"Il Piccolo!" "Il Piccolo!" "I had forgotten." "My clothing surprises people." "Say..." "Gianni!" "Max, did you get it?" "Sure, here it is." " First class." " First class?" "Cabin number 15, Naples-Genoa." "No charge." "Oh, thanks." "You're very kind." "It will be a nice travel." "Look, here is a Leica." "Take good care of it." "You speak English?" "I learned in school and continued to practice it afterwards." "What about Greek?" "Didn't interest me." "Come Pepe, don't waste any time." "I found English more useful." "Shame!" "You remember?" "We copied everything from you." "Why did you stop?" "When dad died, I hesitated on selling the kiosk." "But dad was very attached to it, and considering the income it brings and the location..." "I kept it." "But I'm not getting into a rut." "Don't worry, I take my yearly month of vacation." "I travel Europe," "I meet people, I have a good time." "By the way, do you have a tuxedo?" "Why do you ask?" "It's obligatory when you're traveling first class." "I've got it and this year I also have an evening dress." "Gianni!" "Let's hurry, the train is leaving soon!" "I'm coming!" "It's my aunt, she's following me to the train station." "I don't know how to thank you." "You have done me a great service." "Good bye and bon voyage." "Don't fall asleep." "Don't worry about it." "Have a nice trip." "The papers..." "What do I look like to you?" "We could have taken a cab." "A carriage is less expensive." "Always thinking about saving a buck!" "Once a year I feel like living in a lordly fashion." "You know very well that your uncle won't hear about taking cabs." "Your ticket." "Gentlemen, your tickets." "Dad, we're there!" "You have come to the wrong place, haven't you?" " This is first class." " Yes, it is." " It's first class." " Keep quiet." "Do you have a first class ticket?" "Yes, I have one for Naples-Genoa, got it for free." "You got it for free?" "And I'm doing my trip on first class in order not to look ridiculous." "The train gets you were you are going on third class too." "For 35 liras less..." "You have delusions of grandeur." "Listen, it's his holiday." "I told you to keep quiet!" "If I could travel like you do," "I would travel on 4th, on 5th class, in the wagon for animal transport, and I would keep my money in order to be able to see even more." "Are we talking about your money?" "It's your's, but you're not spending it well." "Do you have the program that I prepared?" "Look, I have taken everything into consideration:" "trains, timetables, everything is noted down." "And don't forget, to visit the Postojna Cave in Trieste" "Say, are you planning on selling papers or what?" "They are English ones for myself." "Why is all this paraphernalia?" "I would like to pass for an English gentleman..." "The papers may be English, but you're a salesman." "An English newspaper salesman!" "Let's go, the train is leaving." "Write to us!" "And don't do anything foolish!" "Goodbye, gentleman of first class!" "Don't do anything wild!" "Do you have the camera, by the way?" "Yes, I have a Leica" "Bravo!" "Take some nice pictures!" "The Postojna Cave, Parthenon, Rhodes." "Rhodes!" "The flower island!" "Hurry, the ocean liner is leaving," "Whisky?" "Which brand?" "Johnny Walker, White Label?" "Black and White, Canadian Club, Old Scotch?" "The last one." "Are you dancing?" " Are you dancing?" " Of course." "Here are the party novelties." "He seems like a lively one, don't you think?" "The ladies will dance with the gents wearing the same headgear." "It looks good on you." "It only needs a bit of adjustment." "Here, madam, it's the last one." "I'm looking for my partner." "I'm Italian too." "You have come from New York?" "The crossing was superb, the weather divine and our fellow passengers were very sympathetic." "Do you know the young Miletos?" "Yes, from sight." "They are very sympathetic, they have been in Hollywood." "It's their honeymoon." "She's a Caroti, the second of the Carotis." "Let me introduce myself." "I know your name." "How is that?" "Max Varaldo." "That's it:" "Max." "I saw it on your little Leica." "Are you related to the Varaldos of Genoa?" "Very distant relation." "But we are of the same family line." "You seemed to be enjoying yourself, Paola." "Madame, it's 2 am." " Pucci, off to bed." " No, not yet." "It's late." "Bridge?" "Sit down and play with us." "Ah, in order to play!" "I didn't understand." "Paola, you don't play?" "No, I'm tired and it's too hot." "I'll get some fresh air on the bridge." "The game is finished?" "Are you giving up?" "It's true that we two are unbeatable." "Sit down here." "Paola..." "I'll accompany you." "You're such a bore, Ricardo!" "You never understand anything." "Boring, I willingly admit being so." "I bored you during your first marriage, during your second and I will continue to do so as long as you're not married to me." "But saying that I never understand anything at all..." "No, Paola, I know you all too well." "Look." " You are bidding?" " I..." "I have the impression that the sea is stirred, no?" "Stirred?" "Will you let me have your seat?" "With pleasure." "You're getting out the easy way, heh?" "You're not playing?" "Me neither, I prefer to have a bit of fresh air." "I'll accompany you." "This is the first night of my trip without a game of bridge." "And I didn't play because I don't know the game." "You don't know how to play bridge?" "I don't know how... tonight." "You tease..." "Do you travel a lot?" "Quite a lot." "You are going to New York?" "Why?" "Why New York?" "It seemed so to me." "Exactly, in Naples, I disembarked from another ocean liner after a voyage to the Far East." "The Far East!" "My very own Far East!" "Shanghai, what a delight!" "It's beautiful, no?" "Superb." "I was just about to tell you," "Do you recall in Naples?" "My journals?" "Your belt?" "You want me to believe that you are doing this trip because of me?" "Do men like that really still exist?" "I think so." "My evening journal!" "I'm still waiting!" "Yes, sir." "I will get it for you." "Yes..." "Yes." "I think men like that still exist." "How much do I owe you?" "Full treatment." "Manicure, massage ... Shampooing. 120 liras." " Pardon me?" " 120 liras." "Keep the change." "Max..." "Hello, Max." "Giancarlo has gone to buy me some roses." "Max, I am telling myself that you have been courting my sister recklessly." "Here are the roses." "I told you to buy me some roses." " And what is this?" " A couple of roses." "You wanted roses." "Two are enough, no?" "What a shame to be so cheap." "Let's go, miss." "Why?" "If Paola had asked for orchids, which are a lot more expensive" "Max would have bought all that there were, wouldn't you?" "Of course." "That's your sister we're talking about." "Always the same story!" "She's my older sister." "I am the younger one!" " Orchids." " Which ones?" " Orchids." " These." "They're pretty." "How many?" "All of them." "How much will that be?" "800 liras." "Pardon?" "They're quite inexpensive." "Those are giant orchids from Bermuda." "They are conserved in ice." " Must be fresh." " Very." "It's the end of the trip..." "You must depart, unfortunately." "No, Max." "You have made this trip only because of me we can't go our separate ways like that." "We are all going to Sanremo, with Riccardo." "Riccardo!" "We have a new guest for you!" "I'm enchanted." "What's with the coffee, when will I get it?" "Dad, look at the Postojna Caves that Gianni visited." "No, no, this is the blue cave on the island of Capri." "The Postojna Caves are here." "The blue caves are below Vesevius" " Here?" " Here." "And now..." "Where's Gianni?" "Oh..." "It's July 6th, 9.21 o'clock and he's in the train Belgrade-Soffia" "Sofia!" "Soffia, you donkey." "And tomorrow evening he'll be in Athens." "What's there to see in Athens?" "Athens?" "In Athens you can see..." "There is the Pi... the Pa..." "The Parthenon." "Bravo." "And the morning after tomorrow Gianni will see the Pardenon." "Gianni!" "Back already?" "Hello." "Say, did your train go off its tracks?" "Yeah, right..." "Were you robbed?" "You'd think so..." "What do you bring with you?" "What kind of gift?" "Nothing." "I don't believe it." "Speak up!" "C'mon, tell us!" "Is there anything to eat?" "Sure." "Did you get into trouble?" " Some problems?" " No." "Why did you come back?" "Give me some time to breathe, will you?" "Who told you that you could search through my suitcase?" ""To Max"" "Who's Max?" ""Hotel Royal, Sanremo"" "You were in Sanremo in a costume?" "I get it!" "You gambled and you lost everything!" "Who's the half naked girl?" "An film actress?" "So you never went to the Postojna caves, neither to the Partheon." "It's like I'm living in a boarding school!" "What's wrong with you?" "He didn't do anything to you." "If you are angry, better calm your nerves elsewhere." "You understand?" "Put the boy to bed." "I get it..." "You wanted to act like a bigshot." "Those people aren't for you to hang out with." "Why?" "They're from a different circle, which has nothing to do with us." "And yet, they don't share your opinion." "I spent three days as their guest." ""Guest", you hear?" "Everything went very well." "You have some strange prejudices." "They are very kind people." "By all means..." "A woman noticed you, a handsome young man," "She had some fun with you and after a while, goodbye!" "If you really want to know, I'm the one who left." "I went away discreetly." "Since I had no money left, because of you." "Because if I had had my money at my disposal," "I garantee you it wouldn't have ended like this." "Your money..." "Quite right." "Because here, in this house, I'm nothing." "I'm treated like I were a little kid." "In Sanremo, if I had could," "I would have had all my money sent to me and spent it all up without nobody telling me that I couldn't." "I understand." "Wait." "Here, your notebooks" "and the key to the bank box." "You're in a lamentable state." "You have spent all your money and you didn't get to see anything during the nice trip I planned for you." "You got carried away was fooled into believing something and all that for what?" "Because you had an upper class woman as a mistress." "Don't talk about her that way." "Why?" "You didn't ..." "You wasted all your dough, didn't get to make your trip, and you didn't even get to..." "You're a fool, a stupid fool." "An idiot." "You are wasting my time." "At this time of day, we used to play bridge." " Play what?" " Bridge." "What's that?" "A card game." " You know how to play it?" " No, but I watched." "You watched them play tennis, brigid..." " "Bridge"." " Then what did you do?" "I compensated with my dancing." "You should have seen me!" "I wear a costume like I had been a gentleman all my life." "Everything was perfect." "I was in love and so was she." "Is she pretty?" "Very!" "That much, eh?" "But as money was running out," "I got worried and hit the road." "Bravo." "You're saying that because you never met those people." "What people." "What a life." "If you say so..." "As I'm rather intelligent," "I realized that I was lacking some nuances." "My uncle is treating me like I'm an idiot." "Your uncle has a good flair, you understands things." "Well..." "We'll see." "JULY" "AUGUST" "No, the strike should be ample, more straight forward." "SEPTEMBER" "This is golf." "What's the club for?" "It's for playing." "You're starting on that?" "Not for the time being, it's not indes- pensable and she doesn't play it." "Do you have Vogue?" "Mister Max?" "Me, "mister Max"?" "Did you hear that?" "What do you mean?" "But..." "It's incredible." "You wanted Vogue?" "I'll find it for you." "How much?" "18 liras." "It's fantastic." "You look just like Max." "Enough about that." "Here's your change." "You want to see my profile?" "See me laugh?" "Satisfied?" "Evidently, there are some differences." "Which one is the most handsome?" "You think that you are handsome?" "No, not at all." "But you're not looking at me for my own sake you're looking for Max, and as you are pretty, I find that very disagreeable." "So goodbye and excuse me." " The chambermaid." " Who's chambermaid?" "Madame Paola's." "She's here!" "I'll follow her and find out where she lives." "She's taking a cab!" "Get off the bike!" "Did you get hurt?" "I don't know yet." "Where?" "Let's do this calmly." "You?" "My arm hurts." "Is is broken?" "My fender is damaged." "An accident?" "I insist!" "We'll see about that." "To the pharmacy." "Let's get him to the pharmacy." "Move away!" "Let us through!" "Come with us." "He'a been in an accident." "Come in." "Is it bad?" "No." "What?" "I'm in pain here." " Where does it hurt?" " In my arm." "Take off your jacket." "Gently..." "Let's have a look." "Hello, doctor." "You were riding like a madman, was that it?" "That's right." " You see?" " Quiet." "Why?" "What does it matter, if I admit it?" "It concerns only me." " You admit your offense?" " Yes." "Everything is settled." "He should pay my fender, the paint, the handle, etc...." "How much will it be?" "300 liras." "30 liras!" "Gimme 35." "Give me those, miss." "Here are 40 liras. 5 liras..." "For tips?" "No, give me my change." "There, satisfied?" "I'm the one losing out here." "I'll be waiting for you, miss..." "Thank you." "Why did you ride so fast?" "In the junction the cab was passing and I wasn't," "I had to speed up to keep up." "Your arm." "That's nothing." "Don't move it." "There you go." "Keep up?" "Why?" "What about it?" "Because I..." "Because you..." "Because you're a pretty, young girl and I'm a young man." "We have to bandage it." "Where do you live?" "Why do you want to know?" "Because I want to see you again." "Don't move!" "Where do you live?" "I'll pass by the newsstand tomorrow to see how you are doing." "You refuse to tell me?" "Note the young lady's name." "Why?" "For assurance purposes." "She's a witness." "But you're not hurt." "You know, complications..." "Your name please, miss." "Lauretta Campo." "Laura Campo..." "Profession?" "Chambermaid." "Address?" "Quiet, I know how to do my work." "Address?" "Grand Hotel." "There you go." "How much do I owe..." "Nothing at all." "Thank you very much." "Thanks and goodbye." "How are you?" "Thank you, I'm not sure." "Go home and have a rest." "Yes, I'm in pain." "Sorry about that." "I'll pass by tomorrow to see how you are doing." "It's a wreck." "Help me." "I'll carry the basket." "Thanks." "Maurice, another whisky." "Maurice, a whisky." "Happy to see you, Max." "How long have you been here?" "Since yesterday evening." "And you?" "Some days." "Fancy that..." "And what are you doing here?" " Tonight?" " Yes." "Like always, I'm bored..." "You see, I'm drinking whisky... and maybe playing a game of bridge." "Very good." "I'd like to say hello to Madame Paola." "Paola..." "Too bad she's not here." "How so?" "She not here, that's all." "I should tell you something, Max." "In Sanremo, I think I could guess what you felt, and I'm telling you straight out as a friend that you'd better avoid cultivating those feelings." "I don't get it." "Stop cultivating them?" "Stop cultivating them." "That's my advice to you." "May I ask why?" "Because..." "Paola and I, are finally engaged now." "I'm so happy to see you again." "You're not kissing my hand?" "Excuse me, Pucci." "I'm very happy too." "Let me congratulate you and give you my best wishes." "Wishes for what?" "Wishes?" "Whisky, darling?" "Another whisky, Max?" "Wishes for what?" "Your engagement." "My engagement?" "Riccardo told me..." "I was saying..." "Riccardo!" "Always making jokes." "It was a joke?" "But yes, of course." "How about those whiskeys?" "I'm... so happy." "Let's dance, Max." "I need to ask you something." "Why did you leave all of a sudden?" "Without a word?" "Why all that mystery?" "All that time has passed, we are old friends now." "I left because..." "No, Paola, it couldn't go on like that," "I simply couldn't help it." "Help what?" "The suffering." "You were suffering?" "I was suffering when I watched you surrounded like that, courted like that." "Max, are you jealous?" "Yes, jealous." "That's despicable, Max, and very conventional" "Yes, yes, I know." "It's very conventional, but..." "I won't let you leave like that again, we'll see each other often." "Paola, Guido si here." "He's come to set the time for the horse ride." "Very good!" "Do you know Max Varaldo?" "This is major Attendino." "Do you smoke?" "Look, Max, Pucci's still a child." "When can I smoke?" "Smoke chocolate cigarets." "Madame, it's eleven o'clock." "Very well, get Pucci to bed." "Already?" "No tricks." "We'll meet again, Max." "Do you stay in the hotel?" "No, I'm only here in passing." "I'm staying with an old uncle." "An old uncle..." "Is it a Varaldo?" "A Varaldo," "Colonel in the cavalry." "I'm also in the cavalry." "Colonel Varaldo?" "Doesn't ring a bell." "He's been retired for some time." "He's been sick, paralyzed, can't move anymore." "His name won't say you much." "I think he was in the campaign of 66." "That's really prehistory..." "It certainly is." "So, you'll be coming at 10 o'clock?" "Certainly." "That's alright by me, but I want a peaceful ride." "That's alright." "Max, will you be joining us tomorrow morning?" "Certainly, but..." "Don't worry about the horse, Guide will supply you with one." "Certainly." "For the nephew of an officer of the cavalry" "I have a mare that is very lively and pleasant." "Thank you..." "It's very lively?" "Throws you off like nothing at all." "Perfect." "Shall we go, miss" "I have something to say to you." "No gossip." "Max, I assure you." "Paola was really sad when you left." "I noticed it." "Do you know what she said?" "What?" "That you are a mysterious guy." "Very mysterious..." "Good night, Max." "See you tomorrow." "A moment!" "Excuse me, Max," "Do you go for biking?" "Biking?" "When I was young I did and I was rather good at it." "Why this strange question?" "No reason." "Excuse me." "Give me a glass of water." "Give me a hand, I have to get my jacket out of there." "Why?" "To go riding." "This morning at 10 o'clock." "You saw her last night?" " And?" " Formidable." "They treated me like I was an old friend." "And the lady?" "Paola?" "More beautiful than ever." "And the chambermaid?" "She saw me." "She's suspicious, asked me if I was riding bikes." "And so?" "So nothing." "What's the time?" " 9.30." " The scarf!" "Are you sick?" "No, it's for the girl." "If I don't do this she will get even more suspicious." "Here's the water." "Thanks, put it there." "What's that?" "Bicarbonate." "Is it for your stomach?" "With 7 whiskeys in my belly..." " 7 what?" " Whiskeys" " What's that?" " A sort of liquor." "Is it good?" "They drink nothing else." "Go to the store "The Elegant Gentleman"." "Buy me a pair of riding trousers and a pair of boots." "I want the best of the best." "Boots in size 43 and baggy trousers," " ... nice ones in beige." " Size 43." "Right!" "On your way!" " Domenica del Corriere!" " Il Piccolo!" "I showed up just because you would come." "I'm all broken up." "It hurts?" "Yes, rather." "You think it's funny that I'm in pain?" "No, that's not it." "I should tell you... last night at the hotel, the gentleman that looks a lot like you showed up" "This is turning into a mania." "You come to talk about him when I have broken my arm." "Is it really broken?" "Maybe." "I should have an X-ray taken." "I hope it's nothing." "Gianni, how is your arm?" "Not good." "Wasn't it a lot better this morning?" "Who's that?" "The dame who was in the cab that hit me." "I'm his uncle." "Happy to meet you." "I came to hear how his broken arm was doing." "I know, Gianni told me the whole story." " You work at the Grand Hotel?" " Yes." "How much do you make a month?" "Why do you ask?" "300 liras." "Not bad... but earning 300 liras a month, can you afford riding in cabs?" "Listen, uncle." "Your uncle's right." "I was on an errand, the cab was paid for." "That changes everything." "Excuse me for sticking my nose into this but I always says the things that I are on my heart." "Your are very straight forward." "Very sympathetic." "Thank you." "You are too." "I therefore permit myself, as a committee member, to invite you to the party we are throwing to celebrate the opening our new hall." " Here you are." " Thank you." "You are going too, right?" "He sings in the choir." "No, I can't." " What do yo mean, you can't?" " I can't." "You can't?" "Listen young man," "I came by here because people have insisted that you be present at the party." "But my arm..." "You sing with your arm?" "You have been participating for ten years now." "so stop pestering me!" "Why can't you go?" "I don't feel in very good shape." "The aftereffects... but finally I think I'll be going." "Ah, this I like better." "He can be a bit gruffy, but all in all he's good boy" "Thank you." "But I can't be there before 5 o'clock." "Come when you want, we will be there." "Bye." "See you soon." "Sure, with pleasure." "Thanks and goodbye." "Where are you going?" "To the Grand Hotel." "I will follow you." "We'll catch a buss and I'll drop you off right before." "Hurry up!" "I have done the best I could." "Close the door." "The trousers." "You know the last news?" "Uncle met her." "And she is still suspicious." "It's important that I arrive at the hotel before she does, and when she sees me dressed as a gentlemen that will remove all doubt." "What's that?" " That's in beige." " No way that's beige!" " It's size 43." " 43 was the size for the shoes!" "I'll have it changed." "Too late, it's ten o'clock!" "Get the scissors and cut!" "It will be visible." "Not with the jacket to cover." "Come on, cut it, man!" "And the shirt?" "Quick, get me a cab." "Paola!" "It's Max." "Max!" "Have him come up." "Do you think that's appropriate when you are still in the bathroom?" "Well, you are here, aren't you." "But I'm an old friend." "And Max, a young friend." "Hold it a moment." "Hello, miss." "How are you?" "Hello, Max." "Excuse me for last evening" "What for?" "I was foolish." "But I asked because I know a boy who goes biking and you look a lot like him." "He looks like me?" "The resemblance is striking." "Here we are." "May I ask what the young man in question is doing for a living?" "He has a newspaper stand." "That's funny..." "It's here." "Do you know what time it is, miss?" "It's 10 o'clock, you have been away for over an hour." "I have been in several stores." "Always the same excuse." "Max is here." "Paola is in the bathroom." "I'm ready, shall we go?" "Go where?" "Riding." "We won't go riding anyway." "Why have you changed you mind?" "What does it matter." "Are you that keen on showing off your riding skills?" "No..." "Riding or not riding..." "Riding or not riding, no big deal..." "I just said it because I am in my riding habit." "You only have to change." "If we were to go riding, we would be delayed." "We're leaving tonight." "Tonight?" "Yes darling, we're leaving." "Paola, I understand that you are leaving tonight?" "Yes, with our friends." "We're a whole group." "And of course you are a part of it, Max." "The colonel is here." "Guido's here." "I have heard that you are not coming." "Everything's ready." "Thanks, Guido, but we're leaving tonight." "That's too bad." "You could go." "Oh, you know ..." "horses and me." "Right." "You should go Max, as you like horses so much." "Excellent idea, we'll have a splendid ride." "Let him have the mare that you talked about last night." "Yes?" "It's very fast." " It will be great fun." " Good." "The mare's a bit nervous, eh?" "Do you have it under control?" "Certainly." "Let's do the course." "Let's go." "It's important not to do a single fault." "Go." "Where's Gianni?" "He's in the second row, a little hidden, since he isn't an employee, but my nephew and he's been singing in the choir for 10 years now." "He's greatly appreciated, as if he were one of us, because he's a serious, modest and simple guy, not extravagant, but with very clear ideas,in his head and he's a great worker: home, newsstand, newsstand, home..." "He's lives with us, the family." "And when he wants some distraction, he comes here." "Have you seen her?" "I have." "She's a great girl, who will do you a lot of good." "You haven't said anything, have you?" "About the trip, about Max..." "I have told her everything." "Then I'm screwed!" "No, I didn't say anything," "I even described you in flattering terms" "I lied as best as I could..." "Here she is." "You sang really well." "Did you think so..." "How is your arm?" "Better." "I did an X-ray today." "An X-ray?" "Yes, I didn't say because I didn't want to worry you." "I'll have the results on Tuesday." "Don't forget to write me to tell how they are." "Write to you?" "Why?" "Because I'm leaving." "Too bad that I can't stay, it's so nice, so cheerful here." "Our little jazz orchestra, as we call it." "You heard, Gianni, she's leaving tonight." "Go on and invite her." "Not with my broken arm." "You can very well dance like that!" "If I were your age!" "Quiet." " Do you want to dance?" " Of course!" "Let's go greet the top brass of the company." "Why don't you say anything?" "I..." "I think it's a question of character." "I would never have thought..." "I'm not like this normally." "It's mostly like this when I feel something for..." "What?" "How can I put this... when I'm moved by someone," "I stop talking." "Your uncle said that you were like that." "How so?" "Very serious." "I like serious people." "If you only knew..." "I live with people that are so different." "I'm the maid for people who travel, who amuse themselves..." "I thought that that was how life was like." "But that's not what I wanted to say" "I wanted to say how happy I am to be here, with your parents, with you..." "And I can only think of one thing." "What?" "I'm thinking that if I had any courage," "I wouldn't leave." "What do you mean you wouldn't leave?" "I would give my resignation." " Resign?" " Yes." "Can I offer you a drink?" "Shall we sit down?" "With pleasure." "What would you like to drink?" " I don't..." " A beer?" "A beer." "Two beers." "Small ones." "In your opinion, I shouldn't resign?" "When one is to make an important decision, one should take the time to think things over." "You're right." " How much?" " Two liras." "I'm following your advice." "Tonight I'll leave and I'll think it over." "But I'll be writing to you." "Very well." "Will you be writing me?" "Of course." "What will you be writing?" "I'll write: "Dear Lauretta..."" "And then?" ""Dear Lauretta..." "You know my name?" "Of course I know it..." "Well yes, in the pharmacy, with the constable." "Of course, how foolish of me!" "So, go on tell me." "I'll write..." ""Dear Lauretta..."" "When you look at me that way, I can't..." "I promise I'll write." "Do you smoke this brand?" "Not normally, but I do for this special occasion..." "When do you leave?" "You have seen enough of me?" "No, it's for your own sake." "When are you leaving?" "At 8 pm." "It's 7.15." "It's late!" "I should be going." "Can I get a cab here?" "My jacket!" "Say bye to your relatives from me." "My head is spinning so much I completely forgot about my arm." "It doesn't hurt that much anymore" "What's the matter?" "Listen, I can't say it to you right now, but I have something on my heart." "What?" "Say it." "I can't right now." "But come to the train station to say goodbye." "I would really like to do so, but the newsstand..." "Why can't you?" "Why?" "I'll try to do my best to be there." "I'll be waiting for you." "I'll come." "I hope so." " The ticket?" " Here it is." "I'll be traveling with them." "We'll form a "clique"" "Do you know that Donna Paola let me in while she was in her bathroom today?" " Bath?" " Yes." " So you saw her.." "Was she beautiful?" " Who saw her?" "!" "No one saw her.." " She was over there, I on this side..." " Then you saw her from behind?" "Excuse me, I'd like to know something." "Tell me:" "Does she love you?" "Paola?" "No, the other, the maid." "Poor thing... and I even faked being in love with her." "She's cute, but how do I get out of this mess?" "How so?" "If Max isn't on the train, she could think that Max is I :" "Gianni, and that I was afraid." "If she sees me as Max on the train, she will think that Max is Max and that I, Gianni, is another." "Get it?" "If she sees me on the train..." "You'll miss it." "Get changed." "I'll change on the train." " Where?" " In my compartment." " What do I look like?" " Like a ... "clique"..." "There's Max!" "Shall we go?" "Where's your place, Max?" "In the other wagon." "We'll meet in the dining car." "Very good." "Your arm is better?" "My arm?" "What arm?" "What are you talking about?" "Nothing..." "Excuse me." "You are posing some strange questions." "Gianni, what are you doing here?" "Quiet!" "Shut the door!" "Gianni!" "Thank you so much for coming!" "I almost didn't make it in time." "If you hadn't showed up..." "I'll explain later." "You know, that Max fellow..." "Yes?" "He's there, you know." "In this train." "Look at him." "Max." "Him?" "I want to see if he really looks like me." "He's not like you in fact, he's very different." "But as you hadn't shown.." "I took him for you yet again." "Me?" "I have always believed it a little to be the truth." "That's what I wanted to say, that's what was weighing on my heart." "But now that's all over." "I'm so happy." "Let's go, miss!" "I should be going." "I'll write to you and you'll answer?" "We'll meet again soon." "Yes, we'll meet again." "Goodbye!" "Bye!" "Thanks, you saved my skin." "Let's go, quick!" "The hat!" "The papers!" "Max, how was your ride?" "Did you meet the colonel?" " No." " It was a magnificent ride." "And the mare?" "It made a bad step." "You don't know Max, he's a dreamboat, a romantic, who lives like that..." "You are romantic?" "Please, Paola..." "I have to tell you." "It was such a charming thing for you to do." "Imagine that Max got on the liner only because he had seen me." "It's tremendous, like Clark Gable." "Have you seen his film?" "What a charmer!" "We saw it in the original English version." "Diana, you know, we saw it with little Fossi." "Are they back yet?" "Yes, everybody." " Even the aunt?" " And the cousin!" "No, a moment." "Franceschino's father had 3 wives." "This is the son of the second, who's a Burbianski, the first was a Sampieri," "The third one a cousin of his first, so both aunt and cousin." "Because the Fiorengo... split in two branches:" "Curze and Pierandrei." "Tano, Beneamataet Dolores." "Ah, Dolores!" "She who married..." "She's a Curze, she married the brother of Elena's husband." "Elena?" "Elena Varaldo." "Yes, one of Max's cousins." "Yes, very cute." "Cute, Max?" "Kind, but very homely." "That's correct." "I have a special reason for saying that she was cute." "You know how some people are cute when they are small and then it changes." "Well, she was marvelous as a kid, a real cutie." "A lovely creature..." "I was deeply in love with her and that's the picture that has stayed with me:" "Her blond braids on her shoulders." " But, she's a brunette, isn't she?" "Yes, but she bleached it." "She bleached it when she was a child?" "She bleached it." "What can I do about it?" "Rather advanced for her age..." "So, I was saying..." "A spade, then." "You were saying a spade." "Yes, Max!" "A spade, it is..." "So then I bid..." "Wait a moment..." "You don't tell your game out load, Max." "She has made her declaration." "You're right." "I say... two diamonds." "Two spades." "Three diamonds." "Five spades." "What are you doing?" "There's no logic to it." "You're not forced to play, you know!" "We don't mean to be hurtful, but we simply can't play with you." "Say, what would you have done in my place" "How so?" "You saw me playing." "What would you have done?" "You can't improvise in bridge." "You have to know the rules." "But the Kalkul manual..." "We have all read the Kalkul." "Obviously you haven't even opened it." "Say, when..." "Take Max's seat, will you" "We can't play like this." "I'm sorry." "Not at all." "He doesn't have a clue." "Give me Fernet... a double." "I can't sleep here." "Calm down, miss." "Turn it around, it's filthy!" "It fell on the floor!" "You're pulling my hair!" "Good night." "Who was the boy that came to greet you at the station?" "An acquaintance." "I demand to know who it was." "Excuse me miss, but that only concern me." "I want to know or I'll tell Paola." "Tell her what you want." "Come, look at this bed." "Go away, I don't want to see you." "Mister Max..." "What's happening?" "Can I be of any help?" "I have been leading this life for three years." "I feel so alone." "Alone?" "How is that possible?" "Imagine, I was a typist, writing on typewriters." "Then I was out of work and this opportunity presents itself." "It seemed swell to be traveling, to be with nice people," "I told myself..." "I was wrong." "What a fool I am." "Why?" "Every day, when I have done my chores there's nothing more, I have nothing to say to them and they have nothing to say to me." "They may be nice people, but they're of another world." "They know each other, they are friends." "They talk of this, of that, of a lot of grand names." "I understand you." "In my home town I had a lot of friends, we enjoyed each other, we had fun, we went dancing." "That was nice work!" "But it was real life." "I left it all behind." "Now I have nobody, and for what for?" "For nothing." "To be badly treated by a 12 year old kid." "Excuse me for telling you all these things, which must bore you, but, as I already told you you look so much like someone who wants me a little good, with whom I feel like I am really talking," "talking with Gianni." "But you..." "I am Gianni." "You're not Gianni, you're Max, a lout!" "You profited from one of my weak moments." "I confided in you, and..." "Go away!" "Leave!" "Miss, the young lady is calling on you." "I can't sleep." "This is impossible!" "I'll do your bed again." "Don't touch me!" "Get out of there." "Stop your playacting!" "I won't allow you to treat me like this!" "Miss!" "You dared hit me!" " No." " Yes, you slapped me." "I came to greet you." "We've played a fine game." "Paola!" "She hit me!" "Who hit you?" "The miss." "Ah, there she is." "I had forbid you to put your hand on the girl." "The next time..." "There will be no other time." "I'm taking the first train back." "I have made my decision." "I can't go on like that." "I am no longer in your service." "Good night." "Ricardo, let her have what we owe her." "I don't want to see her again." "After all that we have done for her..." "The used clothes she was given." "We took her all around the world, like she was a sister." "Unbelievable!" "Excuse me, Paola." "but in my opinion she isn't entirely to blame for all this." "But, Max!" "Well, maybe I'm wrong." "Excuse me." "Max, this evening..." "Porter!" "Another porter." "There she is." "Porter!" "Come here!" "When is the depart of the return train." "In an hour." "You, come here." "Where is Max?" "We'll find him, he must have gone to buy some cigarettes." "You're back?" "Take this." "Problems ahead?" "No." "What do you mean, no?" "She's coming." "There she is!" "Lauretta, you're back!" "Yes, like I told you at the train station yesterday, it couldn't go on, so I quit." "You quit?" "Hello, miss!" "You're back." "You did well." "Since you left, he's shut himself off from the world all day, with a sad, very sad face." "What a lovely night." "A night to go for a nice stroll." "Go ahead, I'll close the store." "You'll close, eh?" "Don't be upset." "I have reason to be!" "He gone completely mad!" "I checked with the banc, he has withdrawn 10.000 liras!" "I ask myself if the best thing wouldn't be to have him locked up!" "Put in an asylum!" "Lauretta, let's stop being foolish, I must tell you something." "What?" "You know my uncle and aunt, you know that they are old fashioned." "While you, on the other hand, have travelled, been to palaces, but" "I don't really know you." "Have you been engaged before?" "No, never." "Have you been in love" "Never before." "I assure you I haven't." "A girl can stay decent even if she's traveling." "You're not going to have me believe you have never kissed a man." "Never." "Look me in the eyes, it's important for me to know." "Tell me the truth." "Only once." "There you see!" "Only one time." "And I was thinking of you." "That's a good one!" "It happened last night in the train." "The guy who looks like you, Max..." "Him again!" "Precisely, because he looks like you." "And I was so sad and helpless having left you..." "I cried, I didn't understand a thing, and suddenly... it seemed to me that it was you." "When I grasped that it wasn't really you" "I slapped him." "You can try that story on someone else, but not on me!" " I swear." " A little slap." "No, a big smack." "Do you want a demonstration?" "Who is it?" "Get out of here!" "There's the door!" "Don't show up here again!" "Don't be angry, I have returned." "And I'm not alone, Lauretta is with me." " Where is she?" " She waits downstairs." "The maid of that lady, you know..." "She quit and has come back." "We have decided to get married." "You're getting married?" "Get up!" "Take the elevator!" "But how did you get back?" "We were on the same train." "She knows everything?" "No, I made sure I wasn't seen." "It's very important that you don't say anything." "Please come in, miss" "Lucia!" "How are you?" "Please come in." "I beg you not to say anything about the trips or about Max for the moment." "For the moment?" "Why?" "Are you thinking of telling her later?" "When we are married and time has passed, no?" "Listen, Gianni, do you want some sound advice?" "If you don't want to pass off as an imbecile, don't ever talk about it, do you hear?" "Never!" "English translation by Knappen, Oslo, October/November 2009."