quiet." " Some fun!" "AII mountains are beautiful." "The Appennines?" "Might as well stay here!" "Where'd you Iike to go?" "You know we can't afford it!" "We can't afford it!" "What d'you imagine!" "That all those... .. that have fun, that live, always have money... .. around?" "We're stingy all year on, we get bored all... .. year on, at Ieast in the summer we could do something different!" " See some nice people!" " I'd really like to know... .. what do you mean by "nice people"." "Haven't you ever heard of Cortina d'Ampezzo, of Rimini, of Sestriere, of PaIagi, or of Sorrento?" "Let's go in one of... .. these places, and I'II show you what I mean by "nice people"!" "Vidiciattico... that's for you and your friends!" "Friends?" "I don't have any friends here." "colleagues." "well, call them as you wish!" "I only know I'd prefer one normal human being... .. to all of you superhumans together." "Listen, Gemma, if there's one thing I can't stand, that's... .. generic talk." "What does it mean:" ""all of you... "" "".. superhumans together?" You don't even know my..." " .. colleagues!" " Because you don't want me to!" "You're ashamed with me!" "Come on!" "Be honest." "Be sincere." "Gemma was right." "For you, she was only an instrument, a thing." "The pure delights, the delights of the mind, you kept them all... .. for yourself." "But she, while you were locked in your study, among... .. books, with your calculations, or at school among your... .. boys, she, what was she doing?" "It's time you ask yourself that." " Hi." "Where have you been?" " At the cinema with a friend... .. I made." "Then she offered me tea." "Look!" "Nice, isn't it!" " She makes them." " Ah, ah..." "And she gave it to you?" "Oh, she wanted to, but I insisted on paying for it, the poor woman!" "It was that Coceano." "That Elvira Coceano... .. Gemma kept talking to you about." "And whom, one day, she brought into the house." "You were joking about it, it didn't seem real, in the end, it... .. delivered you from your wife!" "From having to go out with her, from having fun." "You thought that was quite a good solution." "What luck having found someone like this!" "And today, why did Gemma... .. do this?" "Why?" "Why?" "You didn't want to see it!" "You didn't want to know anything!" "That's why!" "Because you love those books... .. more than you love your wife!" "But I love you, Gemma!" "I love you!" "It's too late for... lt's too late." "Is she better?" "Yes." "Much better." "And the fever?" "Listen, Franco, don't look at me this way, I'm losing my courage." "It's so difficult saying this to you." "Afterwards, I know, you won't want to see me anymore." "You'II hate me." "But I have to tell you eveyrthing!" "D'you understand?" "I could blame it on her, on Coceano, but that would be too easy." "It'd be dishonest." "I already carried the guilt in me." "The way I became your wife, that was the first mistake." "The others just followed suit, later." "Even if I hadn't met Elvira, I'd have probably ended up in the same way." "please, allow me, my glasses." " please." " Thank you." "Do you like it like this?" "Are you comfortable?" " Can I also say a word?" " No!" "No!" "No!" "No!" "Don't change... .. anything." "Don't touch anything, it's perfect like this." "How do you do it?" "I've always wondered how do you manage to give them all this cachet." " And then, with nothing much!" " Yes, I know, but you see," ".. countess, unfortunately... you don't know my husband." "Mhm..." "What is your husband, a colonel?" "A general?" " Major!" " Ah!" "Ah!" "But I was born among military." "My son was an Army Corps commander, so..." "please, madame." "That's the secret of the cachet!" "believe me, it's here!" "You should look at it in the sun!" "Seems a little dark!" " There's bad light in here." " Ta, ta, ta!" "Let me see it." " D'you like it?" " Even I couldn't say!" "It's a too serious fabric." "Too strict for... ..your type so...so nature." " Countess!" " Yes!" " Can you come for a moment?" "O, excuse me..." "They need me so much!" "Here I come." "Show me something lighter!" " Who's that lady over there?" " Don't you know her?" "It's countess Coceani, the romanian." "Madame Vagnuzzi!" "Madame Vagnuzzi!" "Madame!" "You went away without me... .. even noticing it!" "That stupid Ciani started..." " .. an argument." " Excuse me, but I didn't think..." "Are you going somewhere far away?" "If you want, I couId accompany you!" "Oh, thank you." "I Iive right next door." "Uh!" "Uh!" "Uh!" "What a rain!" " Here we are." "We've arrived." " Oh, yes!" "Poor lady!" "You're all wet!" "I'm so sorry!" "Come upstairs for a moment, have a cup of tea." " But, really..." " No, no!" "It's here!" "After the turn." "One moment!" "Yes." "Come!" "Come, madame!" "They say that we, romanians, have a... .. special way of making tea." "please, sit down." "You'II feel the difference." "Sit down." "Then, if you want," "I couId teach you how it's done." "It's nice here!" "Yes, I made it according to my own taste." "You'II understand, I'm alone, a stranger, far away from home... .. can't return there." "And this here is, I always say that, my small romanian corner." "My small Bucarest." "My own small revenge.." ".. on boIshevism." "Are you looking at my Iampshades?" "But, countess, you speaI italian perfectly!" "I've been in italy for so many years!" "italy... .. France... my father was a diplomat." "Oh!" "I'm sorry!" "Here." "You were loking at my Iampshades?" "I'II show you." "Cute, aren't they?" "I make them myself." "Yes, some were bought by... .. countess GiovanneIIi, Andrea Bonacci, Federica del Tongo," "Luigi CeIIesi, lawyer Semassi..." "They're exquisite, don't you think so?" "A condensed of the East." "That's what Bibbi was telling me... .. yesterday." "I don't give them cheap, of course, but for you... smell... .. smell this cream." "A drop's enough." "Everything considered, I think it saves money." "One more." "One more." "More." "Thank you." "And now finish telling me the story of... .. your engagement!" "Why was it ended?" "I haven't yet met your husband, yes, the professor, whom, when he'II deign, I'II see with pleasure, but I think PaoIo... .. Sertori would have been, how should I put it, much more suited," "as milieu also, to your qualities, wouldn't he?" "paolo Sertori's your brother!" "Why didn't you never tell me that?" "How little we know each other!" "I really don't know nothing about you!" "You're right." "We don't know anything about each other." "Excuse me." "Who is it?" "It's me." "How d'you feel?" "How do I feel?" "That's how I feel!" "Look!" "Look!" "We two must talk!" "Do you understand?" "Ssh!" "..." "Don't make all this noise now." "We'II talk tomorrow, go!" " Did I hurt her badly?" " Don't worry about that." " What did she tell you?" " Nothing." "I think it was that very afternoon that she... ..came here to have tea, and I introduced you to her." "It was still early." "We decided to wait for dinner time walking... .. on the main street." " Good evening, countess." " Good evening." " Who's that?" " You know, we'II walk better here." "It's Marchioness Taddei." "Money!" "Lots of them!" "I'II get you introduced!" "I don't know how to thank you." "It gives me pleasure." "This provincial life!" " Look, up and down, down and up." " Eh, yes!" "And only to wait for dinner time." " Oh, no, no." " Gemma!" " Oh, hi!" "How're you?" " How're you?" "It's been so long..." "What is it?" "A friend of yours?" "would you introduce me to him?" " Vittoni, countess Coceano." " Enchante!" "An honour." "Look who's here!" "Am I interrupting?" " Oh, no!" " Aren't you, by any chance, Luciano Vittoni from Rome?" "Yes, but how do you know my name?" "You're related to the florence Davis, aren't you?" "On my mother's side." "How well you look!" "My father talked to me about your aunt, isabella Ranieri!" "They used to see each other a Iot, when my father was in Lisbon." "It could very well be so." "How beautiful you've become!" "Marriage has really transformed you!" "But tell me... .. how come you've married that Lagnuzzi..." "Piagnuzzi." "Ah, come on, Iet's move from here!" " They really do push me!" " That's it!" "Let's move aside." " Let's go." "Why didn't you come at the Sertori villa anymore?" " Enough." "Bygones are bygones." "I'm not interested anymore!" " Come, at Ieast," " to introduce us to your Vagnuzzi!" " No, what's he got to do with you!" "You're right." "So, he's a real professor?" "The bearded..." " .. kind!" " How unciviI!" "paolo had a thing for you, you know it, don't you?" " Foreign legion stuff!" " Stop teasing... .. Gemma." "What d'you think?" "She made a lovely marriage!" "An extremely... .. proper one." "well, the professot sin't handsome, but he... .. isn't ugly!" "He's not brilliant, what a mind behind..." " .. those glasses!" " EIvira!" "please, stop!" "Countess, I'm beginning to feel we'II be friends." " Are you here for long?" " A quarter an hour ago I'd... .. have said, only for a month, fortunately..." " And now?" " only for a month, unfortunately." "Ah!" "..." "But then..." " .. we'II be seeing each other, won't we?" " I won't be the one against it!" "The thing is it's late, and I should already have been at home." "Are you mad?" "No way!" "We haven't seen each other in years!" " You help me also, countess!" " well, after all, Gemma, I think..." " .. that for once..." " WouIdn't you Iike..." " .. to stay a while with me?" " well..." "Yes." " What are we waiting for then?" "Let's go!" " Let's go." "But, EIvira, I should at Ieast call..." "You're right." "Of course." "call." " call." " To Piagnuzzi!" " To the great absentee!" " Hear!" "Hear!" "Hear!" " Ah!" "Ah!" "..." " I feel so light, light." "Like I became... double!" " Two Gemmas!" "How nice!" " Not quite so!" "Why Gemma number one is not pleased with Gemma number two." "Then let's drown Gemma number two!" " Let's drown her!" " Let's drown her!" "But the street doesn't stand still... .. and you mustn't let go of me, understand?" "Nothing's better than a walk in such cases." " Oh, yes?" "Then, bye!" " Gemma, where're you going?" "Where're you going, Gemma?" "Gemma, come here." "I'm going home." "It's really wonderful." "You'II see you'II like it." "Oh no, EIvira!" "please!" "Excuse me, Franco'II be angry." "He doesn't even know you exist!" "Luciano, thanks again for the wonderful evening, but, I swear to you..." " .." "EIvira, I really have to go!" " Don't be ridiculous!" "Vittoni will find you provincial." "Come on." "Eh!" "No!" "EIvira!" "Here we are." "Come, go upstairs... .. and, please, don't make any noise!" "Watch the third step, 'cause it's broken!" "One moment!" "One moment, Iet me turn the light on." "Forward, forward." "And now you can dance, sing, do whatever you please, you're in your home." "A little music!" "God, how well you look together!" "You seem made one for the other." "Excuse me a moment." "I'm going for the "Tokai"." "I should still have a bottle." "And remember, you're at home!" "Cut it out!" "Uh... you realy are disagreeable!" "I don't like such things!" "Can't you take a joke?" "I don't feel like joking." "I'm leaving." " Where to?" " Excuse me to EIvira, I'm going home." "honestly, your countess is right:" "you're made... .. to live and die in this provincial hole." "Nobody has ever treated me like this!" "Ah!" "I can see that, I can see that!" "well?" "What's the matter?" "Have you quarrelled?" " Ah!" "You lose no time!" " She wants to go back home." "That's nonsense!" "would you please sit down?" "Come on, sit down, or you'II make me angry!" "No, thanks, EIvira." "I really must leave." "One moment, I'II see you off." "She could stay, if you ask me!" " Bye, EIvira." " Bye." "please, Gemma, come tomorrow." "We'II meet at five, Iike usually." " Good night, countess!" " Good night!" " Are you still very angry?" " A little." "For a kiss?" "If you forgive me, I'm ready to admit... .. I'm a delinquent, an assassin." "But, first, I need your pardon." " Why?" " Because... .. because it'd mean you're not offended anymore." "It'd mean you don't think anymore I... .. intended to offend you." "alright!" "I forgive you." " But with one condition." " Which?" "That, from now on, you behave yourself!" "deal!" "I Iike listening to that far-away dog." "And then, what a splendid moon!" "I'd watch her for hours." "Me, too, Gemma, close to you." "It feels like being in curch, in some winter evenings." "It's dark, but down there, around the Virgin's altar," " .. you can see candles sparkle." " it's true." "When I was little, I was always alone and sad." "But, when I Iooked, from the dark, to the Virgin's alter, I felt... .. a peace, a joy that cured me from all my sorrows." "Let's go now, it's late." "What're you saying!" "It's only midnight!" "Liar!" "Show me!" "Ah!" "My God!" "Ten minutes to one, and me almost trusting you!" "Let's stay a little longer." "A quarter of an hour more, or a quarter... .. of an hour less." "It's so beautiful here!" "Don't be selfish." "D'you think it's that easy for me?" "Come, Luciano," ".. accompany me home." "Be kind!" "I'm kind, but you're mean!" " Here we are!" " Where d'you live?" "That house there." "Go." "Go now, it's better." "Bye, and sleep tight, will you?" "Good night." "finally!" " Where have you been?" " At the cinema, with EIvira." "Nice that romanian." "Bit of a chatterbox." "But it seems you care about her." "After all, she's an asset for you, isn't she?" " Do you want me to come upstairs?" " No, excuse me, darling." "I'm so tired." "Go on, go on." "And don't make any noise when you come up." "Ah Gemmina, my dear!" "How're you?" "Were you going out?" "You told me to come at five." "Oh!" "You're right, I'm sorry!" "But, you see, Bibi came this morning, and so, little by little, you know how it is, at half past five I must take... .. this Iampshade to Brendoni." "Yes, but I go, and will be back." " I'II go with you." " No!" "I told you I'II be right back!" "Start making the tea, my dear." "I've got something for you." "But Luciano, you shouldn't have." "It's from Paris." "I hope you Iike it." "No, no!" "No way." "Don't you realize that if I've been kind," ".. I've also had to make sacrifices." " l made some shopping." " What's this!" "Be serious!" "Please!" "You really are selfish!" "You only think about yourself... .. and you don't care at all about the others!" "What were you imagining?" " D'you think I live on charity?" " l don't think... .. anything." "I don't care!" "It's been 1 5 days you've been coming here... .. and using my house as..." " .. a bachelor flat!" " l've paid you!" "I've paid you in advance." " What more d'you want?" " Paid?" "But the discomfort, the bother, the risk!" "Yessir, the risk, how about that?" "I think I've paid enough." "You want 1 00,000 lire." "Where do you think we are?" "Not even in Paris!" "You're a boor!" "Listen, countess, you either cut it out, or I'll have your passport confiscated." "Leech." "I'd swear yshe's a spy!" "Are you already dressing?" " Bye." " Bye." "Oh, listen!" "Tomorrow I can't make it, I'm busy." "The day after tomorrow, then." "You don't know how to handle it, my dear!" "You don't know how to deal with men." "Vittoni's loaded, he can pay." "If I were in your place, I wouldn't hesitate a second." " And you could also think at..." " At you, isn't it EIvira?" "You're beginning to disgust me!" "Ah!" "I'm disgusting you!" "Me, who's helped you in every possible way!" "You're ungrateful!" "But, careful, my dear, because..." "Drink, drink, it's getting cold." "Here it is!" "You answer it!" "I'II be in there." "Or we'II quarreII today also!" "Hi, Gemma." " D'you want some tea?" " Where's the countess?" "In there." "Ah, listen Gemma, I've come to tell you I'm leaving." " Today?" " Right away." "The car's outside.." ".. and I'd Iike to be in Rome for dinner." " Are you coming back?" " I don't know... .. in a month, two months, maybe sooner, maybe later." " But we'II write, won't we?" " Write, why?" "We've been seeing each other for a month." "We're always here." "We never know what to tell each other." "No!" "No!" "What are you saying?" "I'll be back." "We're still friends." "Maybe there was something you didn't like?" "No, nothing." "I'm sorry to leave you like this." "But I'd Iike to be sure you haven't got anything against me." "As I don't have anything against you, that's all." "Bye, Gemma." "Bye." "He finally left!" "The scoundrel finally left!" "Ah, now we can breathe better." "I don't like the atitude you have towards me." "I'm not going to be under anyone's thumb." "Isn't it enough you made me do this mad thing?" "What esle d'you want from me?" "What are you thinking?" "A good sleep and you won't even remember anything." "It was... .. that day, when I came back home..." "You were reading... .. and, Iike usually, you didn't even notice I had come in." "But when you raised your eyes... .. you immediately saw I was upset." "What's the matter?" "Nothing." "I'm tired." "Aren't you tired of always studying?" "So and so." "Last year we talked a lot about going to the mountains... .. and then we didn't go." "What was the name of that place you were talking about?" "Instead, in the last moment, maybe to please me, you changed your mind and we went to Switzerland." "Here or there, it didn't matter for me... .. the state I was in." "I only wanted to go away." "Thank you." "But, suddenly, one evening, without understanding why, it was like seeing you for the first time." "I'm Heidi, a student at the Zurich PoIytechnic." "I'd Iike to have the honour of dancing with you." "alright, mademoiselle." "Did you hear, Gemma?" "Miss Heidi, from the Zurich PoIytechnic, says she wants to dance with me." "Because, she says, I'm famous." " May I?" " please do." "Of course!" "please!" "Was it because of that girl?" "I don't know." "It had never crossed my mind that our... ..coat-hanger, could have become famous." "You had never told me anything." "It was a shock for me, seeing you in that picture." "You were dancing well." "That I also didn't know." "It was for the first time that we danced together." "I'm a little tired." "Let's rest a little." "alright." "Let's stop there." " Is there any tea?" " Yes." "There must be some left." "Why're you looking at me?" "I was looking at your hands." " What's with my hands?" " It'd look nice with the wedding ring." "I think you could wear it." "I don't know," "I feel this would unite us more." "Gemma, you have never told me that!" "You know you look nice with the wedding ring." "And then, all women, esthetically..." "What would you do if I'd cheat on you?" "I'd leave you!" "I'd go on loving you." "But, would you regret losing me?" "Very much so." "Very much so, Gemma." "When we came back into the town... .. everything seemed changed." "Even the house was different." "I had always hated it." "And now, as soon as I saw it, for me it was like coming back from the honeymoon." " Listen, Franco..." " tell me, my darling." " would you take me into your arms?" " What?" " Yes!" "To take me into the house!" " What an idea!" " How much is it?" " 350!" " Here you are!" " Thank you." "well!" "What are you doing?" "Aren't you coming inside?" "welcome!" "You must ask yourself why am I here." "Excuse me, professor, for these liberty." "Oh, my dear Gemma!" "But, as I had to suddenly abandon... .. my apartment, the owner wouldn't let me breathe, you know how they are." "So, I thought I should use the oppurtunity." "I knew I could count on your hospitality." "On the other hand, had I done something else I'd have felt... .. I was doing you wrong." "Isn't it true, Gemmina?" "How're you, my dear?" "You're like a flower." "And imagine Nannina, when she saw me coming with the taxi, wouldn't let me in." "I told her I was assuming all responsibility, and then she backed down!" "tell me." "Didn't I do the right thing?" "Oh, yes." "You did very well." "That's where I settled!" "I don't know if I did wrong." "I tried to settle in the smallest room." "I'm unpretentious." "I can manage for a few days." "And why should you want to leave us?" "Didn't you hear Gemma?" "You must be tired!" "D'you need anything?" " Nannina!" "Bring us some coffee!" " Yes, right away." "Your house is very nice, and so quiet!" "only a little chilly." "O, yes, you should... .. think about heating it." "Making her a little more intimate." "I'II help you, sometimes you don't need much." "Two cushions, a lampshade..." "Nannina!" "What about the coffee?" "What a tongue!" "Where's she?" "still here?" "I think she went downstairs." "What's the matter?" "Uhm... nothing." "I'm annoyed!" "That's not the way to get into someone's home." "You could have told her so, couldn't you?" "But, Gemma, I did it for you." "I thought you'd Iike it." "After all, it's only about a few days, isn't it?" "She said so, you heard her." "I couldn't talk to her the whole day." "You were always in the house." "The next morning..." "Bye, Franco!" "And now, do me a favour and go away!" "Today!" "Right now, d'you understand?" "What are you saying, I haven't even finished unpacking... .. my suitcases and settling down, that you already drive me away?" "!" "This is not a nice thing, Gemma." "It's true that I told your husband that I'd only stay... .. for a few days, but it was only natural I should tell him that." "In order to prolong my stay, permanently," "I was counting on your help." "I expected you'd appreciate my tact." "Ah, so it's true!" "So you intend to stay here!" "My husband won't agree!" "You'II tell him you need company, which is true, by the way, and he'II have nothing against it." "You're a child, my dear, you don't know life." "Husbands must walk the line." "But what if he doesn't want to?" "I'd know right away from whom that would come." "Can I have that abat-jour, please?" "Thank you." "I repeat, your husband listens to you, especially now when you... .. have a perfect love." "How well you managed it!" "If he doesn't want it, it'd mean it's because of you!" "But I'm the one who doesn't want this!" "I hate you, d'you understand me?" "You make me sick!" "I can't believe it." "We're such good friends." "Why should you turn me into an enemy?" "I know so many things about you that, put with my back against the wall," "I couId do you a Iot of harm." "Why should that be?" "You'd suffer, and I'd suffer, who wants to live in peace." "only thinking that certain things could happen..." "That your husband might get to know... .. everything that went on in my home, fills me with horror." "I swear it." " What could you tell him?" " Oh, no, because..." "You thought you were doing me a pleasure, Franco, you couldn't see how I was suffering." "You thought that Coceano amused me, but she was torturing me." "You thought she was our guest, and she was the master of the house!" "Listen, I need money, and that's the end of it." "I've found the type we need." "Sure, an unlucky countess, impoverished, stateless, with no roof over her head, like me, doesn't enjoy the credit the wife... .. of professor Vagnuzzi does, with a house and a professor husband." "I'm asking you to come with me." "I'll introduce you to this gentleman, and you'll manage to convince him." " What d'you mean?" " Nothing!" "Are you going to refuse being my guarantor?" "I'm not coming!" "I don't trust you!" "alright." "Then I know what I have to do." "Do as you wish." " I'II talk to my husband." " And what will you tell him?" " Everything!" "I'll tell him who you are, I'll tell him you want to sell me." "He'II think you've gone crazy." "He'II throw you out like dirt." "I'll have all the time I need to talk to him about Vittoni." "He'II think you're mad." "Who knows!" " Even if I'II bring him proofs?" " Proofs?" "Liar!" "What proofs?" ""My dear Luciano... "" "".. is it true we won't be seeing each other tomorrow?"" ""Your Gemmina is dying for the desire of... "" "It was only a copy." "Rest assured." "The original is in a safe place!" "Awaiting mister Vagnuzzi!" " My dear!" "My dear Renzi!" " How're you?" "Great." "This is mister Renzi, my dear." " I'm sure you'II become good friends." " glad to meet you." "please." " We'II meet this evening as usually." " What are you saying?" "Aren't you coming?" "I told you it's up to you to convince him!" " Where should we go?" " Wherever you wish." "I'd prefer somewhere far away." "As far away as possible!" "My son has advised me to come to italy, to see it's artistic beauties," " but now, that I've seen you..." " Is it really necessary for you to speak?" "No." "It's not necessary." " But, I'd have preffered..." " please." "D'you know any good place around here?" " No." " Then, Iet's put our trust in chance." "I believe a Iot in chance." "The luck of having met you." "And d'you call it chance?" "But... aren't you a friend of that sham countess?" "A friend!" "I hate her!" "I've also found her rather unpleasant." "I think she'II keep all the money for herself, isn't it so?" "Don't say anything anymore." "please!" "But you're really pathetic!" "seriously, won't you even give me little smile?" "Listen, it's not for a little smile, and not for listening to the story of my Iife... .. that you are here." "So, please, Iet's end this." " Let's end this right away!" "As soon as possible!" " I'm afraid I don't get it." "Are you that unhappy close to me?" "Then why did you come?" "I can't tell you that." "You wouldn't understand." "I beg you, Iet's not lose our time talking!" "If a moment's pleasure for me, means... .. a tragedy for you, Iet not talk about it anymore!" " What?" "You're going back?" " Of course!" " Thank you." " You needed that to smile." "It's your first time, isn't it?" "Yes." "I thought so." "I dind't have any luck." "It happened too quickly." "I'm sorry." "But you'II get used to it." "You'II see you'II get used to it." ""You'll get used to it!" "You'll get used to it!"" ""You'll get used to it!"" ""You'll get used to it!"" ""You'll get used to it!"" ""You'll get used to it!" "... "" "Hey, Gemma!" "Gemma!" "Big news!" "Big news, Gemma:" "I've won a contest!" "I'm the first!" "I'II chose Rome, naturally!" " What does it mean?" " What does it mean?" "!" "It means we're going to Rome, d'you understand?" "We only have to wait for the University to call." "A matter of days." "Oh, no!" "How stupid of me!" "In'36 I was in Norway... .. and from Norway to New York." "Uhm..." "I have such nice friends... .. in New York, the Matarassos, they have such a Iarge fortune." "you don't happen to know them, do you?" "alright." "I managed to get to Paris in time... .. for the "Grand Prix", and to accompany... .. Prince Groskoff to Capri." "Uhm, the poor soul, he always said his life without me was like a desert." "A desert with no oasis." "He's dead, the poor darling!" "And almost in my arms!" "The family had already put his will in custody." "I remember he had rented, Via Appia... .. count AIIegri's villa, another good friend of mine." "I'II introduce you to him, Gemma, you see you'II like him very much." "well, you can say you're very lucky to have me with you, in Rome." "I bet you don't know anyone, do you?" "well, exactly as I thought, but I'II be there." "I know everybody, and everybody knows me." "I'll open for you doors you don't even imagine!" "Closed circles!" "Then, Gemma, you'll see the shops in Rome are something else than here!" "And the cinemas!" "There are so many of them..." "And we'll go out every evening, won't we, Vagnuzzi?" "When you have such a wife you must let her be seen!" "The romans just don't know who's on her way there!" "And we'II also make a Iot of conquests!" "Yes, Gemmina!" "No?" "Why don't you eat?" "Come on, Vagnuzzi, don't pull that face!" "Eh, I'm here, and I keep my eyes open!" "well, I might not exactly be what they call a madre nobile, but you have been so sweet to me, that I don't know what I wouldn't do to see you happy!" "It'll be splendid!" "We'II be together, for ever." "We'II never seperate." "Enough!" "Enough!" "Enough!" "Open!" "Open the door!" " I see you're leaving?" " Of course!" "We're going to Rome, no?" "Go away!" "What?" "Look, or to Rome, with you, or at the police!" "Go away or I'II turn you in!" "And you know why!" "Try!" "I say!" "What are you doing?" "Have you gone mad?" "What are you doing?" "He's mad!" "In prison!" "That's where your Gemma should end up!" "In prison!" "incredible!" "One could die this way." "It'II cost you dearly, distinguished professor Vagnuzzi!" "I've got my medical certificate!" "5 cms more this way, and she'd have touched my heart!" "I'm not at all afraid of you!" "Now I'II show you what I'm capable of." "Laughs best who laughs last!" "You should see those promissory notes, I'm telling you!" "I'II have you thrown out from the University!" "Have you understood?" "50,000 lire, that's what you must give me!" "More!" "A million!" "A million, if not I'II go to count Sertori!" "You're rotten!" "You're all rotten!" "The entire italy is rotten!" "D'you want to know what your Gemma did with mister Vittoni?" "And now you... away!" "Go!" "Go away!" "Go away!"