"THE FLAME THAT NEVER DIES" "Carmina!" "The hot water!" "Get out of my way!" " And?" " I've never seen a more difficult birth." "Not him!" "He wants to do it by himself." " We'll call Dr. Bizzanti." "Get out from under my feet!" " How did you wind up marrying her?" "Get in the house, hurry!" "I told you to get in." "Caterina!" "Come to uncle Giuseppe." "Come and I'll tell you something nice." "I don't want to hear it!" " Then come to uncle Michele." " No!" "Yeah, smart idea." "Come to your father." "And when he's born, we'll see him together." "He's born!" "Come, come!" "Your father knows his stuff, eh?" "Like you did it all, not the cow." " What does it matter?" "Joking aside, he's a beaut." " He came out a Colossus, like me!" "We're keeping him, aren't we?" " Yes, yes." "And so, the family has increased." "Yes, sir." "A male was born." " You hear that?" "A male." "Meanwhile, it's midnight and the soup is cold." "Yes, thank you." "Change the subject." "Tell me why you're always on leave?" " I've permission." "It's always the same." "In my day, before you could get leave.." "Maria!" "Guglielmo!" "Where are you?" "What a disaster!" "How are you?" " The doctor's upstairs." "Thank you." "Nothing serious." "Some slight burns." "Mainly, a strong shock to the nerves." "I'll return in the afternoon." " Goodbye, Doctor." "And her father?" "And now, who'll tell her?" "I don't have the courage." "Poor Maria." "Poor girl." "And now?" "Well, I was thinking.." "if you agree, we can keep her with us." "I was just going to say that." " Yes, of course." "Didn't she have an uncle in Brazil?" " Right." "We must let him know." "Send me his address." "I'll write to him from Rome." "I must leave now or no train." " I'll go hook up the gig." "What a night, eh?" "Well, try to rest a bit on the train." "Bye, dad." "You like that, eh?" " Yes, a lot." "Look, Mom!" "It's really lovely." "Nice, Maria." " And when do you do yours?" "Yeah, that's what I say too." " No, I don't need one." "I don't like you dressed in black." " Caterina!" " Let her talk." "Come with me." " No!" "I'm staying with Maria." "Uncle Giuseppe told me that I must keep her company." "OK, but now we must bring grandpa his food." "You have so much to do." "I'll go." " Yes!" "Both of us'll go." "How she made me run!" "I'm glad to see you so happy." "It makes me work more gladly." "Caterina, be careful!" " Wait, I got her." "Welcome, Giuseppe." " Hi, Carmina!" "We'll start seeing you around here a little bit more now, eh?" "For Michele's first Mass in the parish, it's like getting married." "You think I'd miss that wedding?" "And dad, where is he?" " Ah, right, dad." "You'll find him in the garden." "With Maria." "Dad!" "Maria!" "Oh, Giuseppe!" "How are you, dad?" " And how 'bout yourself?" "How's the farm?" " Very good." "This grain is a marvel." "Come and see." "I'm sorry, let me freshen up and I'll be right back." "Bye." "OK." "I came up because.." "Because I wanted to know if your uncle Valente had written?" "No." "He hasn't written yet." "On the other hand, I have." " Yeah." "Listen, I didn't answer because.." "because I knew that you'd be coming." "Indeed, here I am." "Excuse me, I must go." "I have a lot to do in the kitchen." "Well?" "Well?" "The seminary hasn't changed you." " Neither has the barracks you." "She's a fine girl." "I like her." "Who are you talking about?" "The bishop." "Cheers, Don Michele!" "Silence!" "The bishop's speaking!" "Have him speak." " But, no." "Why?" " But, yes!" "I don't know how to make speeches." " Come on!" "I can only tell you that I've worked." "I sweated every day of the week." "Except Sundays and other holy days." "Well, sometimes on holy days." "God will forgive me, if our bishop puts in a good word for me." "Giovanni has chosen his father's work." "When he makes up his mind, you can never change it." "I admit he knows what he's doing." "And he doesn't like to stay idle." "Michele has become a priest." "And I'm content." "It seemed fitting that in a family there was someone to help us get along with God Almighty." "With Giuseppe, you must have patience, like I must have too." "God only knows, in a house like ours there's no need for arms." "So much so that Providence has sent us this good daughter to help us." "It's true." "Enough!" "We sacrificed everything, starting with Giuseppe." "But Giuseppe must become a marshal." "He must lead!" "I think it's good to get along even with government, eh?" "With God and the government." "To get me to talk, you made sure I drank, eh?" "I want to say something." "I say we're a family of good people." "We are a fair people." "And people who have no fear!" "If you know anything to the contrary, come here and tell it to our faces." "Well said!" "I remember.." "that my captain always told me.." "Captain.." "Giacomo Opinacci, 5th Lancers of Novara." "I've always kept the letter he wrote me, on the day of my wedding." "Here it is." ""You, Manfredi, are a man who will go his own way.." "and find the fortune you deserve." "You'll have children who'll do you proud." "No need to say anything more because I know you." "Your children will be just like you." "No need to say anything more."" "It's not true he doesn't say anything more." "I don't know how to read but.." "I remember every word." "Signed:" ""Affectionately, Captain Giacomo Opinacci."" "My only regret is.." "that Caterina's not here." "No need to say anything more." "You said that Caterina wasn't here." "Here she is!" "Beautiful, that tree." "Yes, quite." " His name is Giuseppe like me." "Ah, yes?" " My father planted it when I was born." "The more I look at it, the more I see a resemblance!" " You think so?" "That one is Giovanni, the other is Michele." " Hello, pleased to meet you." "My father is some guy." "Yes, very nice." "How these two days have flown by." "Every time I come home, I feel like leaving less and less." "Unlike in the beginning." "Now, who knows when I'll return." " But there are a lot of thieves about." "Thieves?" " Put one in jail, then they'll give you another leave." "And if they killed me?" "Would you not like that?" "Oh, such talk!" "And even if I come back, I wonder if I'll see you again." "Why?" " Your uncle may come to get you." "Who knows if he'll ever come?" "He's never responded." "But if he came, would you leave with him?" "I'd have to." "Who should I leave with?" "I have no other relatives." "Of course, with your uncle you'll be well off: clothes, travel, entertainment.." "A beautiful home.." "And then one day you'll get married." "I don't even think about it." " You should." "These things happen." "Yes, but not to everybody." " But to you, yes." "How do you know?" " I wonder how many have already asked you." "That guy who was sitting next to you, for example." " Oh, him!" "Or maybe someone else." "He'll have to wait a long time." " Maybe you'll like him." "It's not so easy." " I'm curious to know what kind of man you would like?" "And I'd like to know what kind of girl you'd like." "I can't tell you." " Why?" "Because if I do, I don't know what will happen." "What do you want to happen?" "That the girl answers me no." " But if you don't say anything." "What if she answers yes?" " Yeah, it's true." "I need to tell her." "There." "Now I told her." "LEAVE" "So, you're also leaving us?" "Eh, sergeant, just for two months." "Good day" " Good day." "Comein." "Your orders." " There's some rather important news for you." "And my request for a leave?" " That'll come in due time." "I spoke a little while ago with our informant." " Yes, I saw him leave." "Today it was much more accurate than usual." "Yeah." "It seems that the Gimp's gang have decided to take you out." "And I thought I was on the wrong track." " Instead, we're right on the money." "This is the proof." "OK." "Tonight I'll have a chat with the informant." "Agreed." "And if.." "you can catch the Gimp and his gang, I'll give you bonus leave." "Be careful." "They vowed to do you in." "They're not kidding." "Lieutenant, like I'll get myself killed, now that I decided to marry." "Porter?" " Here I am!" "Is Giannotti there?" " No, he's not." "He went out this morning with two guys." "He's not back yet." "Are you sure?" " Of course!" "He lives by me." "Thank you, good evening." "Do you have a light?" "Hello?" "Hello, miss?" "2-23." "Lieutenant?" "It's Manfredi." "I think they're after me." "They followed me." "They trapped me in the locomotive yard." "Eh?" "I've only seen three so far, but I think there are others." "Yes, sir." "I can stay here for ten minutes." "Here they are!" "Here they are!" "They're coming, Lieutenant." "Stop!" "Get down on the ground!" "This way is prohibited." " The other way!" "Bonus leave, gentlemen!" "Bonus leave!" "Where are you going with that thing?" " What thing?" "I paid 17 lire for it!" "Look at it before you go, "Ohhh"!" " I think there's too much red." "Stop that or you'll break it!" " Break it?" "This is solid stuff." "Let me go or I'll miss my train." "You're bringing that home?" " No, I giving it to you!" "Wretch!" "Damn it the hell!" "Thank goodness, it didn't break." "Damn!" "Next time, be careful!" " What?" "It's my fault?" " It's mine, then." "I told our dad a hundred times, that the gig needs to be repaired." "And now, just look." "What do we do now?" " Let's see what happened." "Honk it!" "Then pass!" " How can I?" " How should I know?" "Look here, this is the way to clutter up the road!" "Where do you want me to stop?" "In the lake?" "I'd never believed it because you're in the company of a sergeant.." "Meaning?" " He's right." "If you sent me a telegram telling me you were passing by, I would've had the roads cleared." "But, you.." "Do you know whom you're talking to?" " Of course I do." "With you." "So?" " Quit the blather and stand aside." " Yes, as soon as I'm finished." "I'll make you pay!" " Too bad I don't have any change!" "And you, shame!" "You should do something instead of standing there!" "Please watch your words!" " I'll file a complaint!" "Let me give you my name." "My name is Guido Valente." "Then you're uncle Valente?" " Uncle, my ass!" "I'm Guido." "And you?" "Giuseppe Manfredi." "This is my brother, Giovanni." "Your niece is with us!" "It was me who wrote you." "Maria?" "Really?" "That's nice!" "Let's hope the other members of the family are like you!" "Can I give you a hand?" " No." "We're almost done." "Maybe one of you needs to use my car?" "I'd love to, if you don't mind." " Have a seat, please!" "Be careful, eh?" "And how's Maria?" " Well, thank you." " Thank goodness." "Thank goodness." "I'll make room for it." " Thank you." "Get in." "Sit down." "Good." "This I'll put here, this picture." "Let's go!" "Maria, damn!" "How big you've become!" "No, that's not Maria but my sister-in-law." " Oh, how silly!" "And you?" "Oh, no." "This one's too young!" " That's my niece." "Well, I left her when she was this high." "Would you like to sit down?" " Excuse me." "This way?" " Yes" "Mama, is this an automobile?" " Yes, miss, 40 horsepower." "How is it going, dad?" "This is Mr. Valente, Maria's uncle." " Hello." "A pleasure!" " The pleasure is mine, sir." "What a fine man!" " I'll let Maria know." "Want a glass of wine?" " No thanks, I don't drink." "But I look forward to seeing my niece." "I'm in a hurry." "I need to be in Rome before nine." "We also had an accident." "Not serious, I hope?" " No!" "Serious, no." "No, no, please!" " After you!" " Please." " No, after you!" "I'm grateful for what you've done for Maria." "I'll never forget it." "Maria is like a daughter to me." "She's paid me back a thousand times for all that I've done for her." " Nice!" "A lovely farm." "Yours?" " Yes, it's mine." " I can't see myself in the country." "It's a question of being made one way or another." " Yes." "How much is it worth?" "Don't know." " You don't know?" "Don't you know how much you're worth?" "What do you want?" "I've lived here so many years here." "Well, today.." "Cute!" "He doesn't know!" "Maria's not home, she should be at church." " Is it far?" "No, ten minutes but by car even quicker." " Then, let's go." "It's better Maria see him alone." "Show Mr. Valente where the church is." "Caterina, be careful!" "I know he's rich and can give her another life." "But she loves me." "And I can't live without her." "I don't want her to leave." "You understand, right?" "Dad, say something!" "And you.." "what do you say?" "What do you say?" "Lovely." "What is it?" "A lapis lazuli?" " No, an emerald." "Ah, I meant an emerald." "Too bad that there's a carbuncle." "I've seen some in Amsterdam much better this." "No offense." "A lovely couple, eh?" "But I'd prefer you in uniform." "Because he's a general." "General!" "A sergeant!" "Yes, yes." "Well, did you decide?" " Yes, this one." "I was also on the verge of doing what these are doing, but I said to myself," ""Better alone than in bad company"!" "Hurry!" "We still have things to do." "What is it?" "What's going on?" "What's going on?" " There's a war!" "Por la guerra?" "I remember in Mexico, in 1909, everybody shouting, "Por la guerra!", "Por la guerra!"" "But then the war never happened." "The same story here." " Hooray!" "WARWITHAUSTRIA BY TOMORROW" "ITALYHASDECLARED WAR WITH AUSTRIA" "GERMANYDECLARES A STATE OF WAR WITH ITALY" "FIRSTDAYOF WAR BETWEEN ITALY AND AUSTRIA" "Manfredi!" "Your orders, colonel." "Your captain told me you requested a leave due to family circumstances?" "Yes, sir." "Colonel, it's to marry." " Good for you!" "Yes, sir, colonel." "We waited so long and we finally got the papers." "I'm leaving for the front." "Who knows what'll happen." "I can be done in one day." "Are you sure you can get married and get back in time in one day?" "Yes, sir, Colonel." " OK, tell your captain to bring me your paper to sign." "Giuseppe!" "What happened?" "Hurry, get dressed!" "Let's go to the town hall!" "The town hall?" "How come?" " Yes, we're getting married!" "Oh, God!" "At this hour?" "Are you crazy?" " We'll go tomorrow." "I've a few hours of leave!" "Now hurry up and come down!" "Alright, we'll get ready." "Come on!" "You want to waste your leave like this?" "Think it over." " Come on, get out!" "Put on your wedding dress." "With the veil!" " Yes." "And the witnesses?" " I'll call them." "Giovanni, put on a tie!" "Go tell Michele at the parish." "Mayor!" "Mayor!" "Michele?" "Who eats well sleeps even better, eh?" " What is it?" "An accident?" "Eh.. perhaps it is." "First, I read the articles and the Civil Code regarding the duties of the spouses." " Couldn't we do without that?" "Without it?" "You must." "You must." "Article 130 says.." "says that marriage requires spouses the mutual obligation of cohabitation." "Article 131." "The husband is the head of the family." "The wife follows his rules and assumes his surname." "Article 132." "The husband has a duty to protect his wife." "To keep her with him." "And you, Giuseppe Manfredi, do you take for your lawfully wedded wife" "Maria Valente, here present?" " Yes." "The name of the law, I pronounce you husband and wife." "Thank you very much, Mayor." " I wish you joy." "Congratulations." "Giuseppe, down!" "Hey!" "Here they are!" "Don Pietro!" "Don Pietro!" "The bride and groom." "Come in, come in!" "Ah, yes, sorry, but you know.." " Come." "Luigi Manfredi, do you take as your lawfully wedded wife according to the rites of Holy Mother Church, Miss Maria Valente?" "And you, Maria Valente, do you take.." "Grandpa, have you seen uncle?" "Conjungo Ego vos in matrimonium in nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti." "Lord.." "Lord, turn your gaze.." "Lord, turn your gaze upon these thy servants." "And those.." "may they be saved through your aid." "And St. Paul says," ""Women should submit to their husbands"" ""as to the Lord because man is the head of woman,"" ""as Christ is the Head of the Church."" "May God be with you." "And be happy." "Don Pietro!" "Let me stay like this." "But I want to see you." "Everything went so fast." "Let me see you." "I want to remember you like this." "Who knows how I look?" "I didn't even have time to get ready." "It doesn't matter." "I like you all the same." "Leave it." "Let's stay like this." "The train." "I only hear the wind." "Stupid!" " So, are you coming for a walk?" " With who?" "With me." " Have you looked in the mirror?" "Hasn't he come, ma'am?" "No." " Then, you're going?" "Yes." "I know, I take a bend like this." "And what do I see?" "I see 6 German planes behind me." "Six, I tell you!" "Maybe you won't believe me, but you see, I was alone." "So, what do I do?" "There was only one thing to do." "I pointed my machine gun at them and tac-tac!" "Well, so.." "So, they were six of them." "I shoot the first, the second, the third, the fourth, fifth.." "Only the sixth was left." "The bastard comes toward me and falls like this." "Suddenly, I raise my plane and I carry on shooting: tac-tac!" "I shot him." "Oh, dear!" "See, he's come." "You're happy now, right?" "Yes, very." " You need anything?" "Could I have my room?" " I'm sorry, not the room." "I don't have it, it's taken." " It doesn't matter." "Then, I'll bring you two coffees." "Yes, thank you." "How are you?" "Well." "And you?" "Well." "Everything fine at home?" "How's it going at the front?" " Fine." "Yeah, I mean to say, fine regarding myself on the front." "There are worse off." "I brought you some knitted wool." " Here's the coffee." "Excuse me." "How long can you stay?" " Listen, as soon as I knew you'd come" "I did all I could to get a day's leave." "It was out of question." "It seems the front'll start to move again and then.." "It was a miracle, I was able to come here on a supply truck." "I had a great fear you had already gone." "Then.. you're leaving so quickly?" "After they load up." "Do you want to go outside?" " I can't stray too far." "When they're ready, they'll come here to get me." "It doesn't matter." "It's enough for me that we saw one another." "Since there's an air force, I told myself, "Buddy, you're going to be an aviator."" "And now, look at me." "I've become an ace." "My name is Ptit-Luc." "Ptit-Luc Fernand." "I'm a fighter pilot." "Do you want me to tell you how I shot that bastard of.." "What's up with you?" "You're so sad." "With a girl like this and you're sad?" "Man, what's wrong with you?" "Of course, I see, you don't understand me." "Don't worry." "She's still a pretty girl." "There you are!" "My apologies for bothering you." "There you are!" "What are you thinking?" "I thought it'd be so nice if your truck had a flat." "Come on, get up!" "We're leaving!" " No, drink some schnapps, go on!" "Schapps!" "We'realreadylate." "Come on!" "OK." "We have to go." "I'm having a baby." " What's that?" "Here we go again." "The music resumes." "Perhaps they're preparing a new maneuver." "Maria writes that dad is beside himself with joy." "Finally, he's grandfather to a boy." "We'll call him Luigi." "They say he looks exactly like me." "How many times you've read it?" " By now, I know it by heart." "He weighs 4,200 kilograms." "What a loaf!" "Yes, sir." "4 then?" "Immediately." "Simonetti?" " Present." " Pietri?" " Here." "Get your stuff and arm yourself to go in line!" "Tell me, will I get leave after this maneuver is finished?" "You always want to go on leave?" " I've the right to see my son, don't I?" "Help me." "Goodbye, Giovanni." "Mrs. Maria!" "A letter!" "Mrs. Maria!" "A letter!" "A letter." "It was sent out on the 23rd and arrived on the 30th." "I saw the stamp." "It took a while this time." "Good news, ma'am?" "Yes, yes, good." "I'm happy." "Then I'll go?" "Goodbye, ma'am." " Goodbye." "There's a letter!" "Giuseppe has written." "Dad, Giuseppe has written." "Mom!" "Mom!" " What is it?" "My pants tore." " Right, they tore themselves." "I didn't do anything." "I just bent over." "Like this." "Take off your pants." "Enough playing, eh?" "Go down to your aunt and get a snack." "What are you doing there?" "You know your mom doesn't want you to." "What is it?" "It was the charge of Pastrengo." " Were they all carabinieri?" " Yes, all." "What are they doing?" " Don't you see?" "They're going to fight." "They were standing on the meadow all in order with shiny buttons." "The horn blaring." "Then you hear the voice of the commander shouting, "Charge!"" "And all came down like the wind with drawn sabers, against the enemy." "And the enemy?" "Well, the enemy is no more, he escaped." " Who is the enemy?" "The Austrians." " Then the carabinieri won?" " Yeah." "Like dad?" "Like dad." "How nice to ride a horse like that." " You like that?" "Yes, with a white horse like this one." "Follow me!" "Charge!" "After all, he's a boy." " Yes, but he wants his own way too much." "Look at that picture." "He found it among his father's things." "He wanted to hang it there." "I hid everything." "I didn't want him to see it." "But it was no use." "Now he plays carabinieri all the blessed day." "And at night, he dreams it!" "You'll think I'm exaggerating." " I don't think it's out of the ordinary." "From time immemorial, boys have played war." "I did." "Let him get it out of his system." "It'll pass." "The worst is that his grandfather, instead of scolding, encourages him!" "The child takes advantage of it." "He doesn't listen to me anymore." "You must forgive him." "Luigi is the only grandchild he has." "Yes, I understand." "But he must understand me." "I've suffered too much." "And now, just the thought that my son.." "even him." "Talk to your father." "He always listens to you." "Besides, I don't know how to say it to him." "OK." "I'll talk to him." "How do you do that?" " I am a man." "Oh, the frogs!" "Look how many frogs!" "You like them?" "I'll get you one." "Here it is!" "Look at how nice it is." "It's yours." "You like it?" "Are you scared?" "How do you get them?" " You put salt on their tails." "Stupid!" "Frogs don't have tails." "How was the hunt?" "Did you enjoy it?" " Very." " You come here." "Like so." "Get up." "Where were we yesterday?" "At the haystack." " Which haystack?" " The one that hid the robber Gasparone." "Well, yes." "Therefore." "When Gasparone realized that the carabinieri had set fire to the haystack, he came out and opened fire." "He ducked in a ditch." "They were looking for him but only I realized where he was." "I threw myself behind a bush to try to take him from behind." "When I got to the bush, I jumped 6 meters." "I was faster back then." "I grabbed him by the neck.." "Yeah, the boy is growing up well, only he's a little wild." "And you can't keep up with him as you'd like." "A little discipline would do him good and Maria had thought that could he study at the seminary." "What?" "The seminary?" "But the sergeant told me just yesterday.." " What would he know?" "He's always with him." " And that is what I don't want." "Then his gang appeared out from a bush and grabbed me from behind." "Because of that, I was forced to let go of him." "Thus, Gasparone fled." "Now, listen well." "This is the bicycle." "I authorize you to shoot without mercy anybody who approaches it." "Got it?" "Yes." " It's "Yes, sir"." "Yes, sir." " And what do I do?" "You'll be a guard too, what the heck!" "One on this side, one on the other side." "This way, I won't worry." "There." "Fine." "And now, to the assault!" "Salvatore!" "Salvatore!" "I'm here!" " Ah, morning, sergeant." "Would you like a glass?" "Thank you, we'll drink tonight." " Tonight?" "Where?" " The barracks." "And who's in the barracks?" " You'll be there!" "See if the case will go to court for a piece of land not big enough to die in!" "Shame on you!" " But, you see, sergeant.." "Anselmo says that it was you!" "If you don't make peace," "I'll throw you both in the same cell!" "You won't come out till you're engaged!" "But, sergeant!" " You shut up!" "How bad you are!" "Well, Luigi, what's new?" "NN." " Thank you." "At ease." "Come on!" "Here." "Get on the seat." "You, Norina!" "Come on, get up!" "When I saw that Gasparone got away, I freed myself from those who held me." "I knocked two of them down." "The other two fled." "I started to chase Gasparone." "I picked up the gun and began to shoot." "Gasparone also began to shoot as well." "Sending him there doesn't mean he'll be a priest!" " Maybe you're right." "But Luigi was raised here." "This is his home." "One day, this land'll also be his." "Besides, he'll have to be away so long." "Isn't that right, Maria?" "That's what I meant." "You study right away!" "Well?" "Is that how you study?" " Yes, Grandpa." "I'll study now." "Is this supposed to be me?" "My nose isn't that long." "Get another notebook and do your problem." "The problems are on the other side." " What is it?" "A farmer has a piece of land of 92 meters squared." "He sells 20 meters squared for 4.5 lire per square meter." "A bad sale." " Yeah." "Then I won't do it." " No, study, study!" "This here, you'll eat.." "when you finished your problem." "Understand?" "Well, eat it right away." "When you leave, Aunt Carmina will make you a nice big one." " Where am I going?" "You know, now you're bigger, you must study at school." "In the seminary, as Uncle Michele." " I don't want to be a priest." "No!" "I didn't say that." "You're only going to study." "Bye, Grandpa!" "Bye, Mom!" "Bye, Mom!" "I'll be good." "What do you think?" " I say that you're old." "And I'm beginning to feel my age." "We need another man here." "If it were up to me, Luigi would've never gone to the seminary." "Besides, two priests in the same family seems to me a bit much." "You make it sound easy." "Convince his mother, convince Michele." "Who can move them?" " But who's in charge here?" "You must act!" "And you still have time." "Alright." "I'll go myself to talk to the rector of the seminary." "I've been saying it for years, but this time I'll do it." "Yes, I don't deny that the boy is, as they say, a little lively." "A little impulsive." "He likes fights." " The exuberance of youth." "I remember when I was young.." " How should that interest the rector?" "I wanted to tell him that in '89.." " Dad!" "Sorry." " I mean, the boy is a little wild." "And to be honest, I don't mind at all that he is so." "Because this exuberance, when it's steered in the right direction, proves most fruitful." "It can give the best results." "Please." "Sit down." "To me, the youth has all the essential qualities." "Indeed, I'm convinced that he has more the quality, more the stuff of a missionary than a priest." "Monsignore, if you're convinced.." " Please, please, sit down." "A vocation?" " Dear, Mr. Manfredi, let's speak frankly." "It's not the vocation that worries you." "You want to see your boy back home." "For this reason, I propose.." "Come in!" "Grandpa Luigi!" "Manfredi," "I decided to send you to your uncle Michele's to spend the summer holiday." "Are you happy, eh?" "We brought him to you." "Why are you here?" " I don't know." "Ask them." "Did they expel you from the seminary?" " But, no!" "The Monsignore entrusted him to me for the holidays." "He'll be at the rectory." "So, is it a punishment?" " A punishment to visit me?" "I didn't mean that." "I don't understand." "If you aren't glad to see me, I'll go, eh?" " Nothing to understand." "That's all." "But, there's something you're not telling me." "I'm positive." "Maria, let's give it time." "The desire to see him a priest.." "Don't you start telling me I want him to be a priest." "That way, he won't marry." "No one'll take him from me and I'll be an old parish mother." "Yes, I'll be just like Old Perpetua to my son!" "Oh, come on, Mom!" "Come on, no more." "I'm hungry." " You're always hungry, aren't you?" "At the seminary, they never make any tagliatelle." "This is my notebook!" " What do I know?" "I took it do the accounts." "Look!" "Grandpa Luigi." "I made the nose too long." "Yeah." "I remember." "Oh, Norina.." " You should see what a beautiful girl she is." "You should visit her." " Giovanni!" " Let me do the accounts!" "That white horse!" "What a surprise!" "After so many years." "Not that many, let's not exaggerate." " You know I was just thinking of you?" "Really?" " Yes, but not because of you." " Nice compliment." "Of what, then?" "Because of the berries I was gathering." " I'm glad you still like them." "Yeah." "But I don't like them anymore." "You've changed." "Dressed like that, you make me uneasy." "I'll never go to confession with you!" "You couldn't." "I'm not yet a priest." "Don't you even say Mass?" " I wish!" "There's still time though." "Are you here for the holidays?" " I am, and you?" " Me too." "I was sad when you went away." "We used to have fun, right?" " Yeah." "What scrapes we used to get into!" "By the way," "How is Leone?" " He's grown too." "In fact, he's old now." "He has rheumatism, poor thing." "Every morning, I give him a salt bath." "How handy you've become!" " Now, I'm at the pharmacy." "Say hello, that's if he still remembers me." "I'll ask him." "What do you want?" " I'd like to confess." "At this hour?" " Yes." "Alright." "Come." "Don't you kneel?" " No." "Has it been a while since you've confessed?" "Yes, a long time." "My son, I see you're upset." "Tell me." "What have you done?" "Three murders." "Hurry." "Give me a priest's garb." "What are you doing today?" "Hunting?" " Today, there's big game." "What happened?" " It's been kept quiet so as not to scare the village." "A month ago, Ranucci escaped from jail." " Yes, I heard." "It seems he's hiding in these parts." "Many outside carabinieri are coming in." "Is he so dangerous?" " Damn!" "Three murders." "He vowed to die rather than return to jail." "I wouldn't want to meet him." "That's why I'm staying here." "Good morning, sergeant!" " Morning!" "What's new?" " Nothing." "Any problems?" " None." " Very well." "Hey, reverend, your uncle forgot to sound the Ave Maria this evening." "The bell was never heard." " I'll go ring it now, sergeant." "Hey!" "Any news from the marshal from beyond the mountain?" " All's good." " OK." "Don't worry about these clothes." "When I'm safe, I'll give them back." "If you breathe, I'll shoot you." "Ah, good evening, uncle." "What happened?" "I saw a stole on the ground and the confessional open." "I thought maybe you were ill." " No, it's nothing." "I'm fine." "I'm going to sound the Ave Maria." " Wait!" "Go to the sacristy!" "Where was the shot?" " From the church." " Come with me!" "Ilookedat him." "All of a sudden, I saw my father." "Iseemedto seehim die ." "Him." "You, grandpa, all of you, have always said that I'm his very image." "And it's true." "At that moment I felt that it was so." "And I realized that this dress I'm wearing is not made for me." "My path is another." "His." "I was expecting this." "For days on end, I lived with this fear." "I felt that sooner or later this would happen." "You mean it had to happen." " You don't know what my life has been." "What I suffered when your father died." "What I did to pull you away." " Yes, I know." "No!" "You don't know." "Because you never experienced it." "My life has been renunciation." "Always." "All." "Do you understand?" "I have only you." "I beseech you, don't!" " Mom, I'd do anything for you." "Yes, you'd do anything but this!" "Don't reproach me, mama." "Because it's you who has made me so." "One day, you'll understand that the best way to repay you is to be like my father." "To act as he acted." "I've always wanted that in me you saw him again." "Well?" "Are you still here?" "You didn't want to ride a horse?" "Monsignore, the chair's your saddle, eh?" "What do you want?" " Can I try on your hat?" "If you don't go.." "May I help you?" "Miss Norina, please." "Please, make yourself comfortable." "I'll see if she's in." "Miss, somebody's looking for you." "I'll be right there." "It suits you, you know." "There are always people in this darn shop!" "Grandma, do you remember Luigi?" " Don't shout so loud!" "I'm hardly deaf." "And who is this?" "You grew." "Bye, Luigi." "Come back and see me." "Goodbye, ma'am." "Will you come to Rome for the Feast of the Carabinieri?" "I don't know." "Why not?" "You could come with my mother." "It's not that." "Then there's someone else who wouldn't like it." "Men?" "I don't fall for them anymore!" "Then you've already fallen before?" "Yes, once, many years ago." "Many years ago?" "How many?" "Oh, so many." "Then, he.." "left." "But now he's back." "Yeah." "But who can trust him?" "Oh, good!" "Again!" "No, dear." "These things I can only do once." "We wanted to spend the feast with you." " I'm never free." "Be good, eat!" " Tonight, you're free?" " Tonight, yes." "So, let's go dancing." " I can't." "Let's go to the movies?" " I can't!" "To get ice cream?" " I can't be seen walking around with a girl." "You understand, yes or no?" " You might as well have stayed a priest!" "What does it matter?" "We can go to a place where nobody can see us." "When I had.." "how is it done?" "Thank goodness we had to be here alone." "You see how they watch us with their eyes?" " People from days gone by." "Then you think they're watching us?" " Perhaps." "They stare in a certain way." "They're have it in for those two." "Certainly, that one.." "is a little over the top." "Maybe they have it in for them." "That statue, ladies, represents love sleeping." "Don't be afraid, you won't wake him up." "Meanwhile, you woke up yourself." "Well, I didn't want to run the risk of not having told you." "Why couldn't you tell me more?" "You know.." "with the life we live, we never can know." "My companions, for example, are all going to Africa now." "And you?" " Me?" "Oh, no!" "You know.." "But.." "Well.. it's not yet decided." "Do you have to leave?" "We'reclosing,people." "Closing." "It seems like another place." "And how changed you are since.." "We'll come back, won't we?" "When you return, I'll be waiting." "JUNE 10, 1940, WAR BROKE OUT" "AND OUR SOLDIERS IN EAST AFRICA FOUND THEMSELVES ISOLATED." "FOR MONTHS AND MONTHS, THEY FOUGHT" "UNTIL THEIR ARMS AND RESOURCES WERE EXHAUSTED." "NOVEMBER 21, 1941, OUR LAST STRONGHOLD MADE UP" "IN LARGE PART OF CARABINIERI, SURRENDERED AT QULQUABERT." "THE FEW SURVIVORS WERE PARADED IN FRONT OF THE ENEMY" "WHO PAID HOMAGE TO OUR UNFORTUNATE VALOR" "WHILE SETTING FORTH TOWARDS THE PRISONERS' CAMPS." "IwastakenprisonerinQulquabert." "Itwasafortunereservedforafew, assuming it is a fortune." "Atleastnow,you knowI'malive ." "WhenI readmy nameinthelist of prisoners to be repatriated" "Ididn'tdarebelievemyeyes." "Tomorrow, I embark on a hospital ship." "Youmustn'tbe scared, reading these words." "I'm sick but nothing to worry about." "Itallowsme to returnhome much sooner than I hoped." "Sergeant Luigi Manfredi ?" " Yes, sir." "Give me the file." "What are you looking at?" "Nothing." "I was looking for a name on the map." " What name?" "Qulquabert." "Were you there?" " Yes, sir." "But it's not here." " Someone will remember it all the same." "If it only helped anyone." " It's not for us to judge." "It's enough for our conscience to know we've done our duty." "You never served at the station, right?" " No, sir." "Up there, you'll be fine." "Good people." "You just need to know their ways." "Good luck and goodbye." " Thank you, captain." "Dearmama," "Tomorrow,counton me beingthere." "Sadly, I had to postpone the visit." "Besides,youcan'tcomplain:these 6 months I've been home several times." "Nowthatthesergeant'sleft , everything depends on me." "Butthisis aplaceofgoodpeople , who love me  andholdme in greatesteem." "I'm beginning to give myself airs." "You hear that?" "He's starting to brag." "NoresponsefromCommand." " No answer?" "But, Miss, it's not possible." "Two hours ago, I had the line." "Listen, please, try again." "Okay." "I 'lltryagain." " Calling again?" "Yes" "Here, take these too." "Hello?" "Hello?" "Go ahead." "Thanks." "You may talk." "They've already arrived." "Then.." "there's nothing we can do?" "Look, I think at this moment, there's more need of us here." "By now, it's been many months since I came to this village." "I'm attached to these people." "And they trust me." "I can't leave them this way." "OK." "I'll stay too." "Sergeant!" "The Germans in the village are taking the people away!" "And they're doing it because of those two Germans killed last night." "You stay here!" "Let me pass!" "I need to speak to the commander immediately." "I must pass!" "Come on!" "Please." "I don't understand." "The officer asks what do you want to say." "The people who were taken hostage, they're innocent." "I know them all." "Every single one of them!" "I can answer for them all as I would myself." "The officer says he's sorry." "Two German soldiers were killed." "If the guilty ones don't turn themselves in, the hostages will be shot." "But.. you can't shoot those people." "They didn't do anything." "The officer says he's sorry but he must follow orders." "What time is the deadline?" "What?" " What time is the deadline?" "At six, in three hours." "May I have a motorcycle?" "Be calm." "Please, be calm!" "You know, when I heard the sound of the motorcycle, I said," ""Maybe it's the Germans."" " Instead, it's me." "There are so many of them about nowadays." " Don't be afraid, mama." "They won't do anything to the carabinieri." " Let's hope so." "I told you he'd be here at any moment." "Come sit." "I'll make you something." " I can't." "I must run now." "I'm still working." " I thought you had come to stay." "So many have." " I'm sorry." "I can't right now." "We must be patient." "These are hard times for everyone." "How's your leg?" " So so." "It depends on the days." "But for years, I've never complained." "It could be worse." "And the others?" " Carmina and Giovanni went to visit Caterina." "Caterina had another child." "Ah, yes?" "I'm glad." " You know.." "They want you to hold him at the baptism, you and Norina." "Truly, I don't know if I could." "I'll do my best to come." "Tell Caterina." "If I can't be there.." "it only means I really couldn't." " Oh, they held off for so long!" "You'll see that they'll wait for you." "Caterina wanted to call him Giuseppe, like your father." "I'd be glad if you gave that name to your son, whenever he comes." "Whenever he comes." "The white horse!" "Do you remember, Grandpa?" "I never went on a horse in my life." "Now I must go." "Wait for me." "If Caterina wants to call the baby so, tell her that I would be pleased." "He's gone." "There's something wrong." "What do you want it to be?" "Come on, Maria." "Don't worry, eh?" "Good." "Let's return." "But there's nobody here." "Where did they go?" "Hurry!" "Let's go!" "Let's go!" "Come on!" "The captain asks if you've found the culprit?" " Yes." "Where is he?" "It's me." "The officer says he doesn't believe you." "It was me!" "According to the existing martial law," "Sergeant Luigi Manfredi is condemned to death by firing squad." "The sentence is to be executed immediately." "The captain asks the condemned if he has any last requests." "HereI am,daddy." "END" "English subtitles by: sineintegral@KG."