"RAlNSTORM" "WATER collection NOVEMBER 7-13" "Get rid of that, I'm always late because of you." "is it too much effort ?" "What's with you ?" " Hi, Michele, got a second ?" " Later." " Busy." " Open up." " Wait your turn." " l know you're smoking." "Open up." "You're totally crazy, you see through walls now ?" "Nowwhat ?" "I don't believe this." "You took pictures !" "You said you'd stop." "He's crazy, even in the toilet !" "Now you can't even have a little smoke in peace !" "What bothers you ?" "is it the burned paper ?" "The time for the butts to break down ?" " You exasperate us." " Rules are rules." "Can't we do anything anymore ?" "No paper, no plastic cups, lights just at night." "Winter's here and no heat." "We've had it !" "We all agreed on these little rules." "We did, at first." "But enough's enough." "Come out, we have to talk." "Don't make me call Mazzotti." "Simona, please cut it out." "Okay..." "Darling, Michele's driving us nuts." "He takes pictures, he spies." "You're in charge, talk to him." "Do it tonight at the Lions dinner." "When are you picking me up ?" "Yes, sure, I'll dress up." "These are the small projects I told you about." "Put them on my desk, I'll look at them later." " Okay, thanks." " Feeling cold ?" "Absolutely not." " Professor Mazzotti." " Michele, we have to talk." "What did Simona tell you on the phone ?" "Who gives a damn ?" "You're right to be ecological." "That's not why I'm here." "It's about Simona, only you can help." " The Lions dinner's tonight." " l'm not coming." "Let me talk !" "I'm in deep shit !" "My wife... who never comes to these things because they bore her," "is coming this time." "Get me ?" "So, I thought, you can pick up Simona instead of me." " You know I don't have a car." " Take one of mine." "I don't drive, and haven't for years." "I'm asking you to save my butt and you say my car will poison the planet ?" "Don't piss me off, pick up Simona and drive her around." "She'll be furious." "But I'll call and calm her down." "If you stay below 50 kph, you'll be running on electricity, it's like running on water." " Are you up to driving ?" " Don't worry." " Remember how ?" " lt's only been 8 years !" "Not another word, you're scaring me and I won't lend it to you." "It's brand new." "Bring it back tomorrow at the ecologist rally." "Here she is." "You can handle her." " Take care of it." " Don't worry." " ls this as far as you got ?" " What can I say ?" "Architect, it's good you came too." "I can't keep coming up from Rome for this nonsense." "Madam Ambassador, you didn't need to come." "Stay out of this, please !" "Materials came late, it's slowed us down." "My daughter's university has started, she needs a place so she can concentrate on her studies." "She can't stay in a hotel forever !" "You and this person are wasting so much of my time !" "Calm down, no need to shout, we're working for you." "Alright." "But... let's hurry things along." "Show me how the work's coming." "It's been ages since someone's taken on my mother." "Listen... I don't know anyone here." "Alexandra !" "Where have you gone off to ?" "Don't tell my mother, but can you find me a place ?" "What do you mean ?" "I need room to paint, to draw." "Without telling your mother ?" "Yes, as a secret." "She'll think I'm still in the hotel." "I can ask around." "Call me if you find something." "It's so far, virtually countryside." "The route's complicated." "Okay, I'll be right down." "No GPS, no way." "Bye." "C'mon, push !" "Shit." "I DAMAGED YOUR CAR." "YOU CAN REACH ME AT this NUMBER." "Hi Simona, I'll be a little late." "No, I'm already on my way." "I just saw something on the roadside." "I'd better go back and remove it." "It'll take me five minutes." "I'll be right along." "Bye." "Hello, I'm calling from Via delle Grondaie." "There's been an accident." "Yes, there's a man lying on the roadside." "No, he's alive, he's breathing." "Just a minute." "Hello, excuse me what house number is this ?" " Number 35." " Thank you." "35." "Yes." "Alright, thank you." "Look here." "Recognize him ?" "It's Sansoni." "He has mud on just one side of his face." "He's been moved." "Did you find him like this ?" "No, I turned him over to see if he was breathing." "Never do that." "I was afraid a car would hit us." "Never touch an injured person, you might make him worse." "Could you come with me for a statement ?" "Certainly." "May I have an id ?" "Grassadonia Michele... from Palermo." "A fellow Sicilian." "Couldn't tell by your accent." "I left nearly twenty years ago." "I'm from Paternò, province of Catania." "But I still have my accent, right ?" "It comes through." "Why did you move to Siena ?" "It's the ideal city." "Ideal for what ?" "Ideal for everything." "Paternò's not bad either." "Thank you." "So, what do we write ?" " What time did you see the injured ?" " More or less 9 o'clock." "'More or less' is no good." "We have to be precise." "What time exactly ?" "At 9." "Tell me what you saw." "I saw this strange shape on the road." "Why did you touch it ?" "What ?" "Why did you do that ?" "What can I do now ?" "I have to put it in the report." "Anyway..." "You don't live around here, do you ?" "No." "Were you going..." "or returning from... one of the ladies around here ?" "Forget it." "Where were you going at this time, in this weather ?" " On foot ?" " l'm not on foot." " How then ?" " By car." " Where is it ?" " Down there." "is that really your car ?" "Well, it's not mine, I borrowed it." " That's odd." " What is ?" " Why park so far away ?" " lt was the only wide stretch." "I don't mean that, how did you do it ?" "Do what ?" "See the body from this distance." "I don't think you can see a body on the ground." "And in the dark..." "Yes, but I saw it before." "When before ?" "We put down you saw the body at 9, and now you say you'd already seen it ?" " l'd already gone by." " You'd already gone by ?" "Why didn't you stop then ?" "I saw something on the road but didn't knowwhat it was." "It looked like a big trash bag, I came back to get it off the road." "May I see your license please ?" "And what's this ?" "It's a crash I had along the way." "Let's get your alcohol level." "Look, I really did hit a parked car." "I left my name and number, the owner might call me." " May I go ?" " Give me the car keys." " l should be going." " No one's keeping you." " But the car stays." " lt's not mine, it's a friend's." "Hand over the keys." "These are the documents relative to the crime under investigation." "Crime ?" " Where do you want the papers sent ?" " Papers ?" "is the address on your id okay ?" "Yes." "Sign here." "Nowwhat happens ?" "Don't think about what happens." "Think about what you've done." "Intensive CARE" "COURT OF LAW" "Hello." "I'd like some information." "If someone's involved in an accident, what should he do ?" "I mean, if I wanted to know my position, my car was seized for an accident I didn't do, who do I talk to ?" "I didn't understand a thing." "Tell me: what exactly did you do ?" " Nothing." " So ?" "It's just to knowwhat to do in a case like this." "Thank you." "They're normally quite strict, but for Ruggero they'll let it pass." "There's a list of relatives." "He was right there, on that seedy road..." "How did Giovanna take it ?" " She's his wife, she's furious." " We'll talk later." "Excuse me ?" " l'd like to see Mr. Sansoni." " Your name ?" "Michele Grassadonia." " You're not on the list." " So ?" "So, you can't come in." " Mrs. Sansoni..." " Please, not right now." " How is he ?" " Not good at all." " l'll talk to you later." " Bye, uncle." "Madam ?" "Could I know how Mr. Sansoni is ?" "I'm Michele Grassadonia, I helped your husband last night." "Wonderful, you hang around those places too ?" "Unfortunately, the situation is very serious." " Honey, let's go." " Excuse us." "You're leaving ?" "Yes, why ?" "I don't think you should." "I mean, someone should stay with him." "Let's go." "Who's that twit anyway ?" "So, you helped Mr. Sansoni." "Yes, why ?" " Would you answer a few questions ?" " l'd rather not." "You can't refuse, people should know." "Anyway, you did the right thing." "Why not give us your name ?" "Michele Grassadonia." "So you're the guardian angel who helped Mr. Sansoni." "Guardian angel ?" "Don't overdo it." "It's just an expression." "Start from the beginning." "I went out to pick up a colleague." "It was raining, pouring." "You were saying ?" "Raining ?" "Pouring ?" "And then ?" "We've reached the end of this wonderful experience." "This symbolic dump site of objects we can do without, proves your desire for change." "You've seen how easy it is to save energy, using a certain logic, let's transform it now into a habit." "I have nothing to add, maybe Gaspare does." "No, Michele, you can wrap it up." "After Torri, maybe Siena, right ?" "After Torri, Siena !" "Before we end in symbolic darkness, and say goodnight to consumerism, we thank the people of Torri, hoping to extend this beautiful experience to Siena too." "So, this is it, if the electricians are ready, darkness on consumerism, goodnight to waste !" "Michele, I didn't see you come, where's the car parked ?" "Where's the car ?" "If you give me the keys... I AM SANSONl'S guardian ANGEL" "That piece of shit faked such surprise !" ""Miss Simona, you here too ?"" "He said he'd already asked for a divorce !" "So, I said to myself "l've had it."" "Let him stay with his little wife and get even older." "He's already old !" "He's really an old man !" "Great shot of you." "What an ass-kisser !" " Why ?" " You lucky bastard." "The one time you drive you save one of Siena's most important men." " Let's hope he lives." " He will, with your lucky ass... lf he doesn't get the best care, who does ?" "When he recovers he'll want to reward you..." "Fame won't make you even more fanatical, will it ?" "Excuse me." "Are you Michele Grassadonia ?" "I'm the court bailiff, I have a few things regarding you." "What is it ?" "Not here, we shouldn't talk about it here." " Upstairs at my place ?" " Okay." " No elevator ?" " l'm afraid not." "Okay, let's go." "But slowly, I have asthma." " We don't have to..." " Let's go." "This is a summons." "I'm sorry it's so late, but they just made the decision." "Good thing I was in the office, or they'd have sent the Judicial Police." "It's never nice to have the cops at your door." "You seem pleased." "I can't wait to see the judge." "The waiting's been terrible." "Yes, it can be unbearable." "When something's not right, even something silly, I also want to clear it up." "There's a line here where they say..." "here, look... your defense attorney, his number's right there." "I need a lawyer ?" "No, you have the right to the one in the summons." "But you should get your own soon." "How ?" "People don't have lawyers on hold." " Can you suggest someone ?" " No, I can't." "It wouldn't be ethical." "I can only say Siena's best lawyer is Chiantini." "You know... listening to the grapevine, you hear one thing, then another." "I mean, they're on your back." "Get a move on." " A move on ?" " Exactly." "Get busy, move." " ls this lawyer expensive ?" " He's not cheap." "Lawyers have ruined people !" "I'd say get a goodly amount together." " Please, come in." " l've said it all by now." "Let me sign here." "That's it." "You sign here." "Good." "I'll leave." "Read it well, it's all there." "Hello." "I received this." " What time does it say ?" " lt doesn't." "That's impossible." "You're right, it doesn't." "Wait a minute." "It's a little early, wait there, we'll call you." "Thank you." "Hello, I'm Cannella, the defense lawyer appointed for file 20-10, Michele Grassadonia." " We'll call you." " Thank you, I'll wait outside." "Mr. Cannella, hello, I'm Michele Grassadonia." "I tried to call you yesterday." " At this number." " That's the office." "What time ?" "There's no one after 6." "But we haven't discussed a thing." "Well anyway, I'd have said keep your mouth shut." "What ?" "But I'm here to explain !" "It's late now to prepare." "Qui desiderat pacem, preparet bellum." "War, understand ?" "It's war in there." "And we must prepare for war calmly, we can't just jump into the fray." "Please, come in." "So, keep quiet, don't say a thing, the second time around we'll figure a way out." " Out ?" "I don't even want to get in." " Precisely !" "You have a right to remain silent." "Use it." "Please, have a seat." "Counselor... I'm sorry about the mix-up on the time." "Don't worry, I'm so glad to see you, it's no problem." " You're glad ?" " l couldn't wait to clear this up." " What's your profession ?" " Architect." "Any property, houses, yachts, land, registered real estate ?" " No." " Not even a car ?" " No, good heavens." " There's no harm in it." "I'm against all motored transportation, vehicles that pollute." "Are you under any other criminal proceedings ?" "So, this is a criminal proceeding ?" "Didn't you read the summons ?" "Don't worry, your lawyer's here, he'll safeguard your interests." "But he told me not to talk." "I think this is a chance to set things straight." "Well, listen carefully." "This is a real interrogation and you are under investigation, clear ?" "By law, you can remain silent." " No, I want to answer." " l'm pleased." "Then suit yourself." "You were saying you have no criminal record." " And in your family ?" " No." "I mean... my father... had something, a... a small episode." " What ?" " Nothing, a..." "Something that ended before it began." "So, no." "No criminal record." " Where's your father now ?" " He passed away." "Officer, would you come please ?" "I'd like to know..." "his father... on file." "Alright." "Let's move on." "Let's try to understand what happened." "Tell me the facts relative to finding Mr. Sansoni's body." " What would you like to know ?" " Absolutely everything." "That Tuesday I had a date with a colleague, well, I was supposed to, but since I'm an ecologist, I didn't use a normal car," "I borrowed an electric one." "Did you hit Mr. Sansoni ?" "No, what are you saying ?" "You seem to dwell on details." "You asked me to start from the beginning." "When I arrived, Mr. Sansoni was already on the ground." "You see a man on the ground and you don't call the police ?" "I think about helping him, not calling the police." "I called emergency medical, check." " On your cell phone ?" " Yes." " Show it to me." " Certainly." "Here." "It's a little beat-up, but I don't like throwing things out." "It's a pet mania." "I'll retain this for the moment." " Your signature please." " What is it ?" "The record of seizure for the phone." "Can he do that ?" "Let's go on." "The emergency operator on duty that night states that you said:" ""There's been an accident", in fact, he alerted the police." "How did you know it was an accident ?" "There was a body flung on the roadside." "It could have been a stroke or an assault." "But you immediately interpreted it as an accident." "How come ?" "Based on what ?" "So, I'm here because I used the word "accident" ?" "In certain situations, words and things are no different." "With "accident" you stated a fact you couldn't have known." "Unless you saw someone hit the man and flee." "Did you see anyone running away ?" "Did you ?" "Anyway, let's go on." "As I said, I never drive." "It's a conviction of mine which has taken root over the years, but that evening I was happy, because I was in an ecological car." "But, before finding..." "the person on the roadside... I'd had a... minor crash." " l'd hit a car." " Listen here." "You can choose to talk or not, but ifwe talk, let's do so seriously for all." "I should believe that before finding Sansoni's body, you had a crash ?" "Talk !" "We'll write it all down later." "But first, help me understand !" "Fine, I will." "The visibility was very poor." "It felt like I hit something." " Hit what ?" " That's the point, I don't know." "It was like a shadow crossing the road." "Then I lost control and swerved into a parked car." "I got out, I went back to see what I'd hit, but there was nothing, so I returned to the damaged car to leave a note for the owner" "for compensation." " Did you get the license plate ?" " l didn't think of it." "Well then, what kind of car was it ?" " l don't know a thing about cars." " The color ?" "Do you recall the color ?" "The owner has my phone number." "He might be looking for me." "But, if you leave the phone off..." "Anyway, it was definitely a dark car." "So it's easy, we just look for a dark car !" "Then, on the roadside, I glimpsed a kind of dark shape." "Too bad for you." "I told you not to talk, you'll ruin yourself." "A strange mound, like a big bag of trash." "Since I have a thing about trash, a little pet mania..." "You have lots of little pet manias." "Points ofview." "You must have yours." "I'd like to clear one thing." "You're delving into who I am." "This is not a friendly debate." "Personally, I couldn't care less about your business, but if you say these are elements that influenced your choices, they become important." "Then, out of here, you can go back to being an ecologist or not." "You can do as you please." "As long as you don't break the law, it doesn't matter to me." "Could we continue ?" "You decided to go back to check what this thing was ?" "You were concerned about an alleged bag of trash ?" "You went back for a presumed bag of trash ?" "Mario Renzullo." "First I want to tell you that I'm the one who helped you." "My name's Michele and, as you know, I didn't hit you." "I know you're listening." "You have to help me get out of this situation." "Excuse me ?" "Who let you in here ?" "I rang, but no one answered." "The door was ajar, I came in." " What's your name ?" " Renzullo." "Mario Renzullo." "Yes, sorry." "But, please put on a surgical cap." "Something like this happened to me too." "I was seven, I fell backwards off a swimming pool." "I hit my head and got a concussion." "My parents talked to me all the time." "They said: "Michele, where are you going ?" "Come back !" "Don't run, come here !" "Come to us !" And not only did I wake up... but I remembered everything." "Even how I slipped." "What did you see before you got hit ?" "Concentrate." "What car is coming towards you ?" "What do you see ?" "Try to remember." "To remember everything." "What do you see ?" "What do you see ?" "What do you see ?" ""This is what irked investigators the most:" "wanting credit for helping the person he had seriously injured."" "Hello." " Where is he ?" " ln there." "You know my high regard for you." "I entrusted this studio to you because I saw howwell you work, with what passion." "And with excellent results, right ?" "But now ?" "Do you think you can meet with our clients ?" "I'm sorry, I have to think of the studio." "So, stay here if you like." "Draw, answer the phone." "There's always something to do." "So, I can't manage projects anymore ?" "What about commissions ?" "Sorry, you'll have to do without." "I was already getting so little, how can I make it now ?" "I can't resolve that for you." "Sorry, I have to go." "Professor !" " Well ?" " Well, what ?" " Why look at me like that ?" " How should I ?" "Differently." "Want to come or not ?" "Mimmo asks if you can give back the camera." "Why ?" "He'll give it to the person replacing you." "I don't know, maybe I left it at home." "Remember to bring it next time." " No shower ?" " No, there's a tub." "If you like you could add a hose that... lt hasn't been used for a while." " Your friend doesn't wash ?" " Yes, with rain water." "The bed's quite small." "And these ?" "These objects are beautiful." "They're devices my friend made, the owner, to produce electricity." "How clever." "So, there's no electricity ?" "I don't see any lamps." "No, there's electricity." "These are just inventions to produce small quantities of energy." "He wanted to live one year without running water, without electricity." "Just an experiment, to see if he could do it." "And did he ?" "No, he had to break it off." "Your friend must be a bit nutty." "So, what do you think of the apartment ?" "I don't know." "Could it be emptied a little ?" "I could ask the owner to put some things in the cellar, maybe I could do it myself." "I can't send any money for a few months, Mom." "Has something happened ?" "No... nothing." "I've had a lot of expenses for the house." "The important thing is you're well." "You stopped calling, I was worried." "No, everything's fine." "That's good." "I'll talk to Uncle Ciccio to see if he can help me." "The debt your father left, has been such a burden." "The empty office mustn't concern you, it's not like a restaurant." "When we enter a deserted restaurant, we worry a little." "Please sit down." "The fact is, I've slowed my workload." "I live upstairs, I'm only down here when someone comes." "I take very few cases, so it's up to you, try to excite me." "What happened to you ?" "I don't know ifwhat happened to me will seem exciting." "I stopped to help a person on the roadside and now I'm accused of running him down." "I'm accused of having hit Mr. Sansoni." "Surely a notable case." "Don't be upset, but I'd advise you turn to someone else." "What do you mean ?" "I don't take on personal injury cases." "At the end of my career, I'm not interested in entering a courtroom for less than a homicide." "Sure, this might become manslaughter, but at the moment it's not." "Let's wait to see how things evolve." "I put the rent money someplace, but I don't remember where." "Don't worry, I'll come back later." "No, it's got to be here." "What a mess !" "Sorry..." "Here it is." "It's right here." "Thank you." "I was wondering... I see you keep all the lights on." "Walking by I noticed, that from the windows, there's an incredible amount of light." " Are you checking on me ?" " No, not at all." "Your drawings are strange." "Nice..." "Yes, they're about prey being captured." "You asked why I didn't stop right away to help Sansoni." "Tell me." "Maybe I didn't want to confess to myself the real reason for my lack of attention for an injured person." "Explain that." "At the very instant of the accident I thought, and I still do, if no one picked up that carcass..." " Carcass ?" " Yes, I mean..." "That body." "If no one picked up that body, a layer would form over it, a thicker and thicker layer of moss." "Days would go by and Sansoni would have decomposed under there." "In time he'd become, like the remains of plants and animals, a fossil." "You may not know, but fewer and fewer corpses can decompose in real earth, without coffins." "A fossil." "So I wondered:" "howwill our descendents cook their meals, warm themselves, do things without fossil fuel ?" "Our deposits are running out and I thought a giant like Sansoni would become an enormous carbon deposit to provide fuel to our descendents." "There, sooner or later, other layers of asphalt will form, squeezing him, compressing him, turning him into a fossil." "Even though, in truth, digging deep in our own pockets, you can find so much of it." " What are you doing ?" " See how much !" " Stop it !" " See how much." "Stop it !" "See how much !" "My condolences." " Condolences." " Thank you." "Mr. Chiantini, it's Michele Grassadonia." "I need to speak to you urgently." "It may be late now." "I'll try again." "Thank you." "What are you doing here ?" "I'm sorry." "I thought no one was home so I came in." "Are you alright ?" "Shouldn't we call a doctor ?" "No, I'll get over it." "I'll be alright." "Listen... don't say anything to my mother, please." "Don't tell her you found me so... so tired." "Excuse me." " What are you doing here ?" " l need to talk to you." " l've been waiting a while." " lt's very late." "Don't be upset, but let's make it tomorrow." "You said if Sansoni died..." "So, he died." "Yes." "But now I... it's not the time right now." "Now, please." " l have to go out again." " l can't bear waiting another day." "Do you mind if I come with you ?" "Wash and scrub, but for all your scrubbing, you never get to the ultimate whiteness, the definitive whiteness." " Are things alright, Counselor ?" " Yes, Mrs. Corsini." "You can send Chen home, what's he here for ?" "Don't worry about Chen, he must stay till the end of the evening." "You did a good job, very thorough, this time." "When we decide to run a marathon, we must do the whole stretch, no tricks or short-cuts." " Don't worry about us." " Go on." "See you later." "Take a dishtowel and start drying." "He's been doing it for several years." "He comes down, especially when I have lots of guests." "He says when he washes dishes, his mind slides, frictionless, on the soap." "And that's how he prepares his best speeches." " Who's he with this evening ?" " That's the point." "Otherwise, I wouldn't have mentioned it, but this evening he came with Grassadonia." "The Sansoni guy ?" "Why, is he defending him ?" "It seems so." " Here I am, madam." " What are they saying ?" "The young man's nervous, he says he didn't do anything." " And the lawyer ?" " He listened." "And then he said to the young man:" ""Think hard, if some piece of the story is missing, it's a tough defense."" " ls that all ?" " That's all." "Your version of the facts is implausible." "Yes, I realize that." "But... what can I say, it's the truth, the facts, the way they happened." "You have a very naive idea of truth." "Events, facts, can't be recovered." "An example." "Take a box, open it, let the wind blow into it, close the box fast to capture it." "When you open the box again, do you think the wind will blow out like it went in ?" "The windy nature of facts makes it impossible for life to go back as it was." "We can just tell the tale." "Let's wait to see the charges, and the evidence they have." "At that point we'll try to show the exact opposite." "In the meantime, think hard." "Try to imagine what you hit that evening." "Shortly there'll be a preliminary hearing and you'll need to come up with a more convincing version." "It's shameful." "They talked about you on TV." "In here, Mother." "You can lie here." "Who's living in your apartment then ?" "A student, a young woman." "is she pretty ?" "Normal." "Still holding your purse ?" "Put it down." "Let's sleep." "You can't live in here, what will you do ?" "Isn't it better to come to Palermo ?" "You could rest, I'm there." "How can you do without a kitchen ?" "You have to recover, my love, you're skin and bones." "What if they look for me ?" "I wonder... why did you leave Palermo ?" "What does this Siena have more than Palermo ?" "I'm all aches and pains." "My back... I feel awful." "And this shoulder..." "the heavy suitcase, up, down, down, up... lt was a haul coming all this way." "In Palermo you could see Scalici, the lawyer." "When Dad had need, we went to him." "Forget Scalici." "Even if he defends certain people, it doesn't mean he's dirty too." "Please, forget Scalici." "It's good Dad never had to get involved with him." "Let's sleep." "Poor thing, your dad !" "He just didn't hold up." "But you're different, you're strong." "And you'll go all the way." "Do you feel cold ?" " Sleeping in your hat ?" " l couldn't get my hair done." "I went to Franco, the hairdresser, but when I got there, I felt such shame." "They all stared at me." "So I got my courage up, I went up to Franco and said:" ""Franco, maybe I'd better come another time."" ""Yes", he said." ""Maybe another time's better."" "But you can take it off now." "No one can see you here." "Even when you think you're alone, there are 100,000 eyes staring at you." "Michele ?" "I printed what was in your camera." "Aside the pictures of the apartments, I found these." "It's your stuff, right ?" "She's very pretty." "A friend of yours ?" "Really very pretty." "You're... a pig." "Mr. Grassadonia ?" "Are you checking on me ?" "No, stop !" "Don't rip them up !" "I'll take them, I know how to use them !" "I looked for you, but you never answered the bell." "I was away, then I did some work here and fell asleep." "I know everything, the girl let me in." "It's the probationary examination of the car." "Here." "It's set for next month." "Don't worry, it's no big deal." "No big deal ?" "I'm accused of murder !" "Just manslaughter." "Don't overdo it." "Look, you risk practically nothing, so don't be so dramatic, things happen." "Sign here." "It's just a feeling, but I don't think they found anything substantial." "The only certain thing is that the car received two blows, one from a moving body" "and the other from a harder surface, probably a car." "I never denied having hit one." "And before that blow, something else." "It's not enough to say "something else"." "It's your vagueness that perplexes the judges." "Trust me, we have to negotiate !" "How can you say that ?" "I did nothing and I get convicted ?" "Negotiating isn't a conviction, it's an agreement between the parties on the sentence." "If you could recall what you hit, we'd be on equal footing." "But if you can't even give a version of the facts, I don't say reliable, but at least well-defined... I just want the truth to come out." "But I'm not here to have you tell the truth, I'm here... excuse me a moment." "There's not even a glass ofwater." "Sometimes you seem inhuman, you know ?" "lnhuman, why ?" "Because men's minds always seek victory and seldom the truth." "The windshield was totally opaque." "I could just perceive a nebulous figure, but I couldn't decipher it." "After the impact with an indistinct object..." "Excuse me if I interrupt you." "Will you clarify the nature of this flow ?" "Flow ?" "Blow, I'm sorry, this first blow." "Thank you for helping me but let's do it right." " Why use that voice ?" " He's mean, not like your mother." "I don't mean you should be affable, but don't make funny voices." "You too, though, you say things by rote... I'm memorizing it to feel secure." "You sound like a robot and... you dress words in their Sunday best." "What ?" "Like "nebulous figure"." ""l impacted an indistinct object"." "Are you reciting a poem ?" "Simpler, my love." "If it's the truth, it doesn't need its Sunday best." "Okay." "Can we start over ?" " So, Mr. Grassadonia..." " Quiet !" "Not so loud." "Wait. "So, Mr..."" "So, Mr. Grassadonia." "Could you be clearer ?" "Why did you decide to go back ?" "To better evaluate the nature of the object that had caught my attention on the roadside." "Be more precise, your words go on record." "I've been trying to remember what happened that night, but..." "All I remember is a shadow crossing in front of me, I can't say what it was." "You should have found something on the ground." "But you say you saw nothing." "What did you hit, a ghost ?" "A heavy ghost, if you'll allow, Your Honor." "Seeing how it damaged the car." "These quips are totally uncalled for." "You're right, I'm sorry." "But I think it's probable that Mr. Grassadonia hit the man and fled." "Then maybe he had second thoughts, maybe he had a twinge of conscience." "Or was afraid he'd been seen." "Then how do we explain the two different dents in the car ?" "Suppose he went back and purposely damaged his car to mask the first blow ?" "Please wait outside, I'll call you." "Goodbye, thank you." "Not just in this Shakespeare, this director always does it !" "He'd already caught me with a Genet, and the year before with "The Golden Cock", no less." " And were they all naked ?" " Yes, from start to finish." "It's his style, every director invents his own style." "And what's more, they were all actors, all men, all with their tools out !" "There was midget of a guy with a bundle..." "A pack between his legs !" "I know, I was in the first row." "And the final bow too ?" "Please, come in." " Are you coming ?" " No, I'll wait here." "Are Chiantini and the prosecutor friends ?" "I don't think so, why ?" "They were having such fun together." " So ?" " Does that seem normal ?" "We're going to court." "Maybe I was wrong too, not to force you into negotiating." "We can't go to court with this kind ofjoke." "They'll never believe you !" "You didn't take your drops today." " What, sorry ?" " You seemed euphoric." "You were laughing with the prosecutor like this is a game." "The judge's decision doesn't depend on what happens in the halls." "If you don't like it, get another lawyer !" "I certainly will." ""The train's about to leave." "Take care and don't worry." "I'll be waiting in Palermo." "Your mother." "I left you some pictures of your father." "You're identical."" "The rest of the furniture should be here soon." "I still don't have a kitchen." "Some things need to be done better." "I'm sorry to leave your place." "Come on, I'll show you something funny in the bedroom." "You'll need to be sawed in half." "You need a bed made just for you." "A long, long one." "I'll do it, if you want." "Don't get the measurements wrong." "Stay straight." "I'd like to paint your picture." "20... 40... 60..." "200, 220..." " What are you doing here ?" " Why ?" "You can't stay here." ""Darkness on consumerism, goodnight to waste" was my idea." "Now that we're in Siena shouldn't I take part ?" "The mayor, the councilmen, where do you fit ?" " My name's not even on it." " Your name's the problem !" "They don't know your face, but they know your name and it doesn't raise nice thoughts." "If you stay, you'd damage us and dirty this beautiful thing." "Sorry, but you have to accept it and step aside for a while." "The mayor's here." " Mr. Mayor..." " l'm a little late." "It doesn't matter, this way." "We're all here, we're glad you're with us too." "Where are you going ?" "You have to leave." "I'll leave right away." "When they cut the power, you'll be in the dark." "We're the ones who have to reach that balance, that harmony which once made our cities great." "I'm happy that now certain values are felt as undeniable, shared." "For years my association and I have been fighting to reach certain objectives." "At first I was alone, now there are lots of us." "Maybe the merit lies in this crisis." "So, let's take this crisis as a great chance to say stop !" "Stop wasting, so, if the electricians are ready, we say:" "darkness on consumerism, goodnight to waste !" "Are you alright ?" "Why didn't you leave ?" "See ?" "Doing things your way you fall on your face." "Good thing it was cardboard, a real horse would really hurt." "Once I saw a guy on a bicycle who crashed into..." "A horse !" "Now, please, leave." "Come on, leave." "In Siena horses are loved like no place else in the world." "Siena is Horse Heaven." "I don't mind saying if a jockey gets hurt he's substituted, but if a horse gets hurt... it's a tragedy." "How did you manage to find me ?" "I looked in every stable around the accident." "Would you testify ?" "To say the horse came back hurt ?" "Maybe." "I don't know." "Certainly not one word more." " Just what I saw." " That might prove nothing." "But to evaluate the dent if the horse's body were examined..." "The body ?" "When... it poured down that Tuesday, I'd gone into the barn to mop up the water." "It was a wreck." "It was becoming completely flooded." "Tancredi was all wet, I was drying him, but he got away, damn it !" "I'll never forgive myself." "His owner once said to me:" ""When Tancredi dies, don't let the worms eat him."" "So, these are his ashes." "You're free to get them examined." "Before he went into this urn, in the oven, for one moment at least, he was fire again." "And now he's resting... in these remains." "You have to be tidier." "I'm right to see Scalici, aren't I ?" "He'll want a bundle of money." "Don't think about that, I'm here and as long as your mother's here, you mustn't worry." " l asked for a small loan." " What !" "It's nothing, I'll pay it bit by bit." " But there's the other debt !" " That one's with the bank." "And it's almost finished." "This is a... what's it called ?" "A very serious financing company." "We'll pay it back a bit at a time." "Don't worry." "Go now, don't keep him waiting." " Did you come by plane ?" " No." "By train and ship, I'm against planes." "You're a serious person, I like you already." "I never fly either, flying seems unnatural." "If the Lord wanted us to fly," "He'd have given us wings, with two holy spits He'd have stuck them on." "There must be a reason if He didn't." "Man always wants to go overboard, swagger a bit." "But we have to go now." "I have a hearing in 15 minutes." " Hello, sir." " Miss Lo Iacono." "is there any news about my father ?" "We always meet by chance and I have to repeat myself." " lt takes some patience." " More ?" "Justice takes the time it takes." "Let's meet in a week, a month." "You're too concerned, don't worry, go now." " Thank you." " Don't mention it." "Good people, petty swindlers..." "But they nag, everyday, every hour they break your nuts." "Let's go now, I'll take you somewhere quiet." "Tell me." "First, I hope at least you believe me." "In terms of the trial, that doesn't matter at all." "I know, but it might be important for me." "Never being believed can drive you insane." "Then you need a shrink, not a lawyer !" "Get a prescription, pop some pills, get your head straight and you'll relax." "Let's go." "Let's try to size up the situation." "When your mother said you were coming, I sent for some faxes from Tuscany." "I got the picture right away." " Siena's taken by your case." " Pretty much." "Yeah, nothing ever happens there, so, a fact like this makes noise." "Please sit down." "So we can talk eye to eye." "But I've been doing the talking, you haven't said a word." "Something important:" "I've found a decisive element to clear me." "Well, tell me about it." "That evening my car hit a horse." "Fuck !" "A horse ?" "No kidding ?" "Yes, a horse." "In fact, the car got a first dent when I hit it." "But the horse's keeper will only testify to what he actually saw." "Help me understand." "He saw the horse run off and come back injured." "He's really not a witness." "If he's not, he will be." "He can say what he wants, and then the lawyer, like a magician, pulls a world of color out of the gray hat ofwords." "And if he refuses to testify ?" "After all, I killed his horse." "There are ways to convince people." "Nowwhat's this guy want ?" "The hearing's starting, Mr. Prestano's worried." "I came here for a reason, not for a stroll !" "I'm working !" "Your assistant doesn't knowwhere to begin." "You're pissing me off !" "Can't I leave you ?" "Are you a two-year-old ?" "Want a pacifier ?" "Forgive me..." "Mr. Grassadonia." "I'm speaking to you from the heart now." "I feel... I dare say, touched." "Because you're sitting where your father sat, before darkness engulfed him never to be seen again." "Here ?" "There." "And that day, what was my father like ?" "An autumn leaf, trembling and yellow, just before it falls." "The dead are dead, let's think of the living." "It will go fine, but you have to get your balls out." "It will go fine." "Now let's enter the hearing and then... I'll explain something important to you." "Wait for me here." " Mr. Prestano." " Where were you, sir ?" " l'm right here." " They've already begun." "I'll talk now." "Without you, I'll get 30 years." "You're too nervous, don't worry, my assistant is better than me." "Relax." "Let's sit over here for a moment." "I was talking about my special method." "I base the defense on an attack." "I investigate people's shit." "You discover strange, disturbing, dirty things." "Everyone is made of a certain portion of muck." "Everyone has a sewer inside." "That's why you have to look into people's lives, and an investigation is like a storm." "Water, water, water... until the manholes plug up, the sewer bursts and all the shit comes out." "Go now, it's late." "I'd better step in or that poor bastard won't get 30 years, he'll get life." "Come." "The stairs are down the hall." "I'll rest a minute." "You're tired." "Of course you are." "You're taking this too much to heart." "Don't worry, Mr. Grassadonia." "What's important in the end, is to come out of it well." "You just have to be a little more careful." "It's in there, in your breast, that the battle's decided." "For example, that night you saw something on the ground, you didn't stop, you drove on, then you went back." "So let me ask you:" "do you think you did well to go back ?" "In the light of all you got for it,"