"THE BICYCLE THIEVES" "Where's Ricci?" "Are you deaf?" "They're calling you" "Are we bricklayers to starve?" "Can I help it if there are no jobs for brickies?" "Be patient, can't you?" "I'm doing my best" "Anyway, there's a job for Ricci" "Bill-poster." "Take this round to the bill-posting office" "And us?" "A job at last" "Two turners are wanted, but there's none here" "I'm not a turner, so I can rot" "What can I do?" "Ricci, you need a bike for the job" "I haven't got my bike at the moment, not for a few days" "I'll have it soon" "You need it now" "I'll start doing the job on foot" "No bike, no job." "It's a condition of employment" " I've got a bike" " So have I, you're not the only one" "You're a brickie." "That's another category" "Change it!" "Ricci, have you a bike, or haven't you?" "Yes, I'll do the job" "If you report without a bike they won't take you" "Don't worry, I'll have the bike." "I've been out of work long enough" "I don't have much luck" "I can't take a job I've been offered" "How much money?" "What sort ofjob?" "A job for the council" "That's not bad." "Why not take it?" "Because I must have a bike now" "They insist on it" " What's to be done?" " What can I do?" "You shouldn't have pawned the bike" "We couldn't eat it, could we?" "I never have any luck" "Everything's a dead loss" "We can sleep without sheets, can't we?" "Linen... well, linen and cotton." "A wedding present" "They're worn" "Two haven't been used" " What size?" " Three double, three single" "7,000 lire" "Not more?" "They're worn" "Put it into store" "7,500 lire" "Ricci..." "Maria Ricci" "A bicycle" "6,100 lire" "With interest" "The Fides over there" "Put the bike down" "My name is Ricci" "The labour exchange sent me" "Start tomorrow morning." "Report to the warehouse now" "Six forty-five tomorrow morning" "I'm sorry, they kept me a long time" "Some work for you" "The cap needs adjusting;" "it's a bit too big" "Come and see" "Look how big the warehouse is." "Millions of posters" "It's a good job and it pays a good basic wage" "Then there's family allowance and plenty of overtime" "Can we stop in via della Paglia?" "Just for a moment." "I want to call on a woman who works there" "Who is it?" "I won't be long." "I told you" "Excuse me, is this la Santona's house?" "The fortune-teller" " Signora la Santona?" " Down the corridor" "Keep an eye on my bike, son" "Give some guidance" "O Lord!" "enlighten me" "Your son will rise from his bed when the leaves fall" "When which leaves fall?" "I owed her 50 lire" "She told me you'd get a job and you did" "Shall I tell her a thing or two?" "A sensible woman like you, with two sons how could you fall for all that rubbish?" "Have you got money to throw away?" "That sort of thing shouldn't be allowed" "Yes, you're right, really" "Who found the job, her or me?" "It's six-thirty, Bruno" "It's not easy to clean in this light" "Have you seen what they did?" "They scratched it" "I know it wasn't there before." "They've damaged it" "They just don't care" "Is my cap ready?" "Let's look at you." "You look just like a policeman" "Here's your lunch" "I'll pick you up here at seven this evening" "First a bit of paste" "Then put up the poster, like that" "Then another touch of paste" "That way it's well stuck, without any creases" "Because if you leave any creases the inspector will spot them and fine you" "See, Ricci, it's not difficult once you get the knack" "I saw him going towards the tunnel" "I'm sorry, I'm sure I saw him go this way" "Yes, there were witnesses, but they'd gone when I got back" "Aren't you going to H.Q.?" "You're supposed to go there with Quadrone" " What can be done?" " Look for it yourself, if you can" " All over Rome?" " Well, you know the bike, I don't" "But I've given you the serial number" "Do you think the flying squad has nothing else to do?" "Why should I report the theft, then?" "Because if you spot the bike, call a policeman and it'll be all right" "It's nothing, only a bike" "I'll look for it" "Do that." "You did right to report the theft" " It's seven-thirty" " I had to wait for a bus" "Where's the bike?" " Is it broken?" " Yes, it's broken" "I'll be back soon" "What's needed is a big programme of public works" "It's no good waiting around for a miracle to happen" "Where's Biaocco?" "Quiet at the back!" "Is it straight?" "My bike's been stolen" "How did it happen?" "When I was working, putting up posters" "You must help me" "I need a bike" "Easy said" "Biaocco, listen a moment" "I don't know what you want" "Piazza Vittorio" "That's where we'll go in the morning." "Thieves sell stolen bikes there" "It's our best bet" "Don't start wailing." "I knew you would, that's why I stayed out" "Who's wailing, may I ask?" "What have you done to try to find the bike?" "Don't cry like that, Maria." "You'll have me in tears" "We'll find it" "They'll have changed the saddle but we'll try to find the bike and bring it home" "So just you go home and stop worrying." "Have a good sleep" "It's too much!" "Everyone get out of here, go on!" "Cheer up, now." "Go home and stop worrying" "Get a move on, or we'll never finish" "What's that cart doing, stuck there?" " What make is the bike?" " Fides." "We know the serial number" "He knows it better than I do" "Good, we'll check every bike in the market" "Come along with me, we'll comb the place" "You two check one side, we'll do the other" "The kid can check the bells and pumps on the stalls" "Fides." "Don't forget" "So many bikes." "We'll stick together, or we'll get lost" "Bruno, you look at bells and pumps" "If you find anything, give us a whistle" "Be careful." "Just tell us if you find anything" "It's no good like this, we'll have to concentrate on different parts" "Antonio, you look at wheels;" "Bagonghi, you look at frames" "Come and look at this" " What make is it?" " Why?" "Do you want to buy?" "Hands off!" "The paint's wet" "I just want to see the number" "Why?" "Do you want to buy the number?" "No, we just want to look at it" "I'll call a cop" "It's not stolen" "Who said it was?" "You can't refuse to show the number" "Will you show us the size number of your shoes?" " Want a lottery number?" " I don't play it" "Do you want a bell?" "I see you're looking at them all" "Would you like one?" " How much is a bell?" " 150 lire" "Satisfy his curiosity and let me work in peace" "Don't you trust me?" "12024 - is that yours?" "Wipe your hands" "I trust you, but a man's got a right to look for his stolen bike" "I'm helping" "You could make a mistake" "We're honest in Piazza Vittorio" " Where's Bruno?" " Looking at bells" "It's hopeless here" "Bruno, you should stay near me" "You go to Porta Portese with him, we'll keep looking here" "I think it's too late to go to Porta Portese now" "It's no good looking now, better wait till Sunday" "I'll finish work soon, but what can I do in this weather?" "I don't fancy going to the cinema" "Idiots like him ought to be locked up" "Look at this rain, just in time for the week-end" "It always rains on Sunday" " What happened?" " I fell over" " Only 100 lire?" " It's all you'll get today" "We must find that old man" "Excuse me, I want to ask something" "Where can I find the young man who just spoke to you?" "The young man on the bike" "What for?" "It's nothing, I just need a word with him urgently" "What do you want?" "I don't know him" "But he just spoke to you" "Can't you leave a poor old cripple alone?" "What a life!" "It's late." "One thing I can't bear is lateness" "You'll get the soup after Mass" "All basins and soup tins must be left in the courtyard" "If you're not waiting for the barber, go into the church" " Have you nearly finished?" " This is the last, I think" "Mass is just beginning" "Please don't shave my chin, I'm going to grow a beard" "Hurry up, everyone's waiting" "I must find that young man and talk to him" "Tell me where to find him" "What do you expect me to tell you?" "I don't know anything" "I've got some business that will interest him" "I can't help" "Tell me, or I'll call the police" "What can I do about it?" "Leave me alone" "Tell me." "What have you got to lose?" "As a matter of fact, I was even thinking of giving you something" " What's to eat?" " Pasta and potatoes" "Will you tell me?" "You wouldn't like me to get the police" "Go to via della Campanella" "Number fifteen, I think" " Take me there" " Can't you go alone?" "I'll take the police" "Stop this, or I'll put you out of church" " Are you coming, or not?" " I'm staying here" " I'm losing patience" " Stop bothering me" "Right, I'll call the police" "So what?" "Go for them and leave me alone" "Come with me" "If I wasn't a poor old man, I'd punch you" "You're not going to force me to go" " I want my soup tin" " I'll come with you to get it" "I expected a decent meal" " Did anyone come through here?" " No, it's not time yet" "How dare you disturb the peace of the church?" "I must find that old man who was here" "I'll find him" "He went this way" "Who knows where he's gone now?" "He can't have flown away" "I wouldn't have let him go for his tin" "Why hit me?" "Because you deserved it" "You can look by yourself" "That's enough" "I'll tell mum when I get home" "I'll deal with you at home" "You wait here by the bridge." "Don't move" "I'll look for him by the river" "Put your coat on, you'll catch cold" "Tired?" "Sit down and rest before we go home" "Is Modena a good team?" "Hungry?" "Want a pizza?" "We'll get our own back, but it's no good moping here" "Let's forget everything" " A half litre?" " No, a litre and two pizzas" "We don't serve pizza" "This is a restaurant" "All right, what have you got?" "Do you want that?" "Two mozzarelle in carrozza" "You can have a cake afterwards, if you like" "If mother saw you..." "But we won't tell her about this" "There's an answer to everything..." "except death" "To eat like this you need a terrific salary" "Eat up, don't worry" "Is it nice?" "It was a good job" "I worked it all out, including the extras" "Basic wage; 12,000 lire" "12,000 lire" "2,000 lire for overtime 800 lire a day for family allowance" "800 times 30, work it out" "Now do you understand?" "Do you think I'll let that go because of the bike?" "See why we must get it back?" "Because we'll starve without it" "We ought to go to Porta Portese every day until it turns up" "Yes, but I doubt if we'll ever see it there not for all your mother's prayers, not for all the saints..." "You must tell her everything." "She'll effect a cure, don't worry" "You must sow in fresh fields, do you understand?" "Got that?" "Why not?" "Why cast seed on barren soil?" "You sow, but you do not reap" "Understand?" "No, I really don't" "If she doesn't love you, forget her" "Give up" "There are plenty more girls." "Find fresh fields to cultivate" "It's getting cold, mother" " Take your turn" " I'm in a hurry" "So am I, and I'm before you" "Patience, I'll help everyone" "O Lord!" "enlighten me" "You've been robbed?" "Of a bicycle?" "What can I say to you, my son?" "I can only tell you what I see" "Listen; either you'll find it quickly, or you won't find it at all" "Do you understand?" "Quickly, or not at all" " But where?" " That's all I know" "Start looking for it, then you'll understand my words" "We're closed!" "All the young ladies are having lunch" "I recognize you." "Come outside" "I want a word" "Give back what you took from me" " You took my bike" " What bike?" "I'm not a thief" "Hands off, or I'll punch you up!" "You stole my bike when I was working in Francesco Crispi" "I didn't." "I don't know anything about your bike" "I saw you" "I recognize the German cap" "I'm not letting you go" "Take your hands off!" "Hold on." "You say he stole your bike?" "Are you sure it was him?" "I'm sure" " Where was it stolen?" " In Francesco Crispi" "Tell the police." "We'll still be here" "I didn't do it, but he's trying to frame me" "Now see what you've done" "Mind he doesn't hurt his head!" "You shouldn't go around accusing people like that" "You can get into trouble that way" "That ought to cool you off a bit" "Is this about a bike?" "He's putting on an act" "Some act!" "This bloke accused him and he had a fit" "Everyone knows my son is innocent." "What can you say against him?" " He says the thief had a German cap" " So have I!" "He mustn't be moved" "Only to hospital" "Where do you live?" "Our house is an honest house" "I'd sue him for slander" "The poor lad wouldn't hurt a fly" "This is our house." "All four of us live here" "This is his bed." "Look under it for the bike" "My daughter and my other son sleep here, too" "Instead of pestering my son, why don't you find him a job?" "My brother-in-law's" "He got it cheap." "I'm looking after it for him" "That's right, have a good look" " Have you any witnesses?" " I saw him take it" "Please go outside" "Talk for as many hours as you like" "Are you sure you're not mistaken?" "I recognized him" "Just look" "They're all his witnesses." "I see this sort of thing every day" " Did you see his face?" " Yes, when I chased him" " You saw his back" " No, I was able to see..." "Were people about?" "Haven't you any witnesses at all?" " I had no chance to get their names" " What can you do, then?" "You didn't see his face and only you recognize him" "How can you prove you're right?" "If he's innocent, you'd be in trouble" "If you'd caught him in the act..." " I'll hit him!" " Then I'll run you in" "If you knew what this means to me" "I can go with you now" "Why?" "What have they found out?" "I've done nothing" " What's your name?" " Alfredo Catelli" "Do you want to make a charge?" "He's innocent" "Take a tram to Monte Sacro." "Wait there" "Which police station is nearest?" "Let him go" "I'd rather not charge him." "Thanks, anyway" "A fine way to bring up your son" "Lucky for you it wasn't my bike!" "Go on, clear off!"