Original subtitles

Shoeshine was restored in 4K from the best available material

by The Film Foundation and Fondazione Cineteca di Bologna

at L'Immagine Ritrovata, in association with Orium S.A.

Restoration financed by the Hobson/Lucas Family Foundation.

SHOESHINE

THE PEOPLE AND EVENTS DEPICTED IN THIS FILM ARE ENTIRELY FICTIONAL.

No one can beat Bersagliere!

He's a great horse.

As soon as I said "Go, Bersagliere!" he shot off like a rocket.

There aren't many like him. Not even in America.

Nonsense. In America...

- God knows how much they feed them. - Boys!

I told you not to let the horse go when you dismount.

- That's no horse. - Say what?

More like a table.

He's always joking, Mr. Ranucci. What about our offer?

Fifty or nothing.

- But 50,000 lire is a lot. - Not if you're buying a horse.

Forget it.

Everyone thinks that shoeshine boys make sackfuls of money.

Let's go.

- Does it cost much to keep a horse? - At least 300 lire a day.

Damn, Bersagliere, you sure are expensive.

Fifty's okay, Mr. Ranucci, but we're a bit short right now.

- How about next week? - Fine by me.

- Your word? - My word.

- Your word? - My word.

- So long, Mr. Ranucci. - So long.

Until he's ours, he can rent him out to whomever he wants.

- How much have we got now? - I don't know. Thirty-two, 35...

You ought to know. I told you to keep track.

You're right, but this morning I had payments to make.

Five, ten... I made it into stacks of five.

- Good. - Fifteen, 20, 25,

30, 31, 32,

- 33,500. - Plus 7500 from Mr. Genovese.

And 3700 from the porter.

Thirty-three thousand five hundred plus 3700 plus 7500...

We're short 5300 lire.

Marcello, did the stuff arrive?

No. This asshole keeps telling me: "Tomorrow, tomorrow."

Meanwhile, he gets his shoes shined.

- Okay. - When you bring?

Tomorrow.

Screw you and your grandpa!

These here will pay good.

- Pasquale, want to buy some glasses? - No, they're a pain to move on.

Not like selling blankets.

- Forget it. Someone will buy them. - Let's go.

Are you laughing to yourself now?

- Just think, he eats more than us. - Who?

- The horse! - Right. Shoeshine, Joe?

Where'll we keep him?

I was thinking of taking him to the stable at Porta San Sebastiano.

- They'd let him starve him to death! - We weren't born yesterday.

We'll go after work every day and watch him being fed.

But he'll only eat once a day.

- What if I slept in the stable? - I will too.

- What about your folks? - They'd be glad to have a free bed.

We'll see.

Let's get the money first.

- Giuseppe. - What is it?

Giuseppe, sit here.

Shoeshine, Joe?

On the last bend, Pasquale said: "Go, Bersagliere!"

- And he set off like... - The circular tram!

Get lost! I wanted to say...

Damn you!

When you bring me chocolate?

- Don't sell it, eat it. - Do you think I'm stupid?

Thank you!

The problem is we aren't organized.

If we were, the cops wouldn't take our boxes.

They took two from me. What do they do with them?

- They sell them. - Pasquale.

- Hi, Nannarella. - Where's Giuseppe? I need him.

Giuseppe.

- Hi. - Hi.

Your mother sent me. She needs 300 lire.

- But I gave her 500 this morning! - She says she needs it.

- Can I give it to her? - Of course.

Money sure has lost its value.

Last year, my mother would've fed us all on 200 lire.

You're lucky to be on your own. Once you've eaten, everyone has.

Nonsense.

If I still had my mother and father, I'd gladly give them a million a day.

Now you're staying with us, don't you like it?

- Of course I do. - Well, let's go.

Aren't you sleeping in the lift anymore?

No. The landlord, may he drop dead, found out.

He calls it upstairs at night. I can't go there anymore.

I'm sleeping at Giuseppe's, in the Dante Alighieri School.

I won't tell you...

it's so noisy.

Shoeshine, Joe?

The other day he took me to the hotel and he gave me a big cake.

Chocolate on the outside, ice cream inside.

Damn, if I'd known, I would've come.

I know, but they don't let women inside.

- Giuseppe! - Hi.

Where's Pasquale?

Working outside the Imperiale Hotel.

- Who's he? - Attilio, my big brother.

- He must be rich. - He gets by.

Will you walk me home?

I can't leave Pasquale alone. If I do, he doesn't do anything.

Goodbye, then. See you this evening.

Bye.

I understand, the San Paolo gasworks at one.

It better be worth it. I haven't got time to waste.

Don't worry, it's a good deal.

- Okay, bye. - Bye.

Excuse me, sir.

- Where were you? - With Nannarella.

I walked her across the street. With all these cars...

You're so brave.

Watch it. You're shining his trousers.

What did my brother say?

He said Panza's waiting for me, at 1:00.

Here's Pasquale.

Hey, it's half past 1!

We had to eat.

- Who's this? - My partner.

- You've even got a partner now? - He's my brother.

Let's go.

I've some business for you. Two American blankets.

Go to Via del Babuino 48, to the lady on the fourth floor.

- She'll be there at 3:00. - What then?

You bring the blankets, and she buys them.

- For how much? - What's it to you?

- We're partners. - Of course.

- Get as much as you can. - Prices have dropped.

- We'll get 2400 or 2500 at most. - And you get 10%.

Ten percent...

- Three hundred. - It's not enough. Let's say 20%.

Let's say 500 lire and that's it. Give them the blankets.

Let's go.

Come on.

Get a move on.

Be there at 3:00 sharp!

Don't worry!

Whoever invented the lift was a great man.

You're telling me. I slept in one for three months.

"Accountant Giulio Prazzi."

- Here she is. - Our fence.

"Margherita Donazzi Anselmi. Licensed fortune teller."

- Goodbye, ma'am, and thank you. - Thank you, miss.

- Ma'am. - What do you want?

We've got two American blankets.

I'm not interested.

- How much? - Thirty-five hundred.

Goodness, no!

- Three thousand. - I'll take a look.

Follow me.

- They're new. - I can see that, but...

- They'd make a nice overcoat. - What if the Americans stop me?

- Don't worry, they won't bother you. - Hey!

Because you're so distinguished, you'll look great.

- How much? - Three thousand.

- And 500. - You shut up.

- Two thousand five hundred. - Do you think we stole them?

Two thousand five hundred and not one lira more.

Let's say 2800 and it's a deal.

I'll take them.

- You should've held out. - Why? We'll still get our 500 lire.

- Two thousand, 2500... - Is this a game?

Leave those cards alone! Where did you learn your manners?

Look what you did now!

- A postman, a train, a funeral... - What are they for?

- To tell the future. - Really?

Can you tell us what's going to happen tomorrow?

- We'll bring you a bottle of milk. - It'll be fresh too.

- You're nothing but kids. - Don't kids have a future too?

- Of course they do. - Then tell us, please!

Twenty-five cards, the 25 ask... What are your names?

- Giuseppe. - Pasquale.

Cut.

At home, outside the home, what awaits you, what doesn't,

who loves you, and who doesn't. Pick a card.

At home, there's an old lady who thinks of you.

My mother isn't old.

If you don't keep quiet, I'll stop reading the cards.

The lady is sad because of a letter, but everything will be fine.

Outside the home, there's a gentleman who protects you.

- Ranucci! - A gentleman? He's a horse breeder.

The bell. It's a client. Wait a moment.

- Mrs. Margherita Donazzi Anselmi? - How can I help you?

Police. We've got a search warrant.

I don't understand. I'm a licensed fortune teller.

The police commissioner knows me. His wife is one of my clients.

I'm sorry, ma'am. We're only following orders.

We received information that you've been buying stolen goods.

Me? It's not true, I swear.

There they are!

Take them away.

We have to come inside. I hope you understand, ma'am.

After you, ma'am.

- What's going on? - None of your business.

You sold the blankets, so keep the money and go.

- What do you mean? - Don't play dumb.

Here's another 3000. Now go.

You didn't see anything, and you don't know nothing.

- What do we do now? - I don't know.

Three thousand plus 2800 for the blankets...

Makes 5800.

You heard your brother.

- We didn't see anything... - And we don't know nothing.

We were sleepwalking.

Let's go.

Now we've got enough to buy ourselves a horse.

Wake up!

Good morning, Bersagliere!

Good morning, Bersagliere!

What a horse! And he's all ours.

He ate almost everything.

His belly looks like a drum.

- He ate all the feed. - He's not stupid.

He stuffed himself.

Well, boys, what did you decide?

The horse will stay here.

We'll pay the stable fee and take care of him every day.

You're going to groom him, wash him?

- Wash him? - Don't you wash in the morning?

We'll wash him right now. Untie him, Giuseppe.

Give me a hand.

- Help me up. - Go on, up you get.

- Our horse! - Go!

- Ride him well. - Don't worry.

Careful!

No!

No!

That's them! That's them!

- These are the two boys. - Here they are.

Go ahead.

Here I am!

One minute, ma'am.

What is it?

We arrested the two boys involved in the Via del Babuino burglary.

- Which burglary? - At that fortune teller's house.

Of course. Bring them in, and call Losito.

Better let it boil a minute more than a minute less.

Not boiling it enough can lead to unpleasant consequences.

Here they are, commissioner!

You have to make them confess! These scoundrels know everything!

Calm down, ma'am. There's no reason to shout.

I'd like to see you if it was your 700,000 lire they stole.

Seven hundred thousand lire. If only I had that much.

So why did you go to this lady's home yesterday?

- To buy empty bottles. - Liar!

- You wanted to sell me two blankets! - And you bought them!

Enter into the report that the lady bought two American blankets.

This is an outrage! I'll end up in jail!

So... Mrs. Donazzi Anselmi

bought two American blankets.

Where did you steal them? Look at me, boys.

One moment.

Where did you steal the blankets?

We didn't steal them. A friend gave them to us.

An American.

What's his name?

- Joe. - Joe.

Joe.

What's the fat one called?

Which fat one?

The one at the fortune teller's yesterday.

- l never saw him before. - Don't get smart with me.

I'll lock you up on bread and water for a month.

- Pasquale! - He's only joking.

- Joking, am 1? - We'd die on just bread and water.

- Will you tell the truth or not? - We already did!

Losito, lock them up. Then we'll see.

Out! Out!

As for you, ma'am, I'm going to have to charge you.

I'm an honest woman, commissioner. Ask your wife. She's my client.

That doesn't surprise me. My wife has a brain this size.

- Go away, ma'am. Please, go. - But, commissioner...

- Go. Go. - Commissioner!

I work, and she goes to a fortune teller.

Do you know what she asks? When I'm going to die.

Commissioner? Excuse me.

What are we supposed to do with those two boys?

Send them to jail. To juvenile hall.

In the morning.

Is this the home for displaced persons?

- The Filippucci family, please? - Second floor, 3C.

APARTMENT NO. 5 FAMILIES: 3 - INHABITANTS: 18

Excuse me, the Filippucci family?

- Amalia, they're looking for you. - Thank you.

- l1 have to speak to your husband. - Why?

Business.

Vittorio.

- Well? - Damn it.

- What is it? - This young lady is looking for you.

Attilio's outside. He wants to talk.

- What does he want? - To talk to you.

Fine, fine...

- Dad, they've arrested-- - Who?

- Giuseppe. - And?

Don't go there. Otherwise I'll get in trouble.

Who's going anywhere?

Nanna--

First to Mantellate and Regina Coeli, then the boys.

Get out.

Go ahead. This way.

- Hi. - Hi.

Go on.

No, this way.

- Hi. - Hi.

May 17?

Your family has been informed.

Here.

Angelo Libassi from Bari.

- But it's been three months since... - What can I do about that?

They'll write. I'll let you know if they visit. Go.

Good morning, captain. I've brought you a new batch.

I see. You certainly keep us busy.

If this goes on, we'll have to sleep them in the yard.

"lllegal sale of stolen goods. Accessories to aggravated burglary.

To be held pending investigation."

- Take care. - Goodbye.

- Fede? - Yes, Sir.

- Register these two. - At once.

This way, you two.

- Your name? - Pasquale Maggi.

- Your father? - He's dead.

- His name? - Luigi.

- Your mother? - Maria Fabris.

- Living? - No.

- Born? - Rome, October 29th... 1931.

Place of residence?

Via Lombardia 30.

- Where? - It's near Via Veneto.

I mean with whom?

Nobody. I sleep in the lift.

"No fixed address."

Put your hand here and push hard.

- Three times four? - Twelve.

- Four times four? - Sixteen.

- Eight times eight? - Sixty-two.

Ignorant. Eight times eight.

Sixty-four, fool. Three times three.

- Nine. - The director!

Attention! About, turn!

Good, good. Very good.

Good morning, Mr. Staffera. I heard. My condolences.

How old was he?

- Ten. - An only child?

No, I have four more,

but he was the youngest and the liveliest.

Well, be strong.

Attention!

- Six times nine? - Fifty-four.

- Seven times seven. - Forty-nine.

- Eight times five. - Forty.

- Nine times three. - Twenty-seven.

HOLDING CELLS

The director. Go inside.

- Good morning, Mr. Bartoli. - Good morning, director.

- What are you doing? - Fighting the bugs and winning.

- A pesticide I invented myself. - Very good.

- We ought to spray the entire place. - We will, Mr. Bartoli, we will.

- The boys are complaining. - Naturally.

What don't they complain about? Are there new arrivals?

- Sadly, we're never short of them. - Who's this?

Stand up. Come on, stand up.

- Stand at attention. - Marcello Scarale from Velletri.

Accused of armed robbery. He confessed.

Were you alone?

No, with four adults.

I've got a little sister and two young brothers.

My father's a prisoner in Germany. We had nothing to eat.

Armed robbery.

In a few days, he'll start complaining too.

And these?

Come forward, boys. Come forward.

Who are they?

Pasquale Maggi and Giuseppe Filippucci. To be held pending investigation.

Once the doctor sees them, we'll send them to Section 1.

Very good.

I had a parents' committee today.

A committee? Is that what we've come to? Now parents want to strike?

No, they want investigations. Their boys have been held for months.

Whose fault is that?

If you read the statistics,

you'll see that compared to 1936, crime has increased by 60%.

- The judges are buried in work. - I know, but they're only boys.

Boys? Armed robbery, burglary, pickpocketing, pimping...

And how do we punish them? No fruit after supper.

If only we had some fruit.

My dear Bartoli, when will you realize

that this is a jail, not a kindergarten?

If you keep thinking like that, you'll always be an assistant.

Attention!

Not bad.

Fair.

At ease!

For the main course, we have steak.

No, I'll have something light. I've got terrible heartburn.

- Sweetbread and zucchini? - I'll try that.

- Me too. - I'll have roast lamb.

- Here's Tamburini. Where's Attilio? - He didn't want to come.

- He's afraid. - Shift!

- Okay. - What?

- They didn't talk. - I knew we could trust those two.

- Boss! - What?

I've changed my mind. Bring us steaks, and make them thick.

Tomorrow we'll send them a nice parcel.

They deserve it.

- What did you order? - Sweetbread and zucchini.

After all, boys have to feel comfortable while they're inside,

or else they get a bad impression and are useless when they get out.

The trams are still running. It can't be very late.

Are you hungry?

- Do you think my father knows? - Of course. If Nannarella knows...

You're right.

- These must be lice. They bite. - Nope, they're bed bugs.

Maybe.

What is it?

I'm sure they'll let us out in a few days.

They can't keep us here if we've done nothing.

- Sure, but Panza-- - Shut up.

Forget that name, understand? We don't know anything.

- What about the blankets? - That's not our problem.

- It's the fortune teller's problem. - Let's hope so.

I'm sure of it.

They're lice. Feel how they bite.

This is all my stupid brother's fault.

I know, but we have to play dumb.

We'll deal with him when we get out of here.

- Do you think they'll feed him? - Of course.

Maybe not much, but in a few days...

Hey, you didn't tell Nannarella we bought him, did you?

How could I? I didn't see her again.

We mustn't tell anyone.

Otherwise they'll steal him.

I can't wait to see him again.

You're telling me.

Mr. Annibale.

What is it?

Your horse has colic again.

He needs to rest.

Give him water and barley. Rub him down with water and vinegar.

Then we'll see.

Damn it. And today I have a funeral.

Why don't you hitch up the boys' horse?

Come on. Let's go.

Breathe. Deeply. Again.

Get dressed.

Here's a soup ticket.

Could I have a bread ticket, doctor? The soup is disgusting.

Don't exaggerate. You boys are always complaining.

What were you eating at home?

My father was a fisherman. I always ate well.

Bream, sea bass, fish soup... It was fantastic.

Go now, Raffaele. I'll see to the bread.

I wanted bread 'cause the soup's disgusting.

Disgusting, disgusting...

Put the bandage back on.

- How's the Neapolitan? - Getting worse, naturally.

You can't expect him to get better in here.

I asked for his transfer to hospital over a month ago.

No chance. At the Forlanini, the patients are like sardines.

- So? - Send him home.

- What's he in for? - Vagrancy.

A vagrant? Better a vagrant than dead.

- Release him. - If only it were up to me.

Then you'll have to be patient. It's how I manage.

New arrivals, doctor.

Great timing.

Get undressed. I'll see the others tomorrow.

Pasquale Maggi.

- Who is Pasquale Maggi? - l am.

- What illnesses have you had? - Measles and whooping cough.

You?

I haven't had whooping cough or measles, but my mother says I've got tapeworm.

Don't worry, you'll get rid of it in here.

Parental statement?

- They didn't come. - As usual.

- Do they go in Section 1? - Of course.

A bit of silence!

Silence, I said!

Silence! Be quiet!

- How many in here? - Four, but Raffaele's very sick.

You can take five, like the rest.

Pasquale.

- l want to stay with him! - Forget it.

- Pasquale! - Let go of him!

Damn cowards!

Hello, young boy.

- You're the son of a cobbler! - You're a drunkard!

You're a son of a bitch!

Silence! Silence!

- Do you understand? Silence! - What's going on?

Be quiet! Shut up!

- Be quiet! - What happened?

A guard knocked around one of the new inmates.

Yard privileges are suspended until further notice!

The director holds you responsible for any further disturbances.

Yard privileges are suspended until further notice!

Yes, until further notice!

Open the shutters again.

Open the shutters.

When I get out of this shithole, I'll smash their heads in,

I swear to the Lord.

You won't smash a thing.

Pasquale!

- I'm here! - Hey, calm yourself down.

- What's your name? - Giuseppe Filippucci.

- Why were you arrested? - I don't know. I don't know nothing.

You can tell us. We're not going to rat on you.

I don't know anything.

Hey, what are you doing? That's Arcangeli's place.

He'll kill you when he gets back from isolation.

- Where should I go? - Over there.

- Did they take your fingerprints? - Yes.

- How many fingers? - Four.

- You stupid, stupid little boy! - What a fool.

- What an idiot. - Did I do something wrong?

- Very wrong. - Four fingers, four years in jail.

Four years! You'll go moldy in here!

Oh, Mama!

Always ask for what you don't want. If you want more bread, ask for soup.

If you want to stay with your friend, say you hate him.

- That's how the masters are. - Who are the masters?

- The guards. They're called masters. - Why?

Who knows? Maybe because they're edumacated.

It's "educated," ignoramus.

Pardon me, professor.

They're masters at stealing our cigarettes.

- Can we smoke in here? - No, it's forbidden.

And since it's forbidden, we all do it.

Except him, 'cause he's got bad lungs.

Hey, I'm going to the hospital soon, and when I get out, I'll be cured.

- So up yours. - Time to eat.

Time to eat, it's finally time to eat.

Time to eat, time to eat.

Good. I'm starving.

We only got bread yesterday because we weren't booked in yet.

You need to be hungry to eat what they give us in here.

- Bring it over! - You do it!

- Bring it over! - No, you do it!

I told you to bring it over, prick!

Why isn't my friend Giuseppe here?

He's on a different shift. They eat later.

Pasquale!

Giuseppe!

Pasquale!

Stay in line or I'll tell the master.

Don't. He's a bastard. He'll rat on you.

Attention!

Left, turn!

Forward, march!

One, two, one, two, one, two...

I can't eat this.

Sure, you can. It's like that for everyone at first.

But if you don't want to die, you'll learn how to eat it.

- It's disgusting. - Aren't you hungry, Raffaele?

- No. - Try harder.

Eat up, even if you don't like it. Don't you understand?

Understand? Of course I understand.

Don't you want it?

Damn, you've got some stomach.

Why so surprised? He had the stomach to shoot his dad.

Sit down. Don't be a fool.

- Vanzetti! - Vanzetti, Cell Number 7!

- Filippucci! - Filippucci!

- Filippucci! - Stick your hand out.

- Warden! - Filippucci!

- First floor! - First floor!

- Morriconi! - Morriconi, first floor!

- Cardinali! - Cardinali, second floor!

- Piani! - Piani, second floor!

- Attili! - Attili, second floor!

- Carozzi! - Carozzi, first floor!

- Valeri! - Valeri, ground floor!

- Proietti! - Proietti, ground floor!

Filippucci.

A huge package.

- Does he want to get himself killed? - What's he doing?

Take some, Pasquale.

- Stop. That's forbidden. - Why? He's my friend.

Go to your cell or I'll confiscate your package.

- Damn it. - I hope he rots in hell.

I'm going to Kill that son of a bitch someday.

Calm down. In here you have to shut up and take it.

- No, I'm not going to take it. - You'll only get in trouble.

- But I'm dying of hunger. - Do this.

You'll lose your appetite.

Here he comes.

- Five, six, five, six... - Five, seven, eight, three...

- Eight, five, four, two... - Three, five, one, two...

Help yourselves. There's lots.

Well, just a taste.

There were ten pears, but the officer took four and an egg.

They always do that. You just have to accept it.

Disgusting.

No. That's for my friend.

- Who's he? - A new guy.

That's for...

- There's a note inside. - Impossible.

My mother's very careful when she prepares food.

"My heart always tells me: Shut up, don't talk.

Honesty is the enemy of love."

- Understand now? - No.

Idiot.

It means don't talk.

Now I understand.

- About time. - There was no need for it.

- l wouldn't have talked anyway. - Good. I like you.

We'll become friends.

Damn. Who gave you those?

Santa Claus.

We haven't got any.

Master!

What do you want?

What a thief. Only three.

Only three, that wretched excuse of a man.

He's nothing but a worthless thief and beggar.

- Can I have a smoke? - Me first!

- No, I want to smoke... - Me first!

END OF PART ONE

PART TWO

- Giuseppe! - Pasquale!

- I came looking for you. - Me too.

- How are you doing? - Not too bad.

- I ate yesterday, with that package. - Yeah, I saw it.

- l wanted to give you some, but... - It doesn't matter.

- I need to talk to you. - What is it?

- That must be the boy's friend. - I don't like him.

There was no need to send a note. Do they think we're rats?

You know how my brother is. He gets scared and shits himself.

As far as I'm concerned, he can rest easy.

Arca! This is Arcangeli.

- My pleasure. - My pleasure.

If you need a towel and soap, you can borrow mine.

Thanks.

- He found the note. - Him?

He's all right. He's in here for armed robbery.

With a machine gun. His gang was stealing cars too.

His dad's a doctor. He's a student.

I don't like him.

Because you don't know him yet. The others are nice too.

I wish you could be with us.

Pasquale Maggi and Giuseppe Filippucci!

Here!

To the head warden. The police commissioner's here.

Why did you fire the two masters?

Stealing from boys' packages, trading cigarettes...

Unfortunately, this poverty is driving everyone mad.

Here are the two gentlemen. Step forward.

You claim not to know the three men

who entered into the home of Mrs. Donazzi Anselmi.

- Is that correct? - Yes.

But you do know Mr. Ranucci, don't you?

- Yes. - Yes.

Great.

This gentleman came to see me yesterday.

- He said he sold you a black horse. - No, white.

That's right, white. I misread it.

A white horse, for 50,000 lire?

- Yes. - Yes.

That you bought one hour after the burglary in Via del Babuino.

I see where you're going, commissioner,

but you're wrong.

We already had the money.

- Goodness. And how did you make it? - That's our business.

I came here with good intentions. I want to help you boys.

I spoke to your father yesterday. He's worried out of his mind.

He said to tell the truth. It's the only way you'll get off.

- We did. We don't know nothing. - You're too nice, commissioner.

Give these criminals to me. I'll beat them until they sing.

Did you hear?

Why get beaten and end up in a dark, rat-infested cell?

To protect whom? Three criminals?

I'd understand if it were family,

but you're all alone, and your parents are poor but honest.

Listen, commissioner,

you can kill us if you want, but we can't tell what we don't know.

That's too bad.

The small one.

Don't worry, your turn will come.

Undress him. Take off his shirt too.

Are you going to talk?

No!

No!

No!

No!

That's enough!

Stop! That's enough!

Stop!

Have you made up your mind? I want names.

We don't know anything, I swear.

That's enough!

I'll tell you everything.

Well?

One's known as Panza.

Another's Attilio, Giuseppe's brother.

I don't know the third. I swear, I never saw him before.

Giuseppe!

Take him to his cell.

Well, let's go.

Hey, where's he off to?

- What are you doing, walking around? - You look like a whore!

Shut up a minute.

- Giuseppe! - Pasquale!

- Didn't they hurt you? - No, what about you?

Me neither. Didn't they use the belt on you?

They were kidding. You didn't say anything, did you?

No, I didn't say anything.

Who told you to come up here? Damn it.

- You should've seen me... - What did he want?

Nothing. He wanted to know if they beat me.

- What happened? - Nothing. Why?

- You've got some face. - It's my face.

If you don't like it...

don't look at it.

Let me go in by myself, or my mother will start to worry.

- Why are you here? You have a visit? - No.

- Then what are you doing here? - Well...

- Mario, you take him. - I'm busy.

You watch him.

Over here.

- Where's my mother? - Di Dio!

That's me.

It's not her.

Your mother sent me.

She asked me to visit you. She sent this postcard.

- Where is she? - In Florence.

She went to Florence. But don't worry, she'll come soon.

I brought you this parcel. There's lots of nice stuff in it.

Thank you.

Goodbye. Take care, my boy.

- Good morning. - Good morning.

Pasquale, my mother's here! See you in the yard.

- Giuseppe! - Keep moving.

Mama!

Do you forgive me, Mama?

How could you do it?

It wasn't my fault, Mama. We didn't know anything.

We didn't do anything.

I know he's a criminal. A wretch.

But he's your brother.

You shouldn't have talked.

What are you saying, Mama?

It's no use pretending.

The police commissioner told me that you two talked.

Attilio's nothing to Pasquale, but...

But you...

Tenerone, stop playing the fool!

Shut up!

"Give Raffaele a big kiss from me and tell him Mama will be back soon.

She'll have money for a lawyer so he can get out quickly.

I'm happy here in Florence. Things are better than in Rome.

- Devotedly yours, Teresa Di Dio." - It's very moving.

- Is Florence far? - No.

I know someone who drives there once a week in his truck.

Then it's close.

- Eat, Pasquale. - No, thanks.

Here, have some.

Don't touch that. It's his. He needs it. He's sick.

- Rat! Rat! Rat! - Giuseppe, I didn't...

Rat! Rat! Rat!

- You're nothing but a rat! - Wait, Giuseppe!

A dirty rat! A dirty rat!

What's going on? What's going on here?

Shame on you.

As soon as you get a little freedom, you act like hooligans.

- What happened? - He's a rat.

- It's not true. - Behave yourselves, boys.

I'm not getting into trouble because of you.

Behave.

I'm not going to rot in here because of you!

Behave yourselves!

Behave, boys.

- I have to talk to you. - What do you want?

- None of your business. - Says who?

I do.

You get off easy, Naples, 'cause you're half rotten,

but I could forget that.

Fine. Don't you want to talk?

If you're here on behalf of that rat, you can save your breath.

You've got little enough as it is.

Well done. Good answer.

Arca.

Go, Giuseppe, now's the time.

- Go. You swore. - You're a coward if you don't.

Of course he'll go.

Mr. Staffera, Cell Number 9 have got a file.

- What? - They've got a hidden file.

Damn it, if I'd spoken to him, I know I'd have convinced him.

Thanks, but you were wrong to try. He has to come and apologize to me.

You were such good friends.

You really liked each other. It's a shame.

I still like him, but if he...

The boys from Cell 9!

Whose is this? Whose file is this?

- Whose file is this? - How would I know?

- Whose file is this? - l swear on my grandmother--

- Whose file is this? - I don't know. I've never seen it.

- Whose file is this? - I don't know.

Get out.

- Whose file is this? - l swear on my honor that--

Who sleeps here?

- I do. - The file was in your mattress.

- That can't be. - No? Are you calling me a liar?

No, but it's not mine. I didn't put it there.

Are you accusing your cellmates of putting it there?

I'm not accusing anybody.

- It's yours. Who gave it to you? - Nobody gave it to me.

- It's not mine, I tell you! - Out! All of you!

No!

Stop!

No!

Stop! Stop!

- No! - Stop! That's enough!

Get inside!

Open up, cowards!

Open up!

Inside! Lock them in!

- Quit crying! - Idiot!

He sent your brother to jail, remember?

Besides, everyone will know it was you who ratted to Staffera.

Dry your tears, kid.

Here comes Staffera.

- Your name? - Giuseppe Filippucci.

Good boy.

If he makes you a section head, we've got it made.

Look at him. What an idiot.

Give it a rest.

- Does it hurt? - I'm burning all over.

Ask to see the doctor tomorrow. He'll give you an ointment.

I'd like to know who put the file there.

When I find out, I swear I'll break his neck.

Even if I end up in Regina Coeli.

Try to understand, Pasquale, everyone thinks you're a rat.

But it's not true.

Hey, Naples, what's his story? Is he a rat or not?

Why the hell didn't you tell me?

When I told Raffaele, even he didn't believe me at first.

- Me? - Yes. So imagine the others.

I don't care if you believe me or not.

I just want to know who put the file in my mattress.

Forget about it. It's over.

- Over? - What I mean is...

I'll talk to Giuseppe tomorrow. You two have to make peace.

- Fine by me. - I'll get him to make peace.

I can't get any sleep. Give it a rest.

Next group!

- I talked to him. Follow me. - He has to come to me.

Holy Mother, you two are so difficult.

He says you have to come, you say he has to come...

Let's compromise and meet halfway, okay?

- Okay, halfway. - Finally.

Damn, they really gave you a beating.

- Did you go to the doctor? - No.

- Don't wash it with soap. - Does it hurt?

It hurts, but it'll pass.

Have you decided or not? Damn, you make life so difficult.

Did you tell him who put the file in the mattress?

No, I didn't.

- Nor who asked me to put it there. - Tell him, for all I care.

What should I do?

Whatever you want. If you've got the guts to shake hands

with the guy who put your brother in jail, go ahead.

You heard Righetto.

He did it because he thought they were beating me.

Damn it. If you listen to this imbecile--

Imbecile? Watch your mouth. It's the truth, Giuseppe. Go on.

Go on, Arcangeli!

Go on, Arcangeli!

- Go, Arcangeli! - Hit him, Pasquale!

Hit him, Pasquale!

Hit him, Pasquale!

Go, Pasquale!

Help! They're killing each other!

Tends to be violent, dangerous to himself and others.

We recommend isolation.

Master.

Master!

- What is it? - l want to go to the toilet.

- You've got a bucket. - l saw it, but then...

What do I care? I'm not the one in there.

- You call that a horse? - What would you know?

Besides, I don't like horses. They're too slow.

You don't know Bersagliere. He flies.

- Who's Bersagliere? - Never mind. You don't know him.

- Give me a cigarette. - Where would we have got any?

- l was in the infirmary. - You can tell.

Idiots.

I mean, I've prepared everything to escape.

But I'm the idiot wasting my time talking to you.

No, we're listening.

I'll never be able to pull anything off with you.

- Why? We're ready. - You shut up.

- l won't say a word while he's here. - What did I do?

- You ganged up with Pasquale. - It's true.

It's not.

When it looked like you were dead on the floor--

I ought to...

So the bars in the infirmary...

Damn this guy to hell.

- Quit staring! - Go on.

The bars are fastened to the wall with an iron bar.

I've prepared everything. I cut through a lot of the bolts.

One hard blow and it'll pop open.

I figure from the windowsill to the roof below,

it's less than two meters.

Filippucci?

- Here. - You have a visitor.

- Here he is, attorney. - Thank you.

Sit down, my dear. We have a lot to discuss.

I'm Bonavino, attorney-at-law.

I've been hired by your family to defend you and your brother...

Attilio... Attilio Filippucci.

- You're Giuseppe, right? - Yes.

- And your friend is Pasquale Maggi. - Yes.

- Has his family hired a lawyer? - He hasn't got a family.

No family.

Good. We're all set, then.

We'll say you didn't intend to do wrong.

You have to say that Maggi instigated you into selling.

He did what?

You have to say you knew nothing but that your friend knew everything.

Pasquale didn't know anything either. It was all my brother's doing.

Say that in court and your brother will get five years in jail.

- But it's the truth. - Save the truth for confession.

In court, you say what I tell you.

The horse was not bought, as the defense would have us believe,

with hard-earned money but with money from the burglary.

Absurd! That money has been recovered.

Where is the horse now?

Don't answer! Don't answer.

If I didn't know better, attorney,

I might think that in your vocabulary, "horse" is synonymous with "fee."

I hope you're joking.

Why did you buy the horse?

To ride him.

- To go riding, the poor boy. - It's true.

How much did you hope to make on him?

Sergeant, bring in Maggi.

I bring to the attention of the court the report on Maggi:

"Tends to be violent. We recommend isolation."

When did you buy the horse?

Your Honor, I don't see why the horse is so important.

I see the importance.

Who are you defending, Maggi or the Filippucci brothers?

The Filippucci brothers. The family hired me.

Maggi's attorney is Mr. Scardone, the public defender.

What percentage of the horse did each of you own?

That is, what was your share and what was Filippucci's share?

Half each.

- Did you sign any papers to that effect? - No.

If there were an ownership dispute between the two of you,

how could you prove it?

Will you tell us where the horse is hidden?

Don't answer! The defendant is not obliged to answer.

Who's she?

I don't know, probably Queen Margherita.

Where are you going? You can't enter!

You can't come in here!

A Roman emperor, whose name escapes me at present,

made his horse a senator.

Damn, he speaks good.

Then why be surprised if two poor boys,

two kids living on the street, put everything they had...

all their hopes, on a horse?

- I saw him. - What's the lawyer saying?

- He's talking about the horse. - Did you ever ride a horse?

- No, but I'd like to. - Will you keep quiet or not?

Who's talking?

One doesn't need to be a doctor of psychology

to see the overbearing influence that Maggi had over his friend,

the small and innocent Giuseppe.

Look at him. Who wouldn't want him as a son?

Not that I'm accusing Maggi. That's the prosecutor's job.

Come, now, be brave.

- My poor sons. - Don't be like that.

- Shall we go back inside? - No.

Send these innocent boys back to their homes and families,

to their schools and their jobs.

This isn't rhetoric, Your Honor.

If they're to be considered criminals,

then this court must condemn all of us.

For it is us adults, in the pursuit of our passions,

who abandon children unto themselves.

Our children, alone. Always more alone.

Attorney Scardone, the floor is yours.

I'll be brief, as is my custom.

After all, I did not have the time

to delve into the details of this case.

Therefore, I will entrust... my defense

to the paternal clemency of the court,

and I ask, for my client, a complete acquittal

or a light sentence.

Very...

very light.

Marcello!

...in addition, I sentence the minors Pasquale Maggi

to two years and six months in prison and a 2000-lire fine

and Giuseppe Filippucci to one year in prison and a 1000-lire fine.

Case closed.

Giuseppe!

Giuseppe!

Scoundrels! Villains!

Here they come now!

My boys, I'll bring you some shirts!

Giuseppe!

Attilio!

He's finally back.

We thought they gave you the firing squad.

How did it go, baldy?

I got a year, but I don't care. Where's Arcangeli?

His mother has come to visit to give him money.

- So you haven't changed your minds? - Are you crazy?

Sicily and I were in the infirmary for our checkups this morning.

Everything's ready.

I'd like to see the prosecutor's face when he hears I've escaped.

How long did Pasquale get?

- Two years. - Damn.

How come?

What's wrong?

The stupid woman sent my father instead.

- But-- - But what?

- We're escaping anyway, right? - Without money?

- They'd catch us tomorrow. - What about me? They gave me a year.

I don't want to stay in here.

- l want to get out! - Shut up, imbecile.

Do you want to ruin everything?

You don't want to do one year. What about me, idiot?

Without money, there's no breaking out.

I asked my mother for 10,000 lire, but the stupid woman told my father.

He understood and is going to talk to the director.

I'll be put in isolation.

He said: "You have to pay for what you did."

Damn him.

I've dishonored the family. He's ashamed of me.

I've got money.

- Where? - I've got it.

How much?

More than 50,000 lire.

- They're here! - Here come the entertainers!

What are you showing tonight?

- It'd better be good! - Show us some naked legs!

No, a comedy!

- They're showing a film. - Who cares?

Last time, it was a stupid comedy, as if we're still in kindergarten.

I like them. I've never been to the cinema.

Did you come to jail for that?

Lucky you.

They give us food and a bed,

they give us clothes, and they even entertain us.

What else could you want?

This is paradise.

NEWS FROM THE FREE WORLD

THE WORLD AT WAR

In the Pacific, General MacArthur continues his successful campaign

against the Japanese.

Bougainville is the target of a strong offensive

carried out by the US naval, air and ground forces.

The attack is being led by the destroyers.

Pasquale, the sea!

The American forces have landed, one step closer to Japan.

Open the window.

Lights.

Lights, please.

What are you laughing for?

You boys!

What are you doing there?

- Damn it, they spotted us! - You should've waited!

Open up! Open up!

- Open up! - What is it?

They've locked themselves inside.

- How many? - I saw two.

Open up, boys! Open up!

Open up, boys!

Stop! Lights!

The lights! The lights!

Calm down, for heaven's sake!

There's no danger! Turn on the lights!

The lights!

Master! Master!

My God! Raffaele!

Take him to the infirmary.

Open up! Open up!

Open up, boys! Open up!

Boys!

Get back here!

Boys! Come back or I'll shoot!

Think what you're doing, boys!

Boys!

Boys!

I want to escape too!

Get out!

Take him back to his cell.

Five or six have escaped.

Sound the alarm. Surround the building.

- Come on, where's your cell? - I want to see him!

Tomorrow. We're waiting for the doctor.

- What if he's dead? - Let's hope not. Now, come.

Back into your cells.

Get them into their cells!

- Arcangeli has escaped. - Who?

- Arcangeli, Giuseppe and five more. - More than 20 of them.

- And Naples is dead. - Dead?

- Yeah, but they were caught. - No, they had a car waiting.

- Arcangeli had a horse too. - A horse?

Hey, what horse?

Hear that? They even had a horse. Where did they get a horse?

The guards!

- The guards! - This way!

- Stop! - Stop, boys!

Grab them!

Come on! Come on!

Mr. Bartoli, prepare the forms for tomorrow.

And a report. One page will suffice.

Tomorrow?

- I might not be here. - Where will you be?

I don't think this is the right place for me.

I don't know what is,

but in here you need people tougher than me.

Tougher.

In any case, there was little to be done.

The poor boy's days were numbered.

Father Biagioni, I'm devastated. It was my fault.

- It was my fault. - Calm down. It was an accident.

We caught them. But there are still two missing.

Arcangeli and Filippucci, the young boy sentenced this morning.

We informed the police. They won't get far.

- What if they leave the city? - Where would they go?

With no money and dressed as inmates.

They can't go around naked in winter.

Unless their families help them, but that's unlikely.

I know Dr. Arcangeli, and Filippucci's family is poor.

You can't imagine the troubles I'll have with the ministry.

Mr. Stafferal

What do you want?

I know where they've gone.

Who?

Arcangeli and Giuseppe.

Where?

I'll take you there.

He's not here. They've taken him, I knew it.

Check over there.

- What happened? What did they do? - My head hurts.

- The big one hit me. - Where did they go?

How would I know? They came for the horse.

They said it was theirs.

My head hurts. He nearly killed me.

It was the big one who hit me.

Get down.

No!

No, Pasquale!

No, no, no!

Giuseppe!

Giuseppe!

Giuseppe! Giuseppe!

Giuseppe, no!

What have I done?

Giuseppe!

Giuseppe!

Giuseppe!

Giuseppe!

Mother of God, what have I done?

What have I done?

Giuseppe!

Giuseppe!

Giuseppe!

THE END

Translation: Eoghan Price and Alfo Gonzalez Aguado