"THE DINNER" " Good evening, madam." " Good evening." "Hello, Flora." "Good evening." "Hello, Diomede." "How are you?" " Hello Diulio." "I brought strawberries." " Put them there, we'll wash them later." " You put stars on it?" " No, that's the dots on the "i"." "The "i" of an artist." "Flora, don't you have anything to do in the salon?" "Be good." "You can't bring the motorbike in." " Out!" " It's raining, I can't leave it out!" "I'll break it and dump it!" " This is a kitchen, not a garage!" " The owner let me." "I'm the boss here." "You are a nuisance." " I will rust." " Out!" "I'll take you by the hand... an without a word, I'll take you in my heart..." "I won't be afraid and like you say, it'll be beautiful..." " Do you like them?" " What?" " My shoes." " Red?" " Yes, red." "Good evening, professor." "It's not enough to dream one is a king, you have to find a queen to be happy." "You'll make me blush." "At my age..." "If only you were 30 years older..." "Sit down." " Your table is ready." " Thanks." " I'll take it of myself." " Alright." " Good evening." "Yes, it's taken." " That table?" "Thanks." "I'll tell you were to sit." "Me at the head and the ladies by my side." "Good evening, Adriana." "How are you?" "Here?" " Entrees "Carpacho de lubina"" " Hello, professor." " Good evening." "The usual rice?" "Let me exercise my fantasy." ""Smoked trout, vol-au-ven... without a "t"." "Bravo!" "" Bresaola rolls with cheese" Good!" "The usual rice." " This way." " Thanks." "Do you like it here?" "On the phone you said you wanted to talk." "So, dear..." "I was dying to see you." " Everything fine at boarding school?" " Yes, all is fine." "Did you chose a university?" "It's a very important decision." "You don't like languages." "But languages will take you wherever you want." "Goddamit!" "This is stuck!" "In Scotland we screwed up." "We didn't understand a thing." "But this year, at Ibiza, we did better with our Spanish." "Haven't decided yet?" "¡l did it!" " I'm afraid you won't like it." " As long as you like it..." " Here you go." " Thanks." " What will you order?" " Thanks, we're reading." "A steak with salad, with dressing." "My wife repeats this since we dated." "President:" "Giovanni Leone." " I didn't say that." " And the lady?" " Do you have macrobiotic food?" " vegetables, squid bones..." "A bean soup perhaps?" "Here it is." "A photo?" "My God." "Young master." "Good." "You can show it to me later." " Ketchup, please." " What?" " Ketchup, please." " Ketchup." "Coming up." "Ketchup, madam." "I'll find out about the Tunisian tablecloths." "The shop is behind the Plaza Vittorio." "I'll go with you whenever you say so." "And remember you promised my bike to go for a ride." "Your bike is wrong, I didn't promise." " What are you doing?" " Ketchup, for the Japanese." "It doesn't mix with "carbonara"." "Tell them we don't have any." "Diomede, the client is always right." "Yes?" "For two?" "We'll expect you." " Here's your rice." " The most eaten food in the world." " I thought it was pasta." " You had to be Italian." " Do you want to order?" " No." "For now cool four bottles of champagne." "Good evening, do you want to order?" "No, I'm waiting for someone." "I'm not alone." "I'm not surprised." "If you need me, here I am." "You have no reservation?" " No..." "I'll leave." " No...wait." " Are you alone?" " I'm alone." "Come, let's find you something." "This table is taken, this one as well." "Wait here." "Take your coat off." "Just a moment." "There you go!" "Excuse me, professor." "It's small, but you'll be fine." "Hello, Sandra." "The photo?" "I came out good." "You look good." "You've grown up." " Age-wise, yes." " Me, weight-wise." "How is your wife?" "Fine, thanks." " The usual stew?" " No, a vegetable omelet... with mashed potatoes." "A good ration." "Meanwhile, if you'd like to read..." "What is it?" "Poetry!" "Hello, professor." " Hello Arturo." "How are you?" " Fine." " Good." "An euphemism." " Excuse me?" "Just babbling." "Arturo has been ill, then he got better... but he is in a state of chronic convalescence, not well, not bad." "He is not a client, he is the owner of this restaurant... and the husband of the beautiful Flora." "Don't ask any more questions." " How are you?" " Better today." " How are things going here?" " As usual." "Good evening, Arturo." "If you came here more often..." "You know, the owner's eye..." "Flora is here, that's enough." "I'll get you the fish." " And the water!" " And the water." "Excuse me." " Excuse me." " No reason to ask." " Lola!" " Rino!" "Angel!" " Do you want to order?" " Yes." "I suggest some cold cuts to begin with." " I'm a vegetarian." " That also!" "I'll take care of you then." "You too." " Lolla!" " Vinicio!" "A flower for you." "What do we want another for?" "I thought we were meeting alone." "We must clarify something." " Today we must clarify." " Let us!" "There has always been a passionate relation between us." "It can't be stemmed." "Lola, I see you don't answer." "I think that when I went to see my godmother, you cheated me with him." "I don't know a thing." "My behaviors are but a mirror of my contradictions." "But I never cheated you with my heart." "Don't be uncouth." " Since when are you wearing glasses?" " For a long time." " Last year you didn't wear them." " Yes, and you asked the same thing." " Shall we order, or we wait for Francesco." " As you wish." "Excuse me." " Ready to order, madam?" " She's my daughter." " She's pretty." "Congratulations." " Fetuccini with mushrooms." " And you?" " Bresaola with lettuce." " No dressing." "These guys were never beaten by the cops." "Did you go out in the streets in Genoa to throw out Tamburini's government?" "I see you don't speak." "Is the squid ready?" "Back there they congratulate you on the mineral water." " Asshole, you and your mineral water!" " Here, the heat, the wine..." "This is Veronica..." "Pippo...and Lucia." "It's true what they say." "Had I known..." "I would have had grandchildren before having children." ""Your heavenly bread can go to the table of the wretch?"" ""Answer..." "I'm listening"." " What do I say?" " It's an empty pause." "The character says "speak", but he doesn't answer." "An extraordinary text... by the best author I have ever adapted for a play." "It's an accusation against Christianity." "A bomb!" " It's got body." " How much do you owe?" "Must be the codfish." "Very salty." "If there is no dialogue between mother and daughter, that's the end." "I must talk to you..." " About a project." " A project?" "You have a boyfriend?" "How is he?" "Handsome, cute, tall?" "Are you getting married?" "Of course not." "I don't have a boyfriend." " Not at all." " Not at all?" " Chicken broth?" " For me, thanks." "Very well." " And tripe for the lady." " Thanks." "I'm starving" "Better." "Eat well." "See you later." "Tripe." "I dream with this." "Sabrina, what does "not at all" mean?" "Time flies, Sabrina." "And all of a sudden you turn old." "Look me in the eye." "I have never asked, but..." "Are you a virgin?" "You've been asking this since I was 13." "But you are 19 now." "Have you made love?" "Love and sex are a right... even a duty!" " I never told you." " Yes, you have." "Do you want to wait till you are 80 and your legs are flaccid?" "Everybody's listening!" "I'm not saying anything wrong." "Will you explain me why are you leftist?" "I don't get it." "Right and left are mental cages." "Of course, we have to think with the brain." "I fight for a more even distribution, I'm not talking about riches... that's already distributed, I'm talking about rights." "The rights of the citizens must be guaranteed." "Also the right to hire workers without papers?" "Is that funny?" "Everything is legal in your deals?" "This year you have already had 12 season's sales... and there are only four seasons." "Don't make me laugh!" "Hello." "Hello, Giovanna." "We are having dinner out." "Tell me." "No, tomorrow I have meditation." "I'm going to the restroom, I had too much water." " Don't take so much." " I must have three liters." "It's to fight cellulitis." "Did you see those two behind us?" "They are staring at us." " Of course they stare." " Tell me later." "We'll se who'll be the president of the Council." "No, it's OK." "Tomorrow at seven." "Asshole." "Did you know Dr. Flamimni Minuto agreed to testify?" " Gigi, perhaps I won't marry you." " What?" "I have to know." "If it's only a delay, we get married." "If I'm pregnant, we don't." "You must mean the other way round." "I don't get it." "You don't get it because you think like our parents." "I won't get married just because the baby needs a father." "We must only marry for love." "We got to be sure." "If there is a child on the way, we'll marry in a couple of years, out of love." "Now that you are the director... and my role as volunteer advisor is pleonastic, I..." "That's the way she said it." "With a pound of paint in her mouth." "Like the woman who just went out." "She is jealous because I get along with the children... and she can't." " Good evening." " I made reservations on the phone." "Di Fonzi." "I recognized you, professor." "Follow me" "Your table is ready." "I want you!" "I want you, darling!" "I want you, a million times!" "I like everything about you!" "Everything!" "And you know what above all?" " Drop it." " You know." "Your garters." "The first time I saw you in underwear I liked you immediately." "Let me see them." "Please, show them to me." "I'll scream!" "Please." "You can't understand." ""First you have to feed me and my family... then I'll accept the heavenly bread"" "What will you reply?" "Why don't you?" "Speak." "I'm listening." " Speak!" " Do I speak?" "No, idiot!" "I told you, you just listen and keep quiet." "Got it?" "I'm saying:" "Got it?" "Very well." "When I say:" "Answer." "Do you reply?" ""The truth is you only love those who praise you." "Your love is not endless, it's a privilege for those who love you." "Deny it, if you can." "Right?" "Speak." "For all creation." "Reply." " Do I reply?" " Come on..." " No, you mustn't reply." " Mind your own business." "I know the text, every Wednesday I go to the theatre." "It's my day off." "At the "Argentina" I saw the Karmazov Brothers, by Ronconi." "Yes, but this is an idea of mine back from '85." "We'll do something different." "Come see us." " I'm waiting for the salad, and the gentleman his artichokes." " Coming." " Nice." " Very." "On the phone you spoke about a play with two characters... dialoging." "But here, when..." "Menghi!" "Don't you know "The Great Inquisitor"?" "And the "Karamazov Brothers"?" " I don't see Ronconi." " What does Ronconi have to do?" " Have you read Dostoievski?" " Not all." "Ivan reads a story to his brother Aliosha... on a judge in the Holy Inquisition." ""Loving is not enough." "We need reason." "Love made you come back after 1500 years." "Reason tells me to send you to your death." "Do you know it?" "Yes, you know it all." "You've come back knowing that destiny is a second sacrifice." "Speak, for once and for all!" "Answer!" "I'll smash your face if you speak!" "It tastes like cork." "'94, right?" " Yes, '94." " Terrible year." " I'll bring another." " No." " What do you think?" " It's terrible." "The rhyme is all wrong." ""Reflected in the water sailed by the ship" Ship?" "It rhymes with love." "I'll skip that." ""The easy wind of a love dream" That's poor." "Very poor." ""We see, trembling, a smoky dream" That's obscene!" ""Under the sky that carries our hopes"" ""It reflects in the water a love dream"" ""We see, trembling our likeness"." "It's still poor, but it's more human." "Here." " Thanks." " Don't mention it." " I wrote it in the subway." " You'll better travel on foot." " Thanks, professor." " Develop your soul..." "No future as a poet, but he's stubborn." "He insists." "What about the vegetable tortilla for the professor?" "It's not in the menu." "You can cook it yourself for that fucking professor!" "Not too much salt." "The professor has high pressure." "I'm fed up!" "Duilio is going..." "Yes!" "All of a sudden!" "I'm going, Diomede!" "Me too." "We are leaving tomorrow to get another job." "What is it?" " "Timbale" Duilio style?" " No, just trying." " May I recommend this to some sophisticated client?" " As you wish." "Clients want steak... the staff can't cook a hamburger, meatloaf... a sauce, a base." "There's no training." "Why?" "Because there's no passion!" "You have to be a man before you become a waiter!" "Otherwise, you are half a chef, half a man, half a citizen!" "I'm between two roads." "It's as if other lived in my place, as a foreigner." "Aldo!" "Lola!" "It's crowded tonight." "I haven't had the pleasure." "Who's this?" " An idiot stalking her." " Where shall I sit?" " You talked about two roads." " I must clarify things with him." "You don't fit here with that mattress you have on you!" "And this foot!" "That was my foot!" "I met Lola three months ago, at Vía Corso." " I give a damn!" " For once, we agree." "She was crying at a shop window." "Then she bought a shirt." "Yellow and green, remember?" "I wonder what I would have done if I hadn't met you." " You'd have bought a different shirt." " And then?" "He bought me a drink and took me home in the Nº75 bus." "When I got back to the barracks I was punished for being late." "I don't care about that." " At the barracks I wrote you a letter." " Very touching!" " One of your mates gave it to me." " Who confessed all about you two." "We read it together. I cried." "Out of happiness." "He comforted me." "But I never saw him again." " He was transferred to Bergamo." " Otherwise, he'd also be here." " Hello, uncle!" " Hello." "Where is my aunt?" "Hello, aunt." "There is nine of us." "Chopper is also here." "Chopper?" "is he a cartoon character?" "He's great!" "And so handsome!" " You didn't like Lorenzo?" " Yes, centuries ago!" " Which one is Chopper?" " When he gets here I'll go..." " That's your table, by the balustrade." " Thanks, aunt. I love you." "What a stink!" "You smoke a lot?" "No, one between all of us." "They are arriving." "Bye!" "After this meal nothing will be the same." "Thank you." "...Albanese, Turkish, Moroccan, all separate." "Even though I like the extra-community." " Tell him." " What?" "Sure." "Besides the Filipinos will clean your house." " Let me see." "An African landscape." " ln fact it's the Coliseum." "How is he?" "What do you expect?" "Quite well." "I haven't seen much of him since he left the community." "I haven't seen much of you either." " l can't force you." " You never have." "If we always have to talk about the same we'd better go." "Drop it..." "Are you interested in a painting?" "Look at this one..." " l did it today." " No, I won't drop it!" "What are you smiling at?" "is it my fault that we live a strangers?" "No, nobody has accused you!" "When we were kids as well." "Who decided then?" "Mum, while she was alive." "Never you!" "I traveled working...for you." " You never lacked anything" " You gave us all we wanted!" "Travel, go to India, smoke, fuck..." "but don't bust my chops." " l don't understand" " You don't understand?" "Have you ever scolded me?" "Did you ever slap me?" "Shall I slap you now, here?" "I'll slap you back here." "Better ask for the check." "You've finished?" " Fried fish for me." " Italian style?" " Yes, and you?" " Do you like steamed bass?" " That's fine." "Thanks." "Excellent choice." "They also know the suffering of love." "But he is older than you are." "And not as cute." " Yesterday I told Luca everything." " ¿So?" "Was I wrong in telling him about us?" "No, you did the right thing." "I knew you would agree." "I know you well, my love." "What exactly did you tell him?" "The truth." "That it's over between him and I." "And that for a year now my professor and I are in love." "and that ours is not just any love... but rather an ideal an eternal love like you defined it at your office." "Of course." "That was the title of your philosophy thesis." " Professor?" " Yes?" "I talked to Luca." "Did you talk with your wife?" " About what?" " About your intentions." " You mean...no." " Did you tell her you won't live with her?" " lt's her birthday soon." " Sure you haven't told her yet?" " Honestly...not." "Don't tell her anything." " Don't?" " Don't tell her anything." " l'll talk to her." " lt wouldn't be fair." "I wrote her a letter, after leaving Luca." "I haven't sent it yet." "I'll read it to you." "What do you say?" "Shall I read it?" ""Madam, I know you through the man who's lived with you 40 years." "Let me ask you." "Don't you think these 40 years have been like pushing your luck?" "Isn't it an abuse of happiness?" "Wouldn't it be democratic to call it quits?" "You consider him your husband." "To me he is not only my philosophy professor." "Giulio is the first man to take me apart... and rebuild me as pure poetic raw material." "I love your husband, and I've given everything up for him." "We all have the right to be happy, that's in the American constitution." "And you, madam..." "Who cut your hair?" "Did your dog bite it off?" "You shouldn't talk." "Don't play the fool." "An uncle of mine is into hard drugs... twice a month, but he hasn't lost a single hair." " My mother's boyfriend has something on his chest. - ls he the "Michelin Man"?" "Last Saturday my father split." "He left behind his wife and four kids, me among them." " Look at the engineer, hushed." " And what about the other?" "Nice rat!" "A rat?" "She's a nuisance." "I prefer my mother any time." "She's like you, right?" " Are you smoking, Flora?" " No, no." "I'll put it out." " And then?" " For me, "pappardelle." " Excuse me, ladies first." " Thanks." "Vegetable soup, no celery." "It has celery. ln Rome everything has celery." " What do you recommend?" " Go to Toscana, we don't use celery." "No entree." "I'll have the chef make a light mixed fry for you." "Flowers, above all." "And a butterfly." " Get me a mixed fry." " Coming." "That's stupid, isn't it?" "Tell me if I'm wrong." "You are crazy!" "Have you ever served a meal for 5000 people at the "Fiesta de la Unidad?" "What have you done?" "Nothing!" "You have no historic memory." "You, from '53, '78, '84 and '89... can only remember who won the San Remo festival." " Anna Oxa y Fausto Leali." " Fine, that's all you know." " Of course." " l makes me sad." "You take care of the fish, I don't know how to clean it, I ruin it." "Sorry, Flora, I forgot Arturo's potatoes." " l think you ought to do something." " Do I look bad?" "I'm depressed." "No, you are fine. lt's that waiter, from Tuscany." " Uliano?" "What has he done?" " He does as he pleases." "He doesn't obey, he's a nuisance." "He'll get fired any time." " But not..." " See?" "He's never at his place." " That's all?" " He's funny, people like him." "Flora as well." "And he uses that." "As I said, do as you please." "What should I do?" "Fire him because he is cheerful at the job?" "I don't know, say something." "Admonish him, talk to him." " You talk to him." " Me?" "You are the boss." "You are the husband." " Yes, I'm like the two of copas." "" " Eat." ""Good opportunities are on your way." "An important encounter will occur at night."" "...perhaps it's just a delay, but if I'm pregnant... I want know what do you want, what do you think." "Perhaps I already know what I want." "If you want the same, good... but if you have other ideas, I'll decide..." " Sorry, Olga. lt's only water." " Don't worry." " Sorry." "and you already had part of his happiness." "Now it's my turn." "Not only because of the right a young person like I have... of receiving the gift other women have already had... but also for the right to a fair distribution of happiness and pain." "Still here?" "...to the "nostalgia of the future"" "like Vittorio Foa says in his "Youth Letters"." "Yes, we've met, prophets, hypnotist..." "Magicians!" "Stop it!" "Out!" "I warned you, in and out." "Out!" "Be tolerant." "This is my job." " You have a job and so do I." " Mine is to throw you out." "At least let me distribute my calling card." " Uliano!" " Excuse me." " Professor..." " Please." "Thanks." "I'm at your disposal." ""Maestro Adam." "Rome based ltalian-French magician." ""Fortune-teller, hypnotist, graphologist."" ""Luck, business, health, love?"" ""You pay only after getting results"." "Can you write a phrase or a word on this card?" "Whatever comes to your mind." "Help!" "Vertical consonants, the "l" is inclined, small exclamation sign." "Unsure personality, with a tendency to ask help from the others." "An accurate diagnostic." "Do you want anything to eat?" " 9:48." "Alright." " Waiter." "Get us something to grignoter." "He said: to peck at." " Well?" " What can I have?" "There's the menu." " l had rice soup..." " That's good, but not for my stomach." "I want pasta with shrimp." "And then..." " You can ask me then." " No, now." "We don't want to be disturbed later on." "Fried fish." "And red wine." "Fish goes with red wine." "It is not scientific, but in some cases." ""We don't want to be disturbed"." "Why don't you come?" "We are only on the second course." "Busy?" "A pity." "You are missing something good." "My wife's cleavage." "Do you want chicken, or steak?" "is it steek or steak?" "Mum, I'll stay at the monastery this year." "How come you're staying?" "First it was just elementary school... then high school, and now you want to spend summer there?" "No, mum. I'm staying." "Madam!" "Excuse my impudence:" "Where did you buy those wonderful shoes?" " Would you mind telling me?" " Not at all." "I'll write it down for you." "Thanks, I'll go and buy them tomorrow at 9." " Thanks a lot." " Don't mention it." "You were saying?" "I'll stay three years at the monastery, as a novice." "No, I already have two pairs of red shoes." "As a what?" "Did I hear right?" "It is not true." "Like when you were little and you would hide to scare me." "At least tell me why." " There's no reason why." " There must be." "There are many." "Why do you want to go into seclusion?" "Why bury yourself alive?" "Why do you want to...?" "You see?" "I can't even say it." "Excuse me, a person...is not... all of a sudden you are told:" ""Mum I want to be a nun"." "I said "novice"." "First I have to spend three years as a novice." "Holy mother of God!" "It could be just a delay, we must wait for the tests." "But if I'm pregnant we won't get married..." "I don't know." "We need a house to live together." "With your job and mine we could buy one." "Gigio, I want to know what you think tonight." "It's an important decision and we ought to make it together." " What do you think, Gigio." " l'm, going to the restroom." "What were you staring at?" "You like staring at women in restaurants?" " Bravo!" " No, I wasn't..." "You followed me, you don't care about that woman with you..." " No, I wanted to go to the restroom." " To the ladies room?" "What did you want?" "What did you expect?" "This?" "Or this?" "Why do you have this between your legs?" "Do you feel superior because of it?" " Tell me it's mine." "Say it!" " lt's yours." "Keep it." "What am I going to do with it?" ""Your love corrupts your flock and my Power saves it"." "Can't you see just how current is the inquisitor's message?" "People will talk about this." "It's a harsh critic on Christ." "Say yes: 80.000 a night, I can't give you more." "You mentioned a play with two characters." " You play Jesus Christ" " But Jesus blunders." "That's the message of silence." "He replies by keeping silent." "What can he add to what he said 2000 years ago?" "1500 years later, he returns to the Earth..." "Gigio, did you go to cry to the bathroom because of what I said?" "You are very sensitive, that's enough for me." "Let's go. I've already paid." "Lets go home." "There's nobody there." "We'll be alone." "Happy, my love?" "And besides, I'm a friend of the mother..." "But I can't tell her her 15 year old boy fell in love with an old crone." "And he condemns him again." "Not to crucifixion, but to the fire." ""Tomorrow, the very people who love you will feed the fire"" " And he remains silent." " That's the great intuition of playwriting." "Doesn't seem great to me." "You play a Christ who can't put two words together." "Hear that?" "That's my balls hitting the ground." " But you say..." " Job problems?" "No, it's not that." "I work full time as an accountant at the foodstuffs market." "My market price is low:" "I get 1 .700.000" "liras a month." "No doubt." "Men who have their personality limited to 50%... always have humble jobs." "You know why?" "There's more people today who want to order than obeying." "Extraordinary!" "That explains it." " Narciso will never be submissive." " Lapidarian." "Forget Narciso." "I don't like myself at all." "I'll confess something." "See this hair?" " False" " What?" " A wig." " Can you tell?" " No, I did." "Do you think it's obvious?" "Blending in is part of your nature." "That's right." " Here." " Now you speak, I listen." " How long is it?" " One hour and ten minutes." "I reckon nowadays shows are shorter." "You are wrong." "I have to sit for 1 :10 hours, with a wig, a beard, and my hands on my knees." "And you take 90.000 liras a night." "Terni, Sulmona y Ascoli." "And I"' close a deal with Rovigo to go to the Veneto." "In July, Ostia Antica, maybe." "I have a name." "What will my audience say?" "Menghi!" "Stop talking and people will thank you." "Your audience... lt's not what you think." "There you study, you work... we go were we are needed, we help our fellow men." "Amen." "There are good people at the monastery, sisters and mothers l love." "Your mother, whom you don't appreciate nor love is very thankful." "It's not that, mum, but not all of us want the same:" "making money, going on vacations, buying a house at Sestrière." "Not everybody is ashamed of their age, or have their face and breasts operated." "What did you say?" "I heard." "Me getting my breasts operated?" "Yes, mum." "Now you'll have to hear to me." "It was him. lt's his fault." "Hello, Giuliano?" "This is Isabella." "I'm with your lying daughter." "Do you know what she wants?" "You did?" "And you didn't say anything." "You got her away from me since the day we got separated." "I'll put her on." "Do something!" "Convince her." "You are her father!" "Here, it's your father." "Yes..." "No, I don't need anything." "Alright, thanks, dad." ""Thanks dad?" What did he say?" "Nothing, of course. I know him well." "He is selfish." "Whether you become a nun or a dancer it's the same for him, he doesn't care." "Hello dad." "Hello Alessandra." " Hello, Francesco." " l picked up an artichoke Jewish style." " l saw it." "Sit down." " Or was it Roman style?" "Are they fried?" "Jewish, I think." "Roman style, they come apart." "The gentlemen were happy when I picked it up." "What else can I say?" " Why do you look at me that way?" " l'm glad to see you." " How are you?" " l'm fine." "You also look fine, dad." "If you were a woman I'd fall in love with you." "He's my father." "See how beautiful is Alessandra?" "She's my sister." "I was always the ugliest of the three." "That's because I lack drive." "Why..." "lack drive?" "I don't know." "Because two is not three, I don't know." "Don Pierino would tell us:" "Get motivated, otherwise you are fucked"." "Perhaps he didn't say "fucked"." "I went to see him." "Did Alessandra tell you?" "I planned to stay the night, but I stayed 15 days." "They are fine." "Don Pierino as well." "Only he has a problem with his leg." "He walks crooked, with a stick." "What did you do with your job, did you ask for a license?" "What job?" "I told dad you work with De Simone, the lawyer." "Yes, I give him a hand." "The job is nothing to write home about." "It'd be better for a young man." "Besides, except for the sister they are not very nice at that office." "Steamed bass for the lady." "I had it cleaned." "Artichokes, zucchini and fried brain for the gentleman." "What will the young man have?" "Eat this for now, I have already had pasta." " No, thanks." " He's had hepatitis, remember?" "No, I had all three:" "A, B and C. lf l eat anything fried, I'll die." "I'd forgotten, OK?" "The man is waiting... perhaps he doesn't care to listen our stories." "Don't worry." "Sometimes, clients talk instead of ordering." "That's our only chance to rest." "Spaghetti for me." "I'll dress them with oil." " Perfect." " Thanks." "Why do you eat fried food?" "It's poison for the liver." "At the community we only ate natural stuff, which we produced." "Excuse me, I also have a prostate problem." "We are all getting old." " You are expected." " Thanks." "Petrosillo Vincenzo." "Chief of police." "Numidio Quadrato precinct." " Did you come on your own or you were sent?" " l asked him to come." " May I." " Our guests are late." " Please." " l don't understand." "We also have to clarify things with Petrosino?" " l reckon so." " lilo." "Petrosillo." " Yours is a confession." " What confession?" " That you also date policemen." " Truth always pops up." " Like oil." " lf it's virgin." " Don't be a materialist, Vinicio." " Look at the people you are with." "They are really not bad, Vincenzo." "How much trust." "I met Petrosillo when I went to the precinct... to report my husband for beating me." "And since the husband laid his hand on you... the police chief thought he could also offer his." "Elsewhere." "I'm a police chief and your vulgar accusations are not true." "I admit I felt attracted towards the lady." " Even though she was quite swollen." " You seduced me with your tenderness." "Very funny." "Look inside and you'll find the reason for my loneliness." " Loneliness?" " You are lonely only if you keep bad company." "Unfortunately, some can't face loneliness on their own." "You didn't tell me he had stayed so many days at Amelia." "He was so happy when he called." "He says he was well looked after." "Of course, he feels protected there." "With that priest brainwashing him." "And outside?" "Was it better when he did drugs?" " At least, he decided." " What did he decide?" "Lying under a bridge?" "Of course, I'd go rescue him." "While you were "abroad", "working"." "Perhaps with that mulata." "What are you talking about?" "I won't allow this!" "Understand?" "How can you always end up fighting?" " Dad, Alessandra is crying." " Me?" "Don't be silly." "I thought you were." "Here are the spaghetti and the special oil." "Nice oil." ""..." "Shatsbury, who studied the origin of ethics, said that... thought gives man substance." "If the body could be separated from the mind... I propose you keep Giulio's body, which is still magnificent... particularly when he's wearing garters, and leave me his mind." "Giulio taught me...that we must have out own thoughts." "That's why he'll be al mine, in body and soul, like he already is." "Yours truly, Cecilia Nobis."" "What do you think?" "is it too long?" " Shall I read it again?" " Waiter!" "Yes, professor." "I ordered a cooked mix." "What is this?" "A cooked mix." "A chicken wing and a bit of dry meat?" "is this green sauce?" "It's yellow!" "Old parsley!" "And the veal?" "The lady is crushed." "This is not a veal, this is the famous "breaded steak"." "For your guidance the veal must be a finger high and cooked in butter." " We are not in Milán." " What?" "I don't need you to tell me where l am." "If I had ordered salmon you would have told me we are not in Norway?" "What's the point?" "Veal is not fried." "Do you know the difference between browning and frying?" "Do you have a cook or a janitor?" "We should have gone to any joint." " Do you want to order something else?" " No, just take this away." " Shall I change your tablecloth?" " No, leave it!" " l like the breaded slice." " What?" "No..." "I'm slightly nervous." " Very nervous." " Yes, very nervous!" " Because of the letter?" " The letter?" "No...although... lt's just a draft, Giulio." "We can correct it together." "Although I think it is not right that you do this..." "We'll talk about it later." "These days, my certainty is shot to hell." " lt's foolish." " What?" "Philosophy. lt's an empty sky... where everybody hangs their lights mistaking them for stars." "Cork is good." "We taste like cork." "We are corks!" "Corks for reason, corks for truth." "When I was small I used to play with a mirror in the balcony." "My father asked me:" "What are you doing?" ""l'm blinding the sun", I told him." "And he told my mother:" ""Our son will be an impostor"." "He was right. I'm a philosopher." "The philosopher is an impostor, or the impostor a philosopher." "You chose." "What, an impostor?" "I don't get it, Giulio." "Until now different philosophies have coexisted for a common goal:" "to face oppression, nazism, fascism, communism and all that." "But now I am told ideologies are over." "That means philosophic speculation was a medicine." "Once the disease is cured, the medicine turns into a dangerous drug." "Frankly, I don't understand the essence of your speech, Giulio." "Giulio, my balls!" "I don't want to drug anybody anymore!" "Got it?" " Lower your voice..." "I..." "I..." "I..." " You...you...you, what?" "I think as I please, alright?" "Who do you think you are?" "You talk about philosophy, happiness, thought." "You are only half Ofelia, and you'll die drowned by your illusions." "Have you ever wondered why there never was a great female philosopher?" "A Socrata, a Platona, a Nietzscha...?" "Who by the way were all faggots." " But..." " Yes, faggots!" "In "The Spirit and the Universal Rights" you said the being..." "That's all in the past!" "Trash to be dumped down the toilet!" "Take hold of yourself, Giulio!" "Me?" "You try and moderate your words... and don't get on my nerves, or I'll slap you!" "Yes!" "Yes!" "Can smoke!" "I agree with you, but with no discrimination." "I have many homosexual clients." "Clothing must be democratic." "Mum, it is not yours." "Yes, who is it?" "Giovanna?" "Again?" "Tell me." "...your angel eyes, you, in the middle of this chat." "Do you listen them?" "Your husband is the worse." "Excuse me, a slight cystitis." "Please, go ahead." "Too much sadness, Mirella." "Let's elope, the two of us." " No, Giovanna, I can't." " Giovanna is a pain in the ass!" "Far away, abroad, wherever you want, my love." "To Batticaloa, Sri Lanka, where my friend Fabio is." "Let's go see him, he wrote to me many times." "He sells furs." "Local labor. 5.000 liras a day." "Children at half the price." "We'll talk about that." "Think it over, and answer on Wednesday at one, at the Hilton." "Will you accept?" "Yes, me too." "Bye." "740 always arrives in Naples at 7:40." "But we have record taxes." "I agree. I totally respect my fiscal obligations... as long as we all pay." "And since not everybody pays, you evade." "You didn't get it, I'm fed up with paying persecuting taxes." "Next time I'll do like Cutazzi of Strongwatt did." "Remember?" " Yes, the account in Japan." " What is it?" "Who is Cutazzi?" "A genius at evading taxes." "A guy who should pay the state 500 million liras a year." "As soon as he gets the notice he writes a check for the amount... and deposits it at the Bank of Kioto in a tax-account." "In ten years he has accumulated almost 8000 million in back taxes." "With the interests he pays three lawyers who each year declare the bankruptcy of his company and open another." "And I wonder:" "is Cutazzi wrong... or his attitude is a result of our fiscal system?" "I'd like to know what the left thinks." "The left!" "Personally, I think Cutazzi is right." "As you see, we all have our opinion." "Did you hear?" "These things happen." "Can we say Cutazzi is wrong?" "Cutazzi knows man a to produce products rather than thoughts." "That's what he was born for, let us not deceive him with our mirrors." "Let us not close the way to the only salvation of our society." "And what will the only salvation of our society be?" "Individualism." "Private interests." "Profit. ln other words..." "Shall I say it?" "The market!" "You must know, bourgeois girl... that you don't eat thanks to the solidarity of the butcher... but rather because he thus obtains his holy profit." "To have, sell and buy is the new Mercantile Humanism." "Now I can see the subject for my next book." "It will be: "Ethics as a Swindle"." "I don't know the title yet." "How about "Death Sentence for Socrates: a fair verdict"?" "Too long." "And: "Socrates Wanted", American style?" "Where are you going?" "To the bathroom." "Excuse me, I feel dizzy, confused." "As when you dream you are dead." "Perhaps this restaurant is paradise." "As a paradise, it's not bad." "Excuse me." "Do you want dessert?" "Lemon ice cream?" "Forest fruits...you like that." "Excuse me..." " Do you have some change for the phone?" " Of course." " Here you go." " Thanks." "May I ask another favor?" "Old men are only asked insignificant favors." "Tell me." "May I?" "There was a job opening at the Town Hall. 50,000 people for 25 jobs." "And in '84... with Berlinguer at San Giovanni, for the mobile stairs." "Who was there?" "Nobody." "I didn't see you either in '53, against the "swindle" law." "In '53 I wasn't born yet, grandpa." "Grandpa?" "If I were your grandfather I'd beaten you up." "It's not that you weren't born then, you weren't born since... because he who doesn't know doesn't exist." " That's it." " What are you doing here?" "I came to ask the lady about fish for one of the tables." "I'll do it." "For how many?" " Four." " Four." "I see you and I cry." "You don't even know why they called you Uliano." "Do you know who Lenin was?" "Perhaps a singer?" "One of the Beatles, from Liverpool?" "Do you know John Lenin?" " John Lenin, yes." " Do that again, and I'll cut your hand." " l swear I will." " He's quiet today." "Why do you look at me?" "I must tell you something I don't wish to tell you." "What?" "I don't want to cover anybody." "Particularly you and the other." "What are you saying?" "Cover?" "Who's the other?" "I don't get it." "You know perfectly well." "That guy from Tuscany." "And you indulge him." "For everyone to see." "Don't pay any attention." "He's crazy." "Have some consideration for the poor man, Flora." "Arturo, before being your husband is my friend." " Beware, Flora." " Diomede." "Have you gone crazy?" "Diomede hasn't gone stupid." "You've turned...shall I say it?" "Shall I?" "Excuse me." "Excuse me, my ass." " Have you been drinking?" " Will you deny..." " Yes, you are drunk." " that you encourage him?" "The owner of the previous restaurant gave him the bike." "What do you give him?" "Look at him." "And if so, what?" " lt's none of your business!" " Your husband is like a brother to me." "For me he's also like a brother." "It's not because of my husband that it bothers you." "It's because of you, because..." "I'd better keep quiet." "No, why?" "Say it!" "Come on, Diomede. I have always pretended I didn't notice." "Want to know since when?" "Since when what?" "What is it you pretend not to notice?" "Tell me." "You know perfectly well." "You pretended not noticing that I noticed." "And this brings us together." "That's alright, isn't it?" "Nothing brings us together, Flora." "Let's get out of here. I don't want to get ill for a crazy old man." "Two things:" "First:" "Uliano does not exist." "Second:" "I was about to slap you." "There's nothing to see or hear." "Las time, I tried with a lady at Viareggio." "She was skeptical, but I wasn't." " You have guessed many times." " Foretelling is my business." "But you have to know your own limits." "Limits?" "You are a genius." "In Italy and abroad, "International Honors"" " Special medal?" " Easter egg." "You must have more self confidence." "You don't have an insecure personality like I have." " Shall we try?" "Now?" " When?" "Tomorrow?" "OK." "Let's cut it out." "I'm going to write something, you won't see it." "I don't know if this will turn out alright." "Look." "Look here." "Don't move." "Don't think about anything, as usual." "I want, I order and I swear, the infinite future." "It's salt." "My God. lt's impossible!" "You had written "Salt in the wine"" "Make room." "This is not important." " But it is, can't you see?" " Easy." "If I really had those gifts I'd do quite a few things." "Do you know what I'd do with that waiter?" "What would you do?" "I'd make him fall with all those plates." "Holy mother of God!" " Nothing happened to him." " Right." "That's no way to wait." "Hello." "Yes, yes..." "Of course I thought about it, all the time." "I don't know..." "I didn't say no." "Neither I said "yes"." "I don't know..." "I know nothing." " lt was a coincidence." " No, your energy can be felt." "God!" "Look what I'll do. I would have never dared without you." "Adam...whatever happens... lt's strange, nobody came." "But, you ate four pounds of lentils." "Excuse me. I overheard." "I always say that, but this time I wanted to overhear." " What did you hear?" " Your call." "No, not a word, but I want to say something to you... also to pay my debt." "For over 15 years you have charged me the same prices." "Thanks to your discounts, inflation... obsession of the underprivileged, does not exist for me." "Your accounts stopped in 1980." "Perhaps my life also did." "You are not making sense." " Perhaps I must give up the wine." " Maybe yes." " What did you want to tell me?" " Ah, yes." "Food and drink are a symbol of the human condition... according to a friend of mine, a poet, but not Maurizio." "A real poet, from 2,000 years ago." "A Greek." "Yes." "To have a meal in just any table... whether it be strange or with friends is more about the heart than the stomach." "Besides, it means living with others," "And you, my beautiful restaurateur, have the most beautiful occupation." "However, tonight you are sad." "Why?" "Perhaps it's a new desire for happiness." "But, beware... because when we believe that desire can come true, it's a problem..." "That's when sadness moves in, and then, I don't expect it to be true." "Did I get completely mixed up?" " Yes, some." " Hello, Arturo." " Professor." " lt's me who owes you." " Good. I like to collect." "When men talk to women they are ashamed to show a virtue... which they believe is feminine: grace." "Some of you don't feel ashamed, very few of you." " Thanks, in the name of men." " You are welcome, in the name of women." "The bill." "The bill." " What do you say?" "Shall I put it on?" " Makes no difference." "Perhaps I'll better." "We'll talk on Sunday." "Don't do like you did last Sunday." " What happened?" " You called at 7AM." " l didn't say a thing, and hung up." " l knew it was you." " Bye." " So long." " Goodbye." "He asked his father earrings for his birthday." "How can he be such a slave of his mother?" "You didn't get it." "Max went to the station." "To do what?" " He helps the homeless." " Who?" "The homeless, you know?" "He takes them coffee, blankets." "Coffee, at midnight?" "This guy ought to do forced labor to understand." "Why didn't he say he helps the homeless?" "So that nobody will ask:" ""Coffee, at midnight?"" "You live in a bubble." " So?" " No." "You'll regret this decision." " 100,000 a night, but no garlic." " What does garlic got to do with it?" " You can't eat garlic." "The kiss." " What kiss?" "The end." "The Inquisitor shuts up and stops provoking Jesus to defend himself." "Jesus gets up and slowly, in silence... goes to him and kisses him." "A real kiss?" "In the mouth." "The author is Russian." "Do I have to kiss you every night?" "Every night, plus rehearsals." "And Sundays, double kiss." " The curtain comes down with the kiss?" " Yes." "Jesus replies to the Inquisitor's arguments with a single kiss." "And everything falls down." "A riot." "Beautiful, Bricco!" "You could have told me the end was like this." "Now that you tell me, I feel a noise here, in the stomach." "The Inquisitor talks, talks, talks..." "He even seems to be right." "I don't reply." "Not a word." "Then I get up, I come to you, and kiss you." "And, as if by magic, the Inquisitor has been talking nonsense." " Well, not nonsense." " No, nonsense!" "This is the dramatic intuition:" "not a word, just a simple kiss:" "That's it, as if by magic!" " Bricco?" " Here I am." "By all means I accept." "I'm anxious to do this." "And instead of a Russian kiss, I'll give you a French kiss." "100,000 a night, two shows on Sundays." "Fantastic, extraordinary, exceptional!" "Here, Bricco." "Let's drink to it." "Well, I have an idea. lt's already been done in a play." "We could alternate, one night I play the Inquisitor and you Jesus... and the next night you do the Inquisitor..." " No, excuse me." "You've convinced me, I accepted." "You are the comedian, you talk, and I listen." " l play Christ and you..." " The bastard." "The autumn revolution is now the autumn-winter revolution." "The Bertinotti "Pret a porter"." "Who is watching this fish, assholes?" "It's burning!" "The hot autumn." "What heat?" "The autumn sales." "En San Giovanni there are rock starts instead of communist leaders." ""Papa-rock" concerts, fashion shows." "Instead of Luther King, now we have Naomi Campbell." "And we are lacking nothing!" "Even our mate Fidel..." " Listen." " Me?" "What is it?" " Where are you going tomorrow?" " Nowhere." "Good, then you can come in at 9 to polish the cutlery." " Maurizio can't handle it?" " No even Maurizio. lt's 1 ,200 pieces." " l have a date tomorrow." " l figured." " We could postpone it. lf you don't want to get fired, be here at 9." "You can postpone or give up your date." "And if you expect to get a bigger motorbike, you are wrong." " l don't understand." " You understand perfectly well." " And if I didn't understand?" " Never mind, I did." " What are you, the boss?" " No, but he also understood." "Tomorrow at 9." " And go, you are wasting time." " Understood." "And don't bang the door." " Professor, your pear." " Thanks. - "For the janitor"" "Lolla, it's time to tell your ex-boyfriends our plan." "We'll get engaged and when she gets a divorce: we get married." "Thanks, darling." " Are you sure?" " Yes." "You won't be happy with me, I'm too extravagant." " l miss a train every minute." " You'll be Mrs. Petrosillo." "You wouldn't have a future with neither of the three, and they know it. instead" " Excuse my interfering..." " Yes?" "Considering the time it is, I believe your guests must have had a problem." "Perhaps..." "Wouldn't you accommodate these gentlemen who are in a tight fit?" "Of course!" "By all means." "Please." "The lady offers you a place at her table." "Go ahead." "Let's sit Miss Lolla...you stay there." "You, over here." " Chief, here." " Whatever you say." "Well, no joking." "You, sit here... so you can entertain the lady with your aristocratic British humor." "Isn't it better now?" "You need very little to settle things." " Have a good time." " Thanks." "Vinicio, the fried stuff." "We invited a few friends of my son to celebrate his diploma... but perhaps there was a misunderstanding." "Allow me." "Meralda Pierrà DallOrto." " Nice to meet you." " Lolla Traversi" " Rino Esposito." " Petrosillo Vincenzo." " Tittoni Vinicio." "My son Raniero...say hello." " Good evening." " Good evening." " Good evening." "Hello." "I couldn't find you." "I was worried." "But I told you yesterday." "I can't remember what you said at dawn two days ago." " What did you tell me?" " That I was celebrating my birthday with friends." "Excuse me, she's my mother." "Precisely, as it's your birthday, I thought..." "Hello, kids." " Hello." " How are you?" " And where is Aunt?" "Not with you?" " No." "A kitchen is a mirror of the country, of it's culture." "Because in kitchens and in factories we fight to change things." "Marina, I'm here." "Come." " How are you?" " Awful." " Everything as usual, then." " The cake, the candles... I left you a message about Simona's dinner, but you weren't there." "How can you think I can forget my daughter's birthday?" " l remembered perfectly." " Don't get carried away." "I never thought you'd forget your daughter's birthday." "I forgot. I completely forgot." "This morning I didn't congratulate her or give her a present, nothing." "Flora, I'm a beast." "I'm wrecked." "I quit my therapy, and that was a big mess." "I had a fight with my analyst." "We even hit each other. I hit him first and poor thing reacted." ""Poor thing", my ass." "They should take his license away." "What do you mean "hit each other"?" "There were blows?" "I have an incredible transfer with him, and he has a counter-transfer." "And what did I find out a month ago?" "He is in love with another." "He's madly in love with you." " Me?" "I don't even know him!" " But he does." "You were at the center of my psychotherapy." "What?" "I was at the center?" "What did you tell him?" "You talked to him about me?" "What can I say?" "Psychotherapy is something personal, intimate, secret." "No that secret, if you talk about me to others." "What did you tell him?" "That you are good, merry, strong, nice." " What else?" " That since we were small you always had boyfriends, but not me." "And that when I got one, he would then fall in love with you." "You are crazy." "What do you want now?" "35 hour week?" "And what will you do in your free time?" "Watch TV, play the lottery." "And on Wednesdays, the game." "You make me sick!" "How do you know he's in love with me?" "You are my obsession, and he always had me talking about you." "With all kinds of details, nuances, questions." "We only missed your size of bra." "You are mad, absolutely mad." "You should be locked and the key thrown into the sea." "It's easy for you to talk, Miss Perfect." "Water always comes to your channel." "You are happy." " How is your admirer's situation?" " As usual." "Lots of them." "Do you want to laugh?" "People who give up smoking are a pain in the ass." "There is someone." "I met him at a concert." " There is romance?" " What romance?" "We went to a bar, and then we saw each other a couple of times." "He's nice, gentle." "He gave me books." "Everything was going fine." " But he fell in love with me..." " They always do." "Want to hear more?" "He asked me to go with him." "Go?" "Where?" " Bergen." " Where's that?" "Norway." "He works at the Italian Culture Institute." "He took a sabbatical year and now he has to return." "What is it, Flora?" "I haven't seen you crying since you were five." "But then...you too..." "No, it's not that." "It's that..." "He calls me, he looks for me every day." "He called tonight." "What am I to do?" "Give everything up at 50?" "The restaurant, Arturo I, Simona." "Joking." " When is he leaving?" " Tomorrow." "I was sure my mates were not going to come tonight." "They are stupid." "Always the same practical jokes." "They steal my things, put sugar into my moped's gas tank." "The other day, during an exam, they locked me into the lady's room." "They are real idiots." "He's so sensitive, anything will hurt him." " May I?" " No." "Allow me." "Could you bring the champagne, please?" " Now?" "I thought you were waiting..." " Bring it." "With seven glasses." " Coming." " Champagne!" "Good!" " Flora, excuse me." "Could you help...?" " Yes, coming." "You do it, The usual." "I'm sorry, I never know what to say." "I can't help you." "Do I help you?" "I don't think so." "Here." "A present." "It's for Simona." "You give it to her." "Flora, I hate you." "It got stuck at the third floor." "The contract didn't come through." "Professionalism no longer counts." "Down comes a girl with nice ass, and she's hired. lt's all in the panties." "There's one that works as a fax." "It's made in Taiwan." "I dig about this, we also used to repair computers." "Yes, tour father is calling you." " Listen, Francesco..." " l'm talking to the lady." "Excuse me." "You were saying?" "You were talking about computers." " When I was at the community..." " Why do you talk that way?" "So that the lady will feel comfortable." "Well, when I was at the therapeutic community, perhaps you know them..." "Of course, I form part of a Support Committee." " Really?" " Yes." "Great!" "Sorry." "In the beginning, they were called something else. I'm talking '73." "I was one of the first ones." "I was seventeen." "And drug was still called "narcotics"." "And my father..." "My father...is an engineer, and he also smoked it then." "He had long hair, used a Chilean poncho and Dutch clogs." "It is not true, don't pay him attention." "We were ashamed to go out with him." "Do you remember, Alessa?" "When he found me, he said:" ""Francesco, I'm amazed"." ""Dad, I'm even more amazed than you are"" " How funny..." " Francesco, alright..." " Alessa, this is my glass?" " No, it's not yours." " ln fact it's mine." " l'm sorry." " You shouldn't drink." " You are right, beautiful lady." "And me?" "Me?" "Don't give me that about helping the fellow man!" "Mum, we'll be closer, you'll see." "Mum, I must go." "I must catch a train." "I love you." " Adam." " Yes?" "He said my coefficient is about 50% of the average." "Mine is not too good either." " How much?" " 19,000." " Balance between price and quality." " What is your coefficient?" " l'd say...60-65%" " You and me together make 1 10-1 15%" " Well above average." " Precisely." "Can't you see our potential?" "You mean together we are ready for...?" " No," " For?" "For the Bruckner experiment." "Possibly." "But, do we have the right concentration?" "Do you dare to challenge Nature's limits?" " ls it illegal?" " You never know with Bruckner." "Professor, what is the Bruckner experiment?" "Levitation!" "Up to the roof!" "Grab your chair." "Ready?" "Look here!" "Don't move." "Happy birthday to you" "Happy birthday, Simona" "Happy birthday to you." " For you." " Thanks." "It's beautiful, mum." " Good evening." " Hello, Flora." " Who are they?" " A surprise for you." "For you, professor." "At least, you'll eat this." "Here." "The address for the shoes." "You have a beautiful ring." " This one?" " No, this one." "Thanks. lt was given to me when my daughter was born." "I would have liked to have a son...a daughter." "And...you didn't?" "Rather this than watching them go and lose them for ever." "Your daughter went far away?" " No, to Bagnoregio, I don't know if you..." " Sure." "Less than 100km from Orvieto, on the freeway." "Yes, but..." "Between mother and daughter kilometers don't count." "Relationships, whatever the kind, don't grow alone." "One has to cultivate them, water them, look after them, like my flowers." "Do you like plants?" "Yes." "But they don't like me." "I have...how do they say?" "The black hand." "Well, it takes time and patience." "Won't you try it?" "Duilio, is excellent for sweets." "I'd love to but..." "I must look after myself. look at this." "What are you complaining about?" "What about me?" "Look at this." "In my husband's town they say:" "Have you used Saint Joseph's brush?" " Flora?" " Yes, Marina." "Coming." "My sister...sorry." "Excuse me" "Good night." "Excuse me, professor... I don't know if I should or shouldn't say this..." "You decide." "I don't want to be nosy... and men, out of solidarity..." "The lady who was with you, when I took her things to her... was talking on the phone with a certain Luca." " That was predictable." " Yes, Horacio." "Thanking the shared powered granted to him...at Frascati, I believe... I didn't know that." "I don't know if I should say this, but you seem happy." "Happy?" "Can one be happy at our age?" "And those in love...are ridiculous." " Excuse me." " Thank you." " To your health." " Thanks." " And yours." " Cheers." "Tell me, honestly..." " With the lady, you just feigned being..." " An asshole." "Thanks for doubting." "It's over. lt didn't take much effort on my part because I'm... a bastard." "And who isn't?" "Besides, you smoke a pipe." " As to me, I must say..." " l believe your word." " No, I was trying to add something." " Yes, I noticed." "Now we laugh, but that moment was terrible for me... even though I was only seven or eight." "It also happened to me once, I was with my father." "You say you have no memory, but you remember everything." "Far away memories are quite present." "I was with my father and mother and an aunt, at a shelter." " At a given time..." " She fell asleep." "Poor thing, with all those pills she has to take." "And one injection a week." " She seems to be better." " Who knows how she feels." "I feel well, a bit tired, that's all." "This is the nicest time." "Sure, that's because us, young fellows, clean up the tables." "Excuse me, but I have a heavy question for you:" "Why do young people get on my nerves?" "is it a question of age?" "Do you think we don't get on their nerves?" "Yes, but they can take it." "Everybody gets on my nerves, old and young." " l'm happy with busting other people's balls." " That's good." " Good night." " Good night, professor." "Shall we leave a tip?" "4.000?" "Happy clarifications." "Do you want to come home on a Sunday?" "Just give me a call." " l'll take pastry." " Nice people, right, Raniero?" " Yes." "You too." "My husband!" "Sweetheart!" "You were waiting for me!" " l'll come with you, so we can talk." " Let's talk, but no hitting." "Do I hit you?" "If you don't stop me, I'll kill him." "Gentlemen, I'll buy you a coffee at the Tritone." " We can talk then." " Why not?" "Let's talk." " Let's clarify." " When things are not clear, the world is in crisis." " l agree." " Clarify, clarify..." " Good night." " Good night." "You are completely drunk." " See what happens when he drinks?" " l didn't give him the drinks." "I'm always the scapegoat." "Good night." "We are leaving, professor." "Yes, just a moment." "Flora, you have a call." " Who is it?" " A Dr. Berard." "Tell him I'm gone." "Hello?" "No, the lady has left." "Thanks, good evening." "Goodbye, Flora. I'll call you tomorrow and we can talk then." "Yes..." " Do you have a car?" " No I take the night bus." " Where do you live?" " At Porta Furba." "But at this time there are no subways." "Adamo, I have a two bedroom apartment with a terrace at Spinaceto Sud." "I live alone, with my cat." "You can stay the night." "What do you say?" "Ernestino, honestly, I'm moved." "I assure you I'm a discreet person." "I have even traveled in couchette." " Do you accept?" "It makes me happy!" " Alright." " Let's take a taxi!" " Alright." "Singing won't hurt." " Climb." " Here?" " lf you know the way, go in front." " Sure." "OK?" "Ready?" "This is serious stuff." " Hap!" " No, I say that." " When we start..." " No, one, two three...hap!" "Mogadiscio 5, in three minutes." "Mogadiscio... three minutes." "Were I come from, this is called Pastis du Reaud." " Yes, a real pastiche." " A great pastiche." "Don't make our chef mad." "Go on, it's over for you anyway." "Either you all get fired, or I'll resign." "...disrespectful, uncouth..." "What is it?" "You stole my Evtushenko autograph, thief!" "Are you crazy?" "What do I want Evtushenko's autograph for?" "Evtushenko gave it to me in 1981 at Torvaianica, at the poetry festival." " Yes, at the asshole's festival." " l'm going to kill you!" "Don't exaggerate. lt's a joke." "I put your scribble in the fridge, with the fish..." " God!" "This place is the pits!" " Coward." " He got mad." " Let's keep Murizio cool." "To my friend Maurizio, the poet." "Evtushenko wrote this for me." "You, cut it out with your jokes." "You'll joke until..." "What do you have in your empty head?" "The bike and women, since it's empty it can take the bike and women." "I still owe 16 installments, and I don't know how I will pay them." "I'm going." "What do I care?" "Besides, I'm always alone." "Women, women..." "What women?" "I wish I'd seen one since I am in Rome." "At least one." "At night, I play the clown with the clients... or with the women at the restaurant." "None of the women will pay any attention because I am ugly as a bear." " He's ugly?" " No, he's not ugly." "Come on, you are not ugly." "You are not ugly, the problem is you are as ignorant as goats." "You are empty inside." "I look at you, but you are so empty, that when I look inside" " Good night to all." " See you tomorrow." "I don't think so." "Let's concentrate..." "we need some attention." " What cards!" " Shit, Menghi!" "Please don't take the game lightly!" "Playing is serious!" "It takes rules, discipline, silence!" "The one who plays, and even more the one looking on must keep silent, not talk." " Tell him to keep quiet." " l've been doing that all night." "Escoba!" "is it my fault?" "Ah, I should be with my shepherds!" " Good night." " Bye, good night." "I'm sorry, escoba!" "Flora, you are so lucky...!" " Don't take it that way." " She always gets good cards." "Silence!"