"WOMAN OF ROME" "My story begins in 1935." "I was 19 years old and my mother had big things in mind for me." "She thought I could aspire to be just about anything." "We were very poor, but my beauty was something to be  exploited in her eyes." "And according to her, I was to do so without a second thought." " Why are you pulling that face?" " Never mind." "Is he young, this painter?" "What does it matter?" "You don't have to marry him!" "But I do have to get undressed in from of him." "What's wrong with that?" "To the painter you're an object." "He doesn't even see you." "I mean, he does but he doesn't." "Yeah, I don't see either." "It's not like you have to be a model for your whole life." "There's little money in modelling for painters  but they know people." " What do you mean?" "It's all about who you know." " Are you tired?" " No, I'm fine." " Good morning, Sir." " Good morning." "You're a bit late, today." "Think yourself lucky you don't have to take the bus, Sir." "Four of them; all full." " Good morning." " Good morning." "Are you the new one?" " I'm Gisella." " Adriana Silenzi, nice to meet you." "Nice to meet you, too." "Alright, while you're getting undressed, you can take five." "And Ma'am, you can go now if you like." "As you see, we're no longer alone." " I'm going." "Goodbye, Sir." " Goodbye." " Adriana." " Yes?" " Come straight home, okay?" " I'll be waiting for you." " Okay." "Are you not cold?" "Why don't you stand by the heater?" "She's distrustful, your mother." "She loves me." "It mustn't be difficult to love you." "Want a cigarette?" "No, thanks." "A cognac to warm you up?" "You're distrustful, too, yet one wouldn't think so, with those eyes." "Wonderful." " Sir?" " What is it?" " Have you finished?" " Excuse me." " Excuse you." "I'm ready." "You know, Sir, you've made a good choice." "You're a real beauty." " You're very kind, thank you." " Well, we should be nice to each  other if we're sharing a painting, don't you think?" "Let's get to work." "My fiancé is outside with the car." " If you want we can go for a ride." " No, thanks, I'm going home." " I see, he's waiting for you." " Who?" "I don't have anyone." "No one?" "Really?" " Well, see you tomorrow." "Bye." " Bye." "Each morning I would catch the tram from the same stop." "There was always a car parked next to the sidewalk  with a young man inside." "To begin with, I didn't notice." "But he was always looking at me." "So, eventually, there came a time when I answered his gaze." "Where am I taking you?" "Via Margutta, please." "It's still early, let's go for a ride." "Then I'll drop you off." "We're doing 100." "120..." "Good, you're not afraid." " How old are you?" " I'm 19." "19?" "You look older." "What's your name?" " Adriana, and you?" " Gino." " What do you do?" " I'm a salesman." " And is the car yours?" " Yes, it's mine." "Why?" "You'd like that, wouldn't you?" "Why don't you believe it's mine?" " You're the driver." " The driver?" "Well, what made you think that?" " Your hands." " You can't hide anything  from the young lady and her penetrating eyes." " I'm the driver, is that okay?" " No, it's not okay." "Please take me back to the city." "Why?" "Are you offended because I said I'm a salesman." "No, it's the lies I don't like." "Come on, let's go." "Hey, don't be mean." "I thought perhaps that the young lady... .. was a princess, and that if I told her I was a driver  she wouldn't even look at me." "So I said that I'm a salesman." "Who's a princess?" "I make my living as a model." "Just like you do as a driver." "A model?" "What do you mean?" "For a painter." "Do you have a mother?" "Of course, why?" "And your mother lets you undress in front of a painter?" "Well, what's wrong with that?" "He paints me, and that's all." "That's all?" "Yes, that's all." "Fair enough." "So your mother is happy?" "My mother was a model when she was younger, too." "It's just a job, there's nothing to be ashamed of." "Ah, of course." "Many girls of my age make a serious career out of it." "Well, it was up to me you wouldn't do modelling." "You're a girl that should be getting married, at home with kids." "Being with your husband." "That's what I think, too." "We were silent for a while." "I was waiting for him to kiss me, but he didn't even touch me." "And it left me both disappointed and happy at the same time." "Some days later it wasn't like that." "I have something for you." "Do you like it?" "It's wonderful!" "I really wanted one." "I thought it impossible that you could know that." "But you seem to know everything I'm thinking of." "Really, you wanted a ring?" "Why, with this don't you mean..." "Of course, yes!" "That's what I wanted." "I always like to go by the book." "And I'm glad we want the same thing." "Mother, I'm engaged!" "To who, a painter?" "No, he's a young man who works." "His name is Gino Molinari." "And what does he do?" "He's a driver." "What?" "You got engaged without telling me?" " I should kill you!" " Mother!" " This time I'll kill you!" "Come here!" " What have I done?" "I'll kill you!" "I had hoped so much  to see you become rich." "But now you're engaged to a deadbeat!" "He's not a deadbeat!" "A driver!" "You're a wretched girl and you'll end up like me." "Get married, be a servant to him and his children." "But we'll get married when he has enough money  to buy a taxi." "Yeah, that'll be the day!" "Don't bring him here!" "Do what you like, but don't you dare bring him here!" "Mother, this is Gino." "A pleasure, I'm sure." "Come on." "You'll see, it'll be fine." " Give me a kiss." " But, your mother..." " What does it matter?" "I only made enough for two people." "Adriana, you didn't tell me anything." "I can leave if you'd prefer." "Heavens no, Ma'am." "We'll be fine." "Well, I'm sure that at Adriana's age you  were even more pretty." " What would you know?" "Well, it's obvious." "But you're right!" "Mother was beautiful." "The prettiest in the whole neighborhood." "Isn't that right, Mother?" "Alright, that'll do." "Goodness yes, at her age I was known all over Rome." "As a model, you understand." "I might be old-fashioned, but the fact that Adriana.  has to get undressed in front of a painter every morning  I don't like it." " Why not?" " Because it's immoral." " Ah, it's immoral?" "It's immoral!" "But I suppose it's okay for a wife to slave away all day  washing plates, cooking, ironing, sweeping up.." "... scrubbing the floor, only for her tired husband  to come home, eat and then roll over and fall asleep  snoring all night long." "That's alright, is it?" "To not have a moments rest, to suffer  to grow old, ugly..." "That's okay?" "But do you know what I say?" "That you only live once." "And then you die!" "So you can go to hell, you and your morals." "No, you don't mean that." "Of course I do." "Do you think I'm happy that Adriana is seeing  a deadbeat like you?" "For her to become a slave to you, with her good looks?" "No, you're mistaken." "Shout all you like, I still love him." "Adriana!" "Oh, hi!" "Hi." "You've met Riccardo, haven't you?" "Allow me to introduce a friend of ours, Mr. Astarita." "Very happy to meet you, Miss Adriana." "Gisella has told me all about you but I'm afraid that you're  much prettier than I had ever imagined." " Thank you." "I'll come and pick you up at around 6." "Will Miss Adriana be coming with us?" "No, thank you, I'm busy." "Another time, then." "Now, let's get to work." "I hope to see you soon, Miss." "Good day." "Goodbye." " Do you like him?" " Who?" " Astarita." "He's a very nice man." "A big shot in The Fascist Party." "Good friend to have, no?" "Then why don't you take him?" " I have Riccardo!" " And I have Gino." "We're engaged." "No, really?" "Well, it's better that way, one can always use a fiancé." "With Astarita, apart from the fact that he's very rich  there's no risk of that because he's already married." "Oh, is he?" "Don't worry, he keeps his wife at home in their village." "I told you he was ideal." "Yeah, ideal." "Bye, and think about it!" "One day, profiting from his employers being away  Gino took me to see the mansion where he worked." " I shouldn't have come here." " Why?" "Don't worry, nothing will happen." "You don't understand, I shouldn't have come because  it makes me ashamed of my house and my neighborhood." "What were you expecting?" "You're not born a millionaire." "Only millionaires live in this neighborhood." "You know, they eat from plates made of china." "But they eat fruit and dessert from plates made of silver." "The cutlery is all silver." "They eat five courses, drink three kinds of wine." "Then they retire to the living room and call for  this, the liquor cart." " Do they have any children?" " No, they have three dogs." "Want to see the bedroom?" " What's wrong?" " Nothing." "I was just thinking about this poor girl I know." " Who?" " That one, over there." "Don't talk such nonsense." "Wait, look at this..." "Look at these clothes!" "With these and the ones in the other closet, it's like  a dressmakers in here." "Why are you showing me them?" "Why should I care?" "I thought you'd like it." "I didn't come here to see your employer's clothes." " Where's your room?" " Downstairs, why?" "Don't be stupid, you know as well as I  that I didn't come here to see the house  or your employer's closet." "It's nice, your room." " Is this you?" " Yes, in the military." " Who keeps things tidy?" " Well, there's a maid." "Your room, too?" "I do everything myself, I'm used to it." "As you can see, I'd make a good husband." "What are you reading?" "Just a novel." "Gino, please let go." " Why?" " I'm afraid." " But I love you." " Let's get out of here." " You're everything to me." "I love you." "Why so late?" "Where were you?" "Now I'm sure that Gino won't be marrying you." " Why do you say that?" " You know very well." "Now, eat." "I won't eat until you tell me what you're thinking." "What's with that smug face?" " I'm not making a face." " Of course you are." "Since you must know, hear me out." "Gino won't marry you, because he's already got  what he wants from you." "He will have fun with you but won't give you as much  as a brooch, that deadbeat." " And in the end he'll dump you." " That's not true!" " I know, you don't want me to get married." " All I want  is for you to be looked after." "Astarita doesn't care if you continue to see Gino." "If you like, you can even marry him." "What do you say to that?" "Thanks, but no thanks." " Why?" " Because I love Gino." "But I told you, Gino won't know anything about it." " Exactly!" " Look out, here he is." " Hi." " Hi." "Evening, will you be honouring us with your presence?" "No, thanks." "I have a date with Riccardo, I was just leaving." " Then we'll order, if we may." " Go ahead." "Two pizzas." "Guess what I'm thinking." "How should I know?" "Who knows what a "lady" like you might be thinking?" "I was thinking that you're a very lucky man." "Why's that?" "Because you're marrying Adriana." "Drivers usually marry waitresses." " Gisella!" " True, true..." "Actually, the driver who I replaced married the cook." "See, perhaps I should have married a cook, too." "But I'd prefer it if Adriana didn't work as a model." "I've nothing against it, but you meet certain people  in that line of work." " Are you referring to me?" "What do you think?" "Goodbye." " See you tomorrow, Adriana." " Bye." "That Gisella is what people in my town would call  "a good woman."" "Gisella works, just like me." "Yet, she dresses much better." "Who gives her all those clothes?" " Her fiancé." " No, her fiancés." " Right, it's me or her." " What do you mean?" "If you want to keep seeing her, you have to stop seeing me." " Me or her." " Alright, I'll stop seeing her." "But I didn't keep my promise." "One Sunday, when Gino was away with his employers  Gisella invited me on a trip with her fiancé." "Hi, Gisella." "Hi, Adriana." " How's it going?" " Hi." " Hi." "Did I not tell you that Mr. Astarita was coming?" "No." "Are you mad because Gisella invited me along, too?" "No, why should I care?" "Well, you do." "You would prefer it if I wasn't here." "Yes, I don't like being tricked." "So, you find me unpleasant?" "I don't even know you." "Do you know, since we met I've had you followed." "And I've followed you, too." "I know everything about you." "Then you know that I'm engaged." "Yes, but let's not talk about that." "I like you, Adriana." " Very well." " It's the truth, I like you a lot." "You've no idea how much I like you." "You already told me 3 times." "I'd like to make you happy." "Then let go of my hand." "No, give me the other." "Are you going to handcuff me?" "How are the lovebirds back there?" "Don't think I didn't see that!" "You didn't see anything." "Go on, don't be afraid." "We won't tell Gino a thing." "Good day, ladies and gentlemen." "Right this way, please." "Right this way." "You'll love our dishes, we have all the specialties." "It's nice and warm in here!" "I'll send you the waiter." "Forgive me, I don't mean to spoil your trip with my presence." "If you wish, I can leave right now." "No, stay." "If I was Adriana, I wouldn't choose one or the other." "Gino or a more serious man." "I'd take them both." "It might be that Gino doesn't even mind." "Gino?" "If he even knew that I came here on this trip  with you today, he'd leave me." " Why?" "Want to know why?" "Because he doesn't want me to see you anymore." "That dirty, ignorant fool!" "I'd love to tell him that you've been out today with me  with him and with him!" "Why don't you dance, too?" "No, I don't feel like it." "You're so boring!" "It might cheer you up." "Come on." "Gino, what are you doing here?" "!" "Idiot!" "If he saw you two dancing like that, who knows what he'd say!" "I think you've given me too much to drink." "Please, my head is spinning." "I feel sick." "Leave me alone, please." "You hate me now, don't you?" "No." "You have to forgive me, because I love you." "Please, cut it out!" "Poor thing!" "Even my singing bothers her." " Cut it out!" " Alright!" "Well, it's not like she didn't want it." "If I didn't want it, there's no way you could make me." "But she wanted it, so there's no use in making such a fuss." "And if I want to sing, I will!" "Stop that, you witch!" "Stop it!" "Cut it out!" "He wishes to marry you, yes?" "But at what price?" "Would you make a good wife?" "For me it's like nothing has happened." "I'm sure that I'll make a good wife." "Are you truly repentant?" "Yes, Father." "You must let your fiancé know  that things cannot continue in this manner." "I've told him." " And when are you getting married?" " This Easter." "It would be better if you got married right away." "We can't." "I have to complete my dowry and he has to go  and speak with his parents in their village." "Well, you should get married as soon as possible." "And try to pray, my child." "This will help resist temptation." "I will pray." "And as for that other man, you should not see him  for any reason." "This shouldn't be difficult, since you don't love him." "If he insists, if he shows up, send him away." "I will." "Gino..." "What are you doing here?" "They might see you!" " I just had to talk to you." " Well, what is it?" " Nothing." "Gino, do you really love me?" "Must you always ask me that?" " Will you always love me?" " Yes, of course!" " Will we get married soon?" " It's like you don't trust me!" " Didn't we decide on Easter?" " Yes..." " And didn't I give you the money to organise everything?" " Yes." "Well, then!" "When I say something, I do it." "Your mother put you up to this." "No, it's not my mother." " Will we live together?" " Of course." "And will we be happy?" "Well, that depends on us." "We'll live together, won't we?" "You already asked me that!" "I'm sorry, it just seems so unbelievable at times." "I don't know why you have to make such a fuss." "You're right, I'm being silly." "It's not that, but you worry too much..." "I love you, Gino." "Adriana, there's a letter for you." "A gentleman delivered it, here." "He says it's urgent, that he's waiting for you in his office." "And what did you tell him?" "Nothing." "He asked me what kind of work I do..." "He wanted me to sew up some shirts." "If you go to see him, shame on you!" "Don't talk nonsense." "Did he say anything about me?" "Yes, he wanted to know when you were getting married." "Did he give you money?" "Why?" "Should he have?" "Mr. Astarita, please." "And who are you?" "Miss Adriana Silenzi." "Please, take a seat." "Thank you, Adriana." "What do you have to tell me?" "Sit down." "You had something important to tell me." "Tell me, or I'm leaving." "I wanted to see you again." "Yes!" "And I wanted to sort things out between us." " What to you mean?" " I love you." "Come and live with me as though we were husband and wife." "I'll buy you clothes, jewels, everything you ever wanted." " Is this why you brought me here?" " You don't want to?" " No." "I have something else to tell you." "Something important." " What's that?" " Something regarding your fiancé." "Gino Molinari, right?" " Yes." " You're getting married in April?" "Yes." "According to this, Gino Molinari is already married." "More precisely, to Antonietta Partini." "Married for four years." "And they have a little girl named Maria." "His wife lives close to his mother, in Orvieto." "I said nothing to Gino." "All I felt was hate for him." " Poor Adriana." " What do you mean, poor Adriana?" "I couldn't be happier for her!" "She would be better dead than married to someone like that." "Besides, it's not the end of the world." "So, you don't want to see Astarita?" "No, I don't want to see him again!" "Anyone but Astarita." "He really loves you." "I'm sick of men." "I want to be free." "Are you busy?" "Why?" "I have a date, why don't you come with me?" "I want to introduce you to someone." "Who?" "Don't worry, he's a real gentleman." "Alright, after all..." "Ma'am, it would be best not to wait up for Adriana tonight." "We might not get back until late." " Let's go." " Good evening." "Adriana!" "What do you want?" "Nothing." "That night I would be out until dawn." "I got home as the sun was coming up." "I had hoped that mother was sleeping." "Here, don't touch me!" "Do you know, while I was waiting for you tonight  at one point I felt afraid?" "Afraid of what?" "I don't know." "I felt so alone." "A great coldness came over me." "So I started thinking about the kind of person I had been  when I got married, when you were born." "And I became afraid because it has all passed in the blink of an eye." "And all of a sudden, I'm old." "So I thought  that when I'm finally dead, it'll be like I never existed." "Why do you think these things?" "You're still young." "And what does death have to do with it?" "I told you, I was afraid." "So I thought: "If someone doesn't want to carry on living..."" "".... must one continue living all the same?"" "I swear, Adriana, I don't want to live anymore." "Come on." "Believe me, Adriana, I don't want to live anymore." "That night, I too would lose the will to live." "How about we use the master bedroom tonight?" "Are you crazy?" " I thought it would be fun, no?" " Don't even think about it." "I don't want to get in trouble." "Alright, I'm leaving." " Wait, where are you going?" " No, let go of me." "Come here, I was just saying..." "Let's do it, if you really want to." "Alright, but first I want a bath." "In your employer's tub!" "As you wish." "So your wife is called Antonietta Partini." " What are you saying?" " And your daughter Maria, right?" "Poor Gino." "Why all the lies?" "Because I loved you." "If you really loved me, you would know that I'd have to suffer  when I finally found out." "But you didn't care." " I loved you;" "I lost my head." " That's enough!" "You should clean up the bathroom." "Otherwise you might get in trouble." " Are you getting dressed?" " That's right." " You don't want to stay?" " No." "So, we won't see each other again?" "No, never!" "What are you doing here?" "Get lost!" "Theres something very important I have to tell you." "Hurry up, I'm on my way out." "Listen, you didn't happen to see an object in the lady's nightstand  the other night, did you?" " What?" "A powder case has going missing." "An expensive one, with a ruby." "They think I stole it." "Luckily, one of the maids came back last night  so they suspect her, too." "Otherwise they would have.... ... already pressed charges." " And they haven't done anything to the maid?" " No." "But this morning a police chief turned up and interrogated us  for two hours." "I can't go on like this." "Then why are you so bothered?" "It's not like they'll accuse you." "They'll talk about it for a few days, and then..." "Who knows how many powder cases your employer has." "You stole it." "Me, are you crazy?" "Though, if you must know, I could have stolen it." "These days I'm capable of anything." " What do you mean?" " If I can accept money from men  I'm sure I can steal, too." "Oh, really?" "Good for you!" "And I thought that you..." "I never used to!" "But I've changed since I found out you have a wife and kids." "No, my dear, don't blame me!" "You don't become a whore without wanting to be one." "Then I was but I didn't know it." "And you opened my eyes for me." "Now get to the point, I'm tired of this!" "Adriana, don't you understand?" "If we don't find this  powder case, I'm ruined!" "I'll lose my job, they'll throw me in prison!" "And what do you want from me?" "To bring you oranges  when you're inside?" "You're ruining my life, don't you see?" "If you won't do it for me, do it for... my little girl." "I pity you." "Now you're using your daughter." "Take it, it's in that box on the nightstand." "Thank you, Adriana." "Thank you." "Here." "Take this, too." "You might need it again." "Adriana!" "Adriana!" "Shall we go in?" "I like him so much." "Yes, but I heard that it's the story of a bloody murder." "I can't stand the sight of blood." "Would you like some advice?" "We were thinking of seeing this one." "Well, I'd advise you not to." " Want some more advice?" " What's that?" "Come with us, we'll tell you what happens in the film." "That way you save money." "Come on, we're two souls in need." "Two you men in need  of some good company." "Don't make us beg." "We can go for a ride." "My car is just round the corner." " What do you say?" " If you like." " Fine by me." " Then let's go." "Where are we headed?" "Any preferences?" "Excluding cinemas, theatres, ballrooms, restaurants, etc." "Wherever you like." "Then I'll choose." "Something that doesn't cost very much  but makes a good impression." "Is it yours, this car?" "Yes, I haven't had it long." "Do you like it?" "Yes, it's very comfortable." "But I prefer the Lancia." "It's faster; better suspension." "My fiancé has a Lancia." "Your fiancé must have a Lancia on two wheels." " What do you take us for?" " I don't know, you tell us." "I wouldn't want to make a rash judgment." "We accepted your offer because you seemed like  a couple of nice guys." "And if my fiancé heard that, you'd be for it." "We're certainly a couple of nice guys." "And you are what you are." "What's wrong with that?" "The important thing is not to hide it." "Stop it, Giancarlo, please." "You're an uneducated lout!" "I bet this car isn't even yours." "You probably stole it!" " What if I kick you out?" " Just try it." "Ignore him, he doesn't know what he's saying." "I promise, he didn't mean to offend you." "Isn't that right?" "You didn't mean to offend her." "I don't understand it." "Why are we fighting?" "We're here to have a good time and instead we're fighting." "What do you think, shall we go up with them?" " To do what?" " To be together." "We can be together anywhere." "Yes, let's go off on our own." " Bye, Gisella, I'll see you tomorrow at the usual time." " Bye." "Bye, Mino, looks like you made a good impression!" " Where are we going?" " Well, a hotel might be dangerous." " Let's go to my house." " Your house?" "Where's that?" "At the bottom of this road." "If you like, I can walk you to the door, but that's it." "That's it?" "You don't want to come up?" "Then let's go to your place." "Heaven forbid, I live with another family as a lodger." "Come up with me." "I'll even tell you a story." "A story?" "An old story that everyone loves." "Don't you believe me?" "What do you say to us going for  a drink somewhere, instead?" "On the contrary..." "No one usually ever asks me." "No one ever invites you to dinner?" "They're always in a hurry." "I'm never in a hurry." "You're different from the others." "It's the first time I've met someone like you." "How am I different?" "You're not impatient, but the others..." "But perhaps I have this effect on men." "There must be some who want to get to know you better." "Right, and always the same questions." "Which?" "What's your name?" "Where are you from?" "How old are you?" "How do you make a living?" "I give the same answers, and that's where it ends." "Would you prefer it if they did all the talking?" "I'd just like it if they treated me with  a bit more respect." "I'm not just some animal." "Perhaps they're just ashamed to." "I'm not ashamed." "I like you and I won't hide it." "Really?" "Yes." "What about you?" "You won't make fun of me, will you?" "No, of course not." "Don't think I'm just saying this..." "But when I first saw you outside the cinema..." "Well, you're just my type." "Let's finish our drinks and go to my house, okay?" "I can't, it's too late." "That means you don't like me." "Of course not, it's just late." "I can see that you don't like me." "What are you doing?" "They're looking at us." "I don't care." "I want to kiss you." "Come on, cut it out." "Then let's go home." "Alright, as you wish." "Please, kiss me." "Why are you laughing?" "It's nothing." "Because I'm happy." "Don't worry about me." "What's wrong?" "I was just thinking that I should hurry and get home." "You're coming to mine, aren't you?" "No, I had better go, it's late." "Try to understand, I'm not one for adventures  like Giancarlo is." "No matter how hard I try, I just can't let my emotion  overwhelm my senses." "I like you, but I don't love you." "If I came upstairs with you, I'd be lying to both of us." "Yes, perhaps you're right." "It would be better if you go." "Have I offended you?" "No, Mino, but you don't feel anything for me." "So..." "Farewell." "The next day I found myself sad and listless once again." "Like some kind of illness." "I thought about Mino." "Why did he reject me?" "I couldn't even begin to imagine  how much he must have despised me for the life that I led." "For the first time in my life, I felt ashamed of myself." "I was like that for several days." "Hoping confusedly that Mino would come back." "And at the same time afraid that he might come back." "I decided that perhaps it would be better to give up on Mino." "To forget about him." "One day, Gino called to say that he wanted to see me." "Hello, darling." "This is my good friend Sonzogno." "This is Adriana." "Nice to meet you." "That hurt!" "Do you always shake hands like that?" "That's nothing." "If you knew how strong he was." "You should see his right hook." "Let her feel your muscles." "He's an old friend." "We're like brothers, right Primo?" "We're not friends or brothers." "We used to work together, that's all." "I know that you don't want to be anybody's friend." "Always the same; no men, no women." "Who told you that?" "I like who I like." "I was just saying..." "I've never seen you with anyone." "That's my business, isn't it?" "When someone has a girl or a friend, everyone knows about it." "Don't be an idiot." " Oh, that's how it is?" " Yes, don't be an idiot  or I'll punch you in the mouth." " Hey..." "Is this what you called me here for?" " Alright, I'm going." " Primo, no hard feelings..." "Bye." "He's not mean, that's just how he is." "Besides, he's useful." "Get to the point." "What did you want?" "Here." " What's this for?" " It's your share." "Don't ask questions, just take it and be quiet." "Can I take you out tonight?" "I want to make peace with you, that's why I called you." "My share of what?" "The powder case, I sold it." "My friend Sonzogno took care of it." "And this is your share, because you  were good and gave it back to me." "So you didn't hand it in to your employer?" "There was no need, everything went back to normal." "What do you mean by that?" "Do you remember the maid?" "They suspected her, too." "Well?" "She was getting on my nerves, telling them bad things about me." "Continue." "And while all this was going on, interrogations, accusations..." "Well, my employers had some dollars in their safe." "So I took them and hid them in the maid's room, see?" "She swore she was innocent..." "That'll teach her to speak about me." " Do you want a coffee?" " And where is she now?" "Inside!" "The police chief told her not to worry  that sooner or later she would confess." " What's her name?" " Luisa Mellini." "You're a coward, you know that?" "What do you mean?" "You put an innocent woman inside and then you have the courage  to laugh about it." "You're nothing but a coward." "Stop calling me a coward!" "Why?" "I think you're a coward and I'm not afraid to say it." "What does it matter?" "You're a coward and you always will be!" "Adriana!" "Adriana!" "You can't leave me like this." " Wait a moment." " Leave me alone." "But I love you." "I loved you too, but it's over." "Let go!" "Tell him to leave me alone!" "Did you hear what she said?" "Mind your own business!" "That'll teach him." "Come on." "So, Gino left my life once and for all." "I would see Sonzogno often." "He was a strange one;" "didn't speak much." "But one evening he broke his usual silence." " I've been thinking, Adriana..." " You've been thinking?" "Imagine that!" "Tell me, what have you been thinking?" "That we get along well." "I wanted to ask you something." "I have a bit of money." "Why don't we leave for Milan?" "I have a few friends there." "I want to set up an auto shop." "Then if you want, we could even get married." "But, we haven't known each other for long." "It's better this way." "I'm tired of living alone." "Being alone, you'll only end up doing something silly." "Well, will you marry me?" "Well, I don't know what to say." "Let me think about it." "Of course, think about it." "I can't be alone any longer, Adriana." "Why, what happened?" "I'm a wretched man." "I'll tell you something that I've never told anyone." "I trust you." "I'm the one from Via Palestro." "Via Palestro?" "JEWELLER MASSACRED IN ROBBERY" " MURDERER USED PAPERWEIGHT  TO INFLICT FATAL BLOW" " POLICE ARE INVESTIGATING" "You?" "But why?" "I had an expensive object to sell, but he wouldn't give me anything for it." "I already hated him for this other time when he cheated me." "So I told him: "You're a crook!"" "And then he said something that made me lose my patience." "What?" "That if I didn't leave right away he would report me." "So I said: "Enough!"" "As he turned around I grabbed a paperweight and..." "Oh, God!" "Why did you do it?" "And why did you tell me?" "It would be better if you go, and leave me alone." "What's wrong?" "I need to get my head around what you did." "Don't think I'm afraid of you." "I'm not afraid." "You're not going to report me, are you?" "No, don't worry." "I won't tell anyone." "But you want me to leave." "I was just saying..." "If you want to stay, you can." "Do you want to sleep here?" "You can leave in the morning." " Well?" " No, I have things to do." "A present." "Don't say anything to Gino, if you run into him." "He gave it to me." "It's the object I had to sell." "It's worth a lot." "Now it's yours." "Now you know how much I love you." "Thank you." "This is the stolen object." "I'd like you to return it to its rightful owner." " Did you steal it?" " No, I didn't steal it." "And this is the name and address of that woman." " Very well, consider it done." " Father, that poor woman  is in prison." "I won't rest until she's free." "I will go there today, and God will reward you  for your good deeds." " Thank you, Father." "There's someone here that absolutely has to talk to you." " Who is it?" " I don't know, a young man." "I was passing by and thought I might drop in for a visit." " I hope that's not too forward." " Of course not." "Sure you remember me?" "I'm so happy to see you again, Mino." "I'm happy to see you, too." "I have to ask you a favour." "Can you hang on to this package for a few days?" "I'll come by to get it." "If that's all you need..." "You don't want to know what's inside?" "It could be something dangerous." "Well, it doesn't matter." "It could be stolen goods." "I might be a thief on the run." "No, you don't have the face." "You're not the kind." "Come and sit next to me." "Besides, it's you that's dying to tell me  what's in that package." " Not really, no." "Well, it wouldn't be right if I didn't tell you what it was." "It contains propaganda material." " Against the Government?" "That's dangerous!" " Exactly." "Now you have to decide..." "I didn't mean for me." "I was worried about you." "If it's up to me, I accept." "Don't you see that it doesn't matter to me?" "I'd go to prison, and for what?" " Why are you crying?" " Excuse me." "I don't know." "Perhaps because I want you to realise that I love you." "Because I'm ready to do anything for you." "The story about the package was nothing but an excuse." "It's true, I'm in politics." "But since the day  that I met you, I've not been able to think about anything else." "I wanted to see you again, but I didn't know how." "So I came up with this excuse." "You could have just dropped by." "You know, without excuses." "I've been waiting for you." "I would have, if I just wanted you and nothing else." "But it wasn't just this." "Mino, I'm so happy." "Two months passed." "With Mino I was happy." "And because of him I had abandoned my old life..." "But one morning..." "Police!" "We have a search warrant." "Oh God, why?" "We're good people, you know." "Don't be afraid, it's just a formality." "We'll be out of here in no time." "Bloody hell!" "What's down there?" "The bedroom." "My daughter is sleeping." "Well, tell her to get up!" "Adriana, the police are here!" "Well, someone must have talked." "No, no one talked." "They have nothing on him." "You know what I think?" "It would be better if you went away for a while." "They'll only come looking for you." "That's right, it would be better if you leave." "But where can I go?" "They're looking for me everywhere." "Lay low for a few days, they'll soon get bored  of looking and give up." " Hey, why don't you go  and stay at Giancarlo's house in the country for a while?" " Giancarlo?" " He's a fascist, they'd never suspect him..." "What can I tell him?" "If he knew the truth, he would never accept." "I have an idea." "All that guy thinks about is women." "Tell him that you're going with a woman." "Right, with a woman." "You could tell him that you're coming with me." " Here we are, I'll just go upstairs to prepare the rooms." " Thank you." "Did you come here often?" "Yes, they would invite me every year in the autumn." "Until I was about 15." "And why haven't you been back?" "What would I come here for?" "Giancarlo went one way, I another." "We're not even really friends anymore." "Come and see the garden." "It's so small!" "I remember it being bigger." "So much bigger." "It's true that you shouldn't return to places you were happy as a child." "Why not?" "I think it's good for you." "The countryside relaxes you." "Just listen to that silence." "My mother used to say the same thing." "You know, you say so many things that remind me of her." " You have the same opinion on almost everything." " Like what?" "When I told you that I was involved in politics  you told me that you were worried." "My mother would say the same thing, in exactly the same tone of voice." "It means that your mother loves you in the same way I do." "Get your degree, a good job..." "Well, what's wrong with that?" "I don't understand you." "You're smart, cultured, serious..." "All good qualities." "You should be thankful, but instead it seems like you hate it." "For what I need it for..." "I would have preferred to be someone else." "Anyone else." "Want to know what I'd have preferred to be?" "Let's hear it." "The kind of person you are, that you hate so much." "I'd have preferred to be born into a rich family." "To be given a good education." "To live in a beautiful house, to spend summers by the sea  or in the mountains." "I wanted to get married to a man that really loved me." "To live with him, have children..." "I managed to persuade him that going home right away  would be too dangerous for him." "So we stayed there for a week." "But in the end I gave in and we  caught the next train to Rome." "Don't make me worry, promise that you'll go straight to Tommaso's." "Alright, but I'll walk you home." "But, why?" "I'll come and see you first thing tomorrow." "No, this way we can stay together for a bit longer." " Want to sit down?" " No, thank you, I'm about to get off." " Sit down." " Let's go to your house." " As you wish." " What's wrong?" " It would be best if you don't walk me home." "And that you get off at the next stop." " Why?" " I'm afraid that they might be waiting for you at my house." "You're right, see you tomorrow at Tommaso's." "I've been to yours a few times but you were never home." " Where have you been, away?" " Let go of me." " Who was that?" " Who?" " That guy on the tram." " A friend." " Have you seen Gino?" " No." " I've had the impression for a while that they're following me." "Two people could have talked:" "You or Gino." "Gino wouldn't report you." "Yes, that's what I thought." "And as for me, you can be sure that I haven't said a word." "I hope so, for your sake." "Listen, it's best if you go." " Why?" " Because I love another man and don't want to betray him." "Who?" "That guy from the tram?" "No, you don't know him." "Now get lost, leave me in peace!" "Move!" "I've thought about you a lot." "No one knows me better than you." "You know everything." "I don't know anything." "All I know is what you did." "But I won't talk." "What about my proposal?" " To go to Milan?" " Yes, and to get married." "Are you not worried that they might recognise you?" "No, I was just saying that." "In reality, they don't seem to know that I even exist." "Just a moment, I've remembered that someone is dropping by." "I'll just go and tell my mother to send him away." " Adriana, when did you get back?" " I don't have time now..." "I have to leave." "There's a guy upstairs, if he asks about me  tell him you don't know anything." " What happened?" " I'll tell you later." " Oh, Adriana!" " Is Mino here?" " Yes, he was here." "Then he went to find some friends." "I told him that he shouldn't!" "He said that he preferred the idea of prison to hearing  the children screaming." "But don't worry about him." "Nothing will happen, I'm sure he will be back here later." "He said he was going to the cinema first." " Goodbye, Tommaso." " Goodbye, Adriana." ""At this moment, the Blackshirt units begin their march."" ""For Via dei Trionfi, the cohorts..."" ""... march using the Roman Step."" ""At the head of this procession is the 112th Legion dell'Urbe."" ""The crowd looks on proudly at these squared legions that..."" ""... in the words of the Duce, represent the flower..."" ""... of Fascism and guarantee the strongest defense of..."" ""... the Homeland and the Regime."" ""The units now pass Via dell'Impero."" ""Directing their march towards Piazza Venezia, where they will participate...."" ""... in the Vittoriale ceremony."" ""The leaders step down from the podium, and they too begin marching..."" ""... towards Piazza Venezia."" ""On the Altare della Patria there are two guards of honour..."" ""... in high uniform, there..."" ""... to represent the armed forces."" ""On each side of the Milite Ignoto there are the two wreaths of..."" ""... the King and the Duce..."" "What's going on?" "Turn the lights on!" "DOWN WITH FASCISM DOWN WITH MUSSOLINI LONG LIVE LIBERTY" "Is Mr. Diodati here?" "The fascists arrested him in a cinema not long ago." "Who knows where they've taken him." "It's you that had Mino arrested, I'm sure of it." " Who?" " Don't act like you don't know, Mino Diodati  a student." "They arrested him a few hours ago." "For political reasons, I think." "Who knows what they'll do to him." "Don't worry." "If it was a worker, perhaps." "But a student..." "I don't want him to got to prison." "It must have been you." "Make them release him, he's an innocent man." "I've never sent anyone to prison." "All I do is my duty." "And I've never even heard of  this student of yours." "Do you really love me?" "You should know that by now." "I love you, Adriana." "Then prove it." "Wait there." "Mother?" "Mino!" " Your mother went out." " When did they release you?" "This morning." "No, leave the window closed." " Are you tired?" " No, I'm not tired." "Would you like me to leave?" "No." "You want me to stay here with you." "Yes." " Do you love me?" " Yes." "Now tell me what happened." "Right, you have to know, too." "What happened." "Well, since last night I'm a traitor." "A traitor?" "What do you mean?" "My friends had great faith.... ... in me until now." "I was so sure that I knew how to control myself that I almost.... ... wished I was arrested so that I could put myself to the test." "Well, do you know what I did when finally put to the test?" "I told them everything." "All it took was a night of interrogating to make me talk." "And this is why, since last night, I've lost all respect  for myself." "And I have no reason to live." " You got scared?" " I got scared." "I was prepared for moral violence  not physical violence." "Evidently, I'm not a hero." "What about your friends?" " What friends?" " Tullio, Tommaso..." "I don't know, they'll arrest them." "Mino, how cold you?" "That's what I keep asking myself." "But if they don't arrest them, there's no need to worry..." "They will never know..." "But I'll know." "I'll know that I'm not the same person as before." "But someone else." "And I don't like this person at all, that's the problem." "Everyone has moments of weakness." "Yes, but not everyone loses  the will to live as a result." "You know what happened to me when I talked?" "I died." "I'm dead." "Dead forever." "Stop it." "What do you think I should do?" "Don't think about it!" "What's done is done." "That's what you should do." "And then what?" "Then return to your studies, get your degree  and go back to your parents." "Leave tomorrow, if you have to." "Leave me, if you have to." "At least you will be happy." "I can't be happy anymore." "I betrayed them." "Listen, I might just be an ignorant girl, but there are certain things  that I understand better than your friends and better than you." "I know what it's like, what you're going through." "I felt so unhappy." "I wanted to be someone else but I eventually realised  that it was impossible." "And that I would always be the same person." "I felt ashamed, desperate..." "At times I wanted to die." "Then, I started going to church and praying." "And the feeling passed." "You want me to accept what I've done  without looking back." "You want me to accept what I've become  without judging myself." "Do you understand what I've done?" "Do you understand?" "Please, leave the window alone." "I have to get used to looking at myself in the mirror again." "It will get easier, I'm sure, but right now it's too early." " Where are you going?" " I'm leaving, but I'll be back for the suitcases." "wait, I'm coming with you." "I don't want to leave you alone." "Alone." "It's difficult to be alone, now." " Another go, Sir?" " Yes, please." "Are you bored?" " Don't you want to go home?" " Why?" " It's late." "So what if it's late?" " Adriana!" " Miss!" " What's wrong?" "It's nothing." " Perhaps you've caught something, let's get you home." " Thank you." "That spell I had earlier, it wasn't just nothing." "I went to see a doctor a few days ago." "I'm going to have a child." "A child?" " Yes." " Are you happy?" " Yes, because it's yours." " And because now you can tell me  that we're having a child, so..." " So, what?" " So I have a reason to live." "To forget everything." "Do what you like." "Leave me, leave me if you want!" "It doesn't matter." "I'm leaving." "Forgive me, ignore me and everything I said." "Think of the child." "But how can I not worry about you?" "How could you help me, anyway?" " Do you want me to talk to him?" " To who?" " To Astarita." "And what can Astarita do?" "He could help a lot." "The record of the interrogation is the only proof that  they have against you." "Do you want me to talk to him?" "I'll go and call him." "Very well." "Done, let's go home." "Come on." "So he's bringing the interrogation records here, for nothing?" "I'd do anything for you, Mino." "And I swear that Astarita will  bring the interrogation records here, for nothing." "He tricked me once before, but it won't happen again." "I'm your woman, and I'll never be anyone else's." "It's him!" "Stay here." " What are you doing here?" " You left to report me, didn't you?" " I didn't report you!" " You should thank God you're a woman..." "Get lost!" "You're an idiot!" "Think I'm afraid of your muscles?" "Get out of here  or you'll get this in your face!" " What's going on?" "Tell this guy to get lost, I don't know what he wants from me!" "Oh, you don't want to get lost?" "I say that you do, and right away." "Well, are you leaving or not?" "Give me your name." "Tell me your name, now!" "So you won't give me your name and you won't just leave?" "Is that right?" "Now get out!" "Now!" " Who was that?" " I don't know him well." "Just that his name is Carlo." " How are you?" " Fine." "You've been very kind." "I called you for a different favour." " What is it?" " That man you interrogated." "Oh, him again." "Well, he's no hero." "I suppose that you recorded everything he said." "I want you to make it disappear." "I'm sure many people would like it if their record disappeared." "The police archives are their guilty conscience." "The record disappears, so does the remorse." "And in exchange?" "Nothing, nothing at all." "I love that man, and anything that happens to him  happens to me, too." "You don't love me, even a little?" "No." "Since that day I've done nothing but think about you." "I need you." "I didn't want to tell you this but you've forced me to." "It's not just that I love that man." "There's something else between us." "I'm expecting a child." "Curse the day I met you!" "Curse the day I was born!" "Your student can rest assured, his interrogation  wasn't recorded." "We only consider him politically dangerous." "Farewell, Adriana." "You needn't tell me anything." "You did everything you could for me." "At least I now know that I, personally have nothing to fear." "I felt compassion for your..." "Astarita." "He was brave, standing up to  the brute like that." "He did what I should have done." "It's strange." "Who would have thought it would end like this." "Anyway, we'll have a child." "You'll give birth, hold him in your arms, and be happy." "And there will be another man on the earth." "I just hope that one day he won't have to say, like Astarita..." ""Curse the day I was born."" "I'm sure my child will be happy." "What do you think Sonzogno will do?" "He was down in the street waiting for Astarita, then he followed him." "He followed him?" "You saw them?" "Yes, from the window." "Where are you going?" "Where are you going?" "Stop!" "I'm afraid something might happen!" "What are you mixed up in?" "Sonzogno is capable of anything." "We have to warn Astarita!" "What's going on?" "I don't know, someone fell down the stairwell  or was pushed." "The police have gone up to look for the other man." "Mino!" "Mino!" "Mino wasn't at home." "He didn't show up that night or even the day after." "I locked myself in my room." "I felt nauseous towards everything..." "Or simply about any thought  that didn't involve Mino." "Why don't you eat something?" "No!" "The third day I managed to come up with an idea." "And I grabbed hold of it with both hands." "I decided that Mino was perhaps scared  given that I was pregnant." "That perhaps he had gone home." "It was a stupid assumption." "But I preferred to think of him as cowardly rather than  accept the other option." "Adriana..." ""Dear Adriana, when I opened the revolver..."" ""... and I saw that someone had removed the magazine..."" ""..." "I knew at once that it was you."" ""It made me think of you with a great deal of affection..."" ""Poor Adriana, you don't know about guns."" ""You didn't know that there was another bullet in the chamber."" ""If it was at all possible, I would have lived on."" ""And we would have been happy together."" ""But as I've already told you, I can't accept what I've done."" ""I thought of the child that is to be born."" ""And I wrote two letters."" ""One to my family, and one to a lawyer friend of mine."" ""I hope you think about me sometimes."" ""Love, your Mino."" "It was the church where I was baptised." "Where I took my first Communion." "At that moment I felt that I would have done anything  to save Mino." "Any sacrifice." "On my knees in front of the Madonna, I spoke of the emptiness in my heart." "I promised that I would never love again, as long as I lived." "Not even Mino, just as long as he was saved." "He sent us a letter, too." "What's this about a betrayal?" "Do you know something, Adriana?" "So you only care about that." "Not about whether he's alive or dead." "Mino!" "It's him." "Don't worry, it's him." "He won't be talking anymore." "He's no longer a risk." "He's dead, the man that interrogated him is dead..." "And there are no records." "Are you satisfied?" "I will always think of him fondly." "He was a good kid." "I thought about Mino, and about our unborn child." "I thought that if it was a boy, I would have called him Mino." "And if it was a girl, I would have called her Letizia." "Because I wanted her to be different to me  to have a cheerful, happy life."