"Professor." "What do you want?" "Not interested tonight?" "No." "Also..." "Don't call me professor." "Go ahead." "We heard." "We're really upset." "Don Calogerro sends his regards and is at your complete disposal." "You must be repaid for the wrong that has been done to you..." "And they must apologise, immediately." "Tell Don Calogerro I will accept his proposals..." "I am his servant." "I apologise and ask for forgiveness for disturbing my friends present here." "I am satisfied that this has all been resolved..." "And that no other misunderstandings will divide our two friends..." "Who will become better friends than before, I can guarantee it." "Today I submit to peace, from tomorrow war will begin." "Find me a man, and I'll take care of the rest." "Look at you!" "You scared they'll rob you?" "What can they steal from you?" "How are your kids, professor?" "I don't have any kids." "Your students?" "I don't have any students." "More wine." "Up early this morning, professor?" "And don't call me professor." "Shall we start?" "Yes, ready." "I say we go back over the last lesson." "Okay, I agree." "Where are you going?" "I'm going home." "Right?" "Why are you laughing?" "I was just thinking..." "That you're the only person keeping me alive." "English is the only language I know well." "Who would've thought I would survive teaching you..." "And all the other words that don't serve any purpose." "Friday okay for you?" "Okay." "Okay, Friday." "Did he check the envelope?" "No, he never checks it." "Go the gate, but don't let him in..." "He must wait till Friday." "What is it?" "There must have been a mistake." "What mistake?" "This money isn't for me." "I don't understand." "What do you mean?" "You gave me the envelope." "Please let me in." "The master left." "Left?" "Friday, professor." "Take the envelope at least." "It's not my concern, besides, I checked it personally." "I don't think he'll spend any of it." "No, I'm not convinced." "I wouldn't wait till Friday, he's not the right man for the job." "Well I think he's smart, he's calm and collected." "He's the kind of guy we need." "He'll accept." "I'm sure of it." "Listen, I don't want to waste any more time, turn it off." "Who is it?" "Professor, it's me." "Come in." "Do I have to go?" "No, I was falling asleep." "I had a client, one of those important ones." "Come on, get undressed." "Don't just stand there." "It's cold here!" "And the money." "Money?" "You're rich!" "I'll stay all night." "I didn't think you'd come." "There's no need to worry." "Good morning, professor." "Hi." "The ninth lesson, I believe." "No, the tenth." "Yes, you're right." "Do you want me to go?" "No." "What do you prefer, shall we talk about you, or me?" "In your opinion, does that chair make you feel inferior as an individual?" "No." "But you're not as efficient as him, for example." "No, it's not like that." "But you need others to survive, and he doesn't." "Do you think it's enough to be paralysed to feel excluded?" "That's right." "It's not enough." "But society demands maximum functionality from everyone." "You might think you're okay, but no one else does." "What do you think?" "I can..." "Please stop." "It's not fair." "I'll take you home." "I need to talk to you." "I should be wearing glasses." "But..." "Nice day, isn't it?" "Hard to imagine it was raining two hours ago." "Listen, I know what you want to talk about..." "Last week, your servant..." "He gave me an envelope with money that certainly wasn't for me." "How strange." "And when I went to give it back he wouldn't take it." "Don't be nervous." "I don't want your charity because I don't give a damn about your money." "Then give it back to me." "Well?" "I can't find it." "I had it here." "You're strange, you say you received some money from me..." "You say there's been a mistake, you come to give it back..." "And now that I want it, you say you don't have it." "And now you don't know what to do." "I had it here." "I had it." "If this is some kind of joke..." "What do you want from me?" "Here's your money." "Your salary." "I'm worth 2000 lira an hour." "I'm offering you the chance to escape your poverty." "What poverty are you talking about?" "You could use the money to help look after your mother." "My mother?" "What do you know about my mother?" "When was the last time you saw her?" "How many years has she been locked up in that lunatic asylum in London?" "Who are you?" "Answer my questions." "Did you flee in shame..." "Or did you think you could escape an illness that's almost hereditary?" "Come on, answer me." "Who are you?" "Don't be naive." "You're a lowlife." "Rats live better than you and you refuse my money!" "Why are you telling me this?" "What do you want?" "I know everything about you, life, death and miracles..." "And I'm the only person who knows you." "If you disappeared off the face of this earth no one would notice..." "Except for some whore, perhaps..." "Who you screw from time to time..." "With the money you stole from me." "I'll give it to you." "I want it now." "I understand." "Satisfied?" "It's perfect..." "Anonymous." "He speaks English perfectly." "Well, he is English." "Martin is right, no one would come looking for him." "He doesn't have any friends, he's a stray dog." "The professor's gone." "Did he leave a message for me?" "No, nothing." "Where are you taking me?" "I don't want to escape." "Say something at least!" "Take this blinfold off." "I want to see." "You'll have to carry me, I'm not taking one more step!" "Let go of me." "Relax." "Don't get excited." "Don't waste your energy." "Take a few steps forward." "You'll find a seat." "Well?" "What do you want to ask me?" "Why am I here?" "And when are you going to end this pointless charade?" "Calm down." "We need you." "I can't do anything for you." "That's not what we think." "I can say no, even if it means I'll die." "But you won't." "Second mistake..." "I wouldn't be so sure if I were you." "If you were me?" "They're just words." "I don't love life." "Not yours, certainly." "Why have you chosen me?" "Why have you chosen me?" "Walther pistol." "Double action, 7.65 calbre." "Smith and Wesson, 38." "Calibre." "Para 22, light rifle." "Maximum range." "Carbine, 22. calibre." "Smith and Wesson revolver, 38. calibre." "Colt 22." "Mauser 7.65." "Nine." "Nine, long." "Still awake?" "The guys are watching a porn film next door." "When is this going to end?" "Do you want to discuss it?" "No, I'm not interested." "When it's time, I'll be ready." "Calibre 9." "Enough!" "Missing someone?" "Scared?" "I'm not scared of anything." "And I don't miss anyone." "Who?" "I don't have any feelings so I don't feel any pain." "It's night time, and that's enough for me." "Here's a Czechoslovak passport for you." "Sunglasses." "An every day object." "Keys for various uses." "One of these objects contains a code, you'll have to figure out which one." "You'll be abandoned in the city, without money, or contacts." "You'll have to survive as long as it takes..." "To make contact with the organisation..." "The address is inside one of the objects you received." "Once you make contact your training is over." "Well?" "How do you feel?" "It's not the first time, besides, I enjoy these things." "Don't tell me you're jealous?" "No, don't talk nonsense!" "No, this isn't a Polaroid, I'm sorry..." "It's a very old type of lens." "An old glass we don't use in optics any more." "I don't think I can help you." "You could ask the big stores that supply these materials." "Also, it's three millimetres thick..." "I really don't think the trade exists any more." "Good morning, how can I help you?" "Room three, please." "The booth on the right, I'll call her." "Please wait." "Fantastic." "Fantastic, eighteen hours and a few minutes..." "I wouldn't have believed it." "You forget I'm from the jungle." "You've seen me, but you don't know me." "Would you like a bath?" "It's the only civilised thing I can offer you." "Turn it off, what they get up to tonight is their business." "Forget about it." "They don't trust me." "It's not about that, you go your way and I'll go mine." "You're the whore in the group?" "I'm nothing..." "Not for you, not for anyone." "We've never seen each other, we've never met." "They're coming to get you so we'll say goodbye like two old friends..." "Do you mind?" "Is that an order?" "Yes, it's an order." "Inhuman, don't you think?" "Inhuman." "Where will they send me?" "To Holland..." "But they'll tell you themselves." "They're here." "Good morning." "Welcome, Mr. Martin." "This..." "...is my key, thank you." "Put that gun away." "Hey, I'm one of the family!" "With that in your hand?" "It's the truth I tell you!" "Tell me everything tomorrow, now go." "I'll tell them about this, they won't like it." "Good, tell your mother as well." "I said go away." "Thanks, call 308, please." "Right away." "308." "Thank you." "Listen, Stanley, go to hell!" "That's an idea." "Martin." "Listen, it's still me..." "I said tomorrow." "Whatever it is, tomorrow!" "Go away." "Listen here, you can't mess around too much with us." "You have something to tell me, save the rest for yourself." "I'm here for work." "Come on." "Son of a bitch." "This is what I don't like about all of you." "Get the bill or I'll kill you here, now, in front of everyone!" "Do you mind?" "Please, have a seat." "I left all the instructions in your mailbox at the hotel." "Would you like a glass of Italian wine?" "No, thank you." "I'll eat and that's all, but in silence." "There's an envelope for you." "Thank you." "And they're..." "...my car keys." "Here are your instructions." "It's close by, you can even walk there." "Come on, get up." "Not a bad result." "Yes, yes." "He knows what he's doing, yes, yes." "Please." "I've disturbed you for a very simple reason..." "But of a certain seriousness." "You're a good friend of Don Pizzuto..." "And you know his son is in Holland..." "Kept hidden as a result of a feud that happened a long time ago..." "When the son of a friend we have in common was seriously injured." "You can inform Don Pizzuto..." "That his son is in great danger." "How do you feel?" "Like a clown." "The first applause comes from his insecurity..." "They all think his solitude is part of the act..." "And we laugh." "But you were magnificent." "Do you understand something about your job?" "I've never thought about it." "Do they pay well?" "It's a job like any other." "Do you come here often?" "No, why?" "Do you know the girl who was dancing earlier?" "Do you know how expensive she is?" "Tell me." "Listen, for someone like you..." "Just tell me." "She's coming over." "Can I have a seat?" "Please do." "This is Mr. X." "No!" "My name is Charlie Brown." "Dance with me, Charlie Brown." "Martin, the next appointment is at eleven behind the old train depot." "Eleven o'clock precisely." "Dissappointed?" "No, no!" "If you'd seen my home, before..." "Before what?" "Before..." "No, nothing." "I never bring anyone here, not for the people..." "I don't care for people." "But I'm not a whore, I want you to know that." "I know." "I felt strange today." "You see, I don't know how to walk into the mouth of this mastodon." "What do you do?" "Travelling salesman?" "Yes!" "A traveller." "I work for a cooperative." "But I left them." "I felt like I needed to be with someone." "That's all." "Does it seem strange?" "The code is:" ""Strauss sent me."" "Is this everything?" "It's all there, read the instructions." "You're free." "New passport, another name..." "And money, lot's of money." "Who's the victim?" "That shouldn't bother you, read the instructions." "That doesn't concern you." "Will we see you again?" "If ever meet you again, then it means it's the end." "Can I help you?" "Strauss sent me." "Have a seat." "Thanks." "Who is it, Harold?" "It's Strauss' friend." "Make him a nice Italian coffee." "No, thank you, I'm in a hurry." "Then have a seat, make yourself at home." "Don't move or I'll shoot." "I've been waiting for you, you know." "I've been waiting a long time for you." "I don't know any Strauss, and I don't know who you are..." "But they must have sent you to kill the boy." "Then the boy is still alive?" "Help me." "Did you hear?" "He asked for help." "No, you misunderstood, he didn't say "Help me"..." "He said "Help me"." "Pigs." "They forced me to do it, I'm not involved in any of this..." "I don't even know who you are?" "Please, it's not my fault." "I'm not involved." "Don't speak." "Come here." "You have to help me." "Let me see, where did they shoot you?" "No." "Just hold me close." "Is this okay?" "Closer." "Closer." "Something happened..." "What?" "They destroyed everything." "The joys of nature..." "There's nothing left any more." "Nothing." "I'd like to jump into the world's darkness..." "The silence." "These words don't mean anything." "What are you saying?" "August 2010 Thanks to Luca Canali"