Original subtitles

"Dear Alice, autumn has come at last and days are so short.

A few days ago the Mafia killed a judge and a maresciallo.

Two good people. It's so sad.

But we won't give in.

It looked like we were going to leave again, but we're staying.

I'll wait for you. Please, answer for once."

We were staying thanks to the steady job my mom got

after 20 years. - I wasn't expecting a great school,

But it's close to home.

How long did it take?

One hour.

Maybe it would have been better in Partinico.

But it's my school. Mine.

The first one.

- I am proud of you, honey. - I know.

- Happy first day of school. - Thanks.

To be precise we were staying because my uncle had connections

and he'd got my mom the job.

Now he had a debt towards Cosa Nostra and lived in terror

they'd come asking for the bill asking him to forge things.

- I've brought you chocolates. - Well done.

- How lovely. - What a waterfall.

Thanks, Massimo.

- They're lovely. - So lovely.

Put them away.

It's full.

So lovely. Don't cause damage.

Massimo, what happened? How can we help?

- Well, I... - Massimo, what's that face?

- Do you like that face? - I do.

You have problems. Don't worry,

those who work for us must be happy.

- We're a family. - I am happy to work for you.

I am very happy.

Good. Well? What happened? Maybe something with the colleagues.

- It's a matter of money. - No. Maybe he works too much.

- You think? - It's what I wanted to tell you. I don't work too much.

- I work too little! - Ah! - I love working for you.

I'd do nothing else in life. I would always work!

I really like driving with the car to tax offices,

in small towns, pickpocketing in the third floor, and accounts...

- I love taxes. - He loves taxes!

Taxes for me... taxes and that's it.

- See? - Massimo is happy with us. - Happy.

- And we're happy to have you here with us. - You must not worry.

Nobody will touch your position! - No. - Only the Lord, if he wants,

can send you away you. - So, I... - Go back to the office.

- Go! - Thanks!

- Let's taste these chocolates. - Thank you.

Massimino!

You must do it tonight, and you must do it well.

What is it?

What do you mean?

Will you be there tonight?

No, hey! I deal with taxes. I even told the Salvo cousins

that I want taxes. I'm happy like that. Taxes! - I understood!

But after work, a game of "tresette".

Tresette, meaning? - What?

A game of cards. What's it called? Sure! There are...

I thought... I'll break them.

But the account with the honored society was still open.

Now even my mom's grocery shopping ended up there.

- Welcome. I am the manager. - My pleasure. - Come.

- Watch out. - What are they? - Tiles that fall.

- Fall? - By themselves. This is an infiltration.

The school's structure is recent and already so bad off?

You find it bad off? It was better bombed. What can you do?

- I don't know. Something. - You must get used to it.

Here is your classroom.

Don't take them to heart too much.

Know what your predecessor said? If you're born an idiot, you can't

stick science in your head. He tried so much, poor thing.

that his heart gave in. - Is he dead?

Good luck!

The costs would be high because she wanted to

pay for her original sin... the recommendation.

Children! Children!

Good morning!

Sit down! Not on my desk, on the chairs, That's it.

Sit down! Try to be a bit silent.

- Who are you? - The new teacher, and you? - I am Elisabetta.

My name is Pia.

- What is it? - The name Pia sounds good. - Thank you.

- And who are you? - Pinuzzo. - Isn't a bit late?

- Then I'll go back home. - Where are you going? Pinuzzo?

Where are you going? Come here. I said to stop. Where are you going?

To watch sheep. Knowledge is for gentlemen.

- Who said that to you? - My father.

Now you'll think that all schools in Sicily were like that. No.

Schools were varied. - One can learn many nice

things. Close the door. Go on.

- You even have a computer? - One per class. - Is the pool outdoors?

- Covered in Winter, open in Summer. - Is it big?

- Olympic. - Shit! - We have two tennis courts,

two volleyball courts, a regular soccer field,

and... two basketball courts, and even a riding range.

As my father says, the managing class comes from us.

- On horseback? - I'm trying to explain to you

why I parted from you. If you come out of Gonzaga, you aim high.

- If you come out of an ordinary school... even Alice. - Alice what?

Let's change the subject. That is not what matters.

What does, is that you will always be my best friends.

- Even if we're in different. schools. Bye. - Bye. - Bye!

- Does it mean we are and will remain poor devils? - So it seems.

Since we'll be poor devils, let's go to the pine woods.

We have a pact, remember? We'll go to school as we should.

I don't know if we should pretend nothing happened with Salvatore.

- He is suffering. - I don't want to see him.

Send him a postcard or write him a telegram.

Tell him you are fine and are returning in a bit. Five, ten years.

At least he'll have to accept it.

- Will you accompany me to dance today? Even tomorrow. - Sure.

- What's with you now? - I feel like a turd.

- What're you doing? Don't touch me! - I am happy you are staying!

But it I don't find the transfer letter, it is all useless.

What is it?

I'd let you go away like this? If I hadn't gotten rid of it, who

knows where they'd have sent you? What do you say to your Cusumano?

- You... look! -It's as if you'd have told me. - There.

It's shameful! One month just to be told it is not ready?

Relax. My colleague is looking for it. It's not serious.

- It got lost. - By itself. - Yes. The file grew legs

and started walking. And then got lost!

- "By itself" means that it's not our fault. - At least the dignity

of taking your responsibility! - Excuse me. - Who are you?

- I am the manager. What is this? - One month ago

I requested a new ID card. Not only is it not ready,

but the request can't be found! Did you see it strolling around here?

The file? I'll come by tomorrow and if my ID doesn't show up,

I'll come back with the Carabinieri. Excuse me!

My gosh. So much fuss for an ID card! A driver's license is ok. too.

What? Find that shitty file!

Isn't a driver's license valid, too?

Madam! Where are you going? No, the exit is this way.

I'm coming. Madam, I want to apologize.

It's our responsibility. If you leave me your address,

we'll send you the ID card to your home.

I appreciate your apology but I won't accept a favor treatment.

- I just want what is my right. - No favoritisms.

Consider it a modest indemnity for the poor service.

You see this expression? It doesn't promise anything good.

At that moment my father saw the female version of himself.

- Thanks. - The famous soul mate. - I'm sorry I raised my voice.

- I go out of my mind when facing public insolence. - I understand.

Ah... at the Regione. You're a public official, too.

- At the legal office. - Tell me something.

Are the things they write in the papers on the president, true?

- It depends on the papers. - The papers say that he...

is trying to straighten things up. - More than that. A revolution!

He wants to stop the waste of contract money, public money!

When I have your ID card I will call you.

- And with the same astonishment she understood too. - Thanks.

Like two samples of a very rare species that meet.

Piersanti Mattarella, exponent of the Sicilian D.C.

arrived without a commotion to the presidency of the Regione.

He had inaugurated great reforms with urban regulations,

an economical programming law, and cleaning of the structure.

As the councilor for public works

who was a great friend of these gentlemen here.

- They transferred him! - The public works now go

"ad interim" to the president. - What the hell does that mean?

- That he kept it. - Him? - Him. - Who does he think he is?

- I'll tell you. He thinks he's the Father Almighty. - Father Almighty.

We get contracts from the holy spirit!

And Andreotti? What does Andreotti say?

Andreotti... nothing for the time being.

He'd better say something. We must build homes,

streets, hospitals here. - And school! - Right.

Because if you're here in Palermo, it's thanks to me.

"Tragedies are like tiles...

that fall on the head of the king." - Oh!

- Why must you bother me? - What is it? - Don "ammuttari"!

- Push, not "ammuttari". - I've no room. I'm left handed.

It is not your fault.

Children, the situation is not easy

but if we learn to share, the situation will be easier.

This is really too much. Wait here. Don't move!

Good morning! Good morning!

Come in! Don't tell me you already want to run away, Miss Melfi?

- A piece of plaster fell! - Did anyone get hurt?

- Fortunately, not. -Then everything is fine. You scared me.

Everything is fine? I think it is dangerous.

- They are one on top of the other. - Know what your predecessor did?

He took some kids, gave them notes,

and had them stay home for a week, creating room.

He aired out the class! They don't need a school diploma.

Miss Melfi!

- Hi, mom. - Hi, Salvo.

You think it's right that schools exist where one goes on horseback

and become the governing class and schools where there's nothing?

- What does it mean? - Fofo says it.

Angela, the plates! My love, what matters is studying.

Only if you study can you do what you want in life or nothing changes.

- Yes, in Fofo's school... - Don't look at who's better off than you!

To live happily, you must always look at who is worse off. Clear?

It'd like to show you where I teach. They don't even have air

and parents tell them how important it is to study, because it is.

Knowing, my love, knowing is everything.

- Only knowing makes a person free. Understand? -I'm going out.

- You didn't do the dishes! Where are you going? - The movies with Marco.

- To see what? -"The Chinese shroud". - It's called "syndrome".

- You know what syndrome means? - Sure!

- It's the 3rd time you're going. - We're seeing it again.

It's an important film. "The Holy Shroud"... Syndrome. Bye.

I don't think she'll become free.

We must see the film this time.

You'll only kiss me during the interval.

- And if your folks don't return... - Angela, I don't have time.

- My mother... - What?

I must accompany her to buy groceries. I must go this time.

- And so? - Ten minutes for an ice-cream?

Since you've been with that girl, three failing grades.

- Four! - Ah! - Two 5 and a half, and two 6 minus.

You think you'll be someone in life with these grades?

- If you want to show us something be brave and get a 2! - Done.

- Are you kidding? - It's incredible.

You won't see her every day. I can't stand you being so tired.

- Good evening! - Good evening. Pia!

- What is it? Weren't you not going to set foot in my home? - In yours.

Not in my sister's, but it's the same thing.

- Calling it "home" is a big compliment. - What can you do?

We don't all have your possibilities.

I am glad about the teaching job, but the school is destroyed.

- Built ten years ago, it's already falling apart. - Poor kids.

I'm saying it for them. I would like to know who got money on it.

"Sciroccate" is a way of saying "wrong".

They "ate" a lot with it.

Because they don't build as they did in the past

when common assets were respected!

But things will change.

In this case, what does "they ate" mean?

Whoever took the money to build the school, did so badly,

but he put the money in his pocket. - Why paint the world like this

to two young people full of hope? Let's trust them. They are little

and absorb like sponges. - Bravo! One must be trustful, trustful!

You'll see that things are changing. Really!

- What is all this optimism? - When I frown, it's not good.

- When I'm optimistic, I am too much. - Dad is right. - Be quiet.

- You're more handsome as an optimist? - No.

It's that today I met a person who is at the Regione.

- A very capable person. - What did he tell you?

That President Mattarella is really doing things.

In fact, Marina called it a revolution!

- Who? - Marina. - Yes, the Regione colleague.

The Regione colleague that he met today, very capable...

Stop it. The point is, cleaning in finally being done.

Especially in public contracts, Mattarella sent away a counselor,

a man who was tied to a Mafia builder, the same who built

your school, maybe, Pia. His name is Spatola. - He choked.

My friend Spatola, great builder.

You must thank him for Piuzza.

Thank you very much. You saved a family.

- Masino's desire for me, is an order. - Dear friend.

I am counting on your interest, alright?

- Half a word. - Because, if in Palermo... - It's thanks to you.

I kiss your hands.

Massimo, what are you doing?

- Ah, no... - I had you come here to remind you of something.

What you do... taxes, no taxes, I decide!

Me!

Just as I decide whether to find Piuzza a teaching job,

and closing an eye on your brother-in-law. I decide!

Huh?

- I won't forget it. - Remember that!

My word.

Bravo.

"Say hello to Pia". - Certainly.

- She says hello too. - And don't shoot bullshit.

In fact.

What is going on? Children, what is it?

Pinuzzo! Leave him alone. Let me see. Pinuzzo!

Well?

- Did you hurt yourself? - Pinuzzo has a head as hard as pumpkin.

Thank heavens. My dear!

Get a chair, notebook and pen. Come on!

Come on, children. Bring the chairs here. We'll have our lesson here.

- In the courtyard. You like it? - Yes!

It's sunny, there's air. See how nice it is? Shall we hurry?

You have energy only to play? Come on!

- Isn't it nice to have lessons outdoors? - Yes! - You've notebooks?

- Yes! - The pens? Very good. I'll read a dramatic excerpt,

a short story. "Pasqualino, thinking". - What is going on?

- Nothing. Why? I'm holding a lesson. - If the principal knew!

- What would happen? - That you're here!

- You can't stay out here. - Tell the principal that I will

return when the kids have a suitable place, not a disgusting classroom.

Aren't you leaving? And tell him

I won't send them home just to make room.

You want to read? Here, page 22. Pasqualino, in a loud voice.

"Pasqualino, in thinking of the praising words, while going home..."

- The teacher, Miss Melfi wants to stay outside. - I'll make a call.

Miss Miciche, it's Giammaresi from the... yes, me.

No, I was calling to tell you that your ID card is ready.

If you want to come by this morning... You can't?

In how long?

Miss, but... are you sure?

- Quickly. - Am I late? - A bit.

- They wouldn't let me in. - Call me by my first name. - Yes?

- Marina. - Lorenzo. - Come on.

- Miciche, hurry or you'll lose it. - These are my colleagues.

- My pleasure. - Lorenzo Giammaresi. - We know each other. - No

- At Gonzaga! Yes. - No. - You were Corradino's classmate. - Who?

- Corradino Carnemolla. -Right now I can't... -Pro Mattarella, huh?

Marina, wait. Before I forget. Your ID card!

Let's go.

Marina had invited him to see the meeting of the 2 presidents,

Mattarella and Pertini. If my dad had been invited to go to

the home of the Rolling Stones for a personal concert, it would

not have had the same effect. - What's this? - Vice king's room.

I have never been here.

- Be silent. - There's even television.- Pertini?

- He's sitting down. Look! - I see him. He seems touched.

The visit to the President of the Republic,

was not a normal institutional one, an exchange of favors.

It was something more. Pertini wanted to be close to Mattarella,

not leave him alone when in the corrupted swamp of Sicily Regione

he would have attacked the Mafia and its friends.

We still have ahead of us, great obstacles and resistance.

We are aware of it. First of all, the Mafia damage.

The behavior of each, must be coherent to this objective

and we ask you, President, to associate our call with

yours, from a high political and moral conscience.

For a higher level of co-habitation,

so that each person every day will push away Mafia behavior

and not kneel before it.

This must be possible for many young people

that are anxious for renovation,

so desiring for more justice, so much alive,

so careful of everything that happens.

It must be more possible for the new generation of Sicilians

to solve this sad and isolated phenomenon and defeat it forever.

- Massimino! - Hi, friend.

- Did you hear what the president says? - Shit!

- He says he'll take us back in A Series in 2 years. - In the Regione.

- Not the Palermo team. - No.

Things that aren't right. Lots of people are worried that

we won't build anymore. Many workers don't have a salary.

And that is not right.

- Why are you telling me? - I am telling you

because if now even teachers complain about builders,

men and women teachers...

Let's go!

What is it? Where are you going?

- My brother. - What does he want? - I came to get Pinuzzo.

- Why? - The sheep ran away. We must get them back.

Can't you wait for school to be over?

Yes, you'd like it. Meanwhile, the sheep will end up in Messina.

Teacher, we need them to live.

Pinuzzo needs the school in the same way.

Really? It seems that you are grazing here, too.

Carmelo, the teacher has us stay here

because inside there, the others treat us like sheep.

She is not like the others.

- Did your father send you? - Yes.

Tell your father you came to school and that Pinuzzo wanted to go back

but the teacher wouldn't let him. She'd have called the Carabinieri.

Also tell him that knowing isn't just for gentlemen.

If you take away Pinuzzo, it'll be a huge mistake. Understand?

I understand. He'll become as stupid as his brother.

If even one sheep is missing tonight, I'll slap you.

- Marco, I'm back. - Hi, mom. Angela is here.

- Huh? - Angela is here.

Great.

- She's a bit tense. - So I heard.

- Lately I didn't do well. -For two 5 and a half, after the 9s and 10s?

- And the 2? - Surely you didn't get that grade. She adores you.

You know how my mother is. She'll want me bending over books.

Not going shopping?

Why didn't you say you had to go home to study?

- The truth? - Yes, please.. - I was ashamed.

- We could've studied together. - In fact, it's what we're doing.

Because I asked you. I've only 5 and a half grades.

You have 5 and a half in all subjects.

You see? You think I am an idiot.

- No. It's that you care less about getting certain grades. - Right.

I am more under pressure. You know how my folks care.

Even for what I will do tomorrow.

Marco, my folks believe in my future too. I care, too.

So do I. I care about myself and you.

Forgive me. Now we'll study hard. You'll see how our future will be.

- Ours? - Ours.

- I'm back! - Hi, dad.

Dad, what is it?

Where is mom?

Pia!

I saw an event of historical importance.

I was there for the encounter between Mattarella and Pertini.

Wow.

- Where? - At the Regione, the Normans building.

- I told you, the colleague of mine. - Yes, you told me.

Through her.

You should have seen how Pertini was attentively listening.

Mattarella's speech was important and serious.

Then we all went to eat with the Regione employees.

Marina introduced me.

- Still her? - Yes, my Regione colleague.

This hand, Salvo, this hand, Pia!

This hand shook the hand of President Mattarella.

Come here. Let me caress you.

Are you kidding? Are you the Pope that you caress him like that?

Yes, I am exaggerating.

But it was like music, music for honest people.

- Even mom did something great today. - Really?

She took her class outside.

- Good for you. On a field trip? - No, in the garden.

Until they fix the school she won't let them inside. It's a protest.

Did you really do that, Pia?

Everyone must have the right to build a better future.

Exactly. Why not?

- It's our uncle. - He's already here.

- Even tonight. - No, I made "mulinciane" for my mother.

I can't take them to her, so Massimo will. I'll be right back.

I know why you are here.

How the hell can it be possible that a woman arrives in a place

and causes a commotion the second day?

- What can I say? - What can you say?

After two days I realized I had to do something.

I can't just watch and not do anything!

Is that a problem? Do I risk anything?

You? Of course not, Pia.

It is not nice with the person who put you there.

It seems you're not happy. You don't like where you are?

Me? I'm very happy.

- Well, then? - The kids.

- What? - They are forced to be in a terrible school.

There is nothing. Everything is missing.

You'd send your child to a school where plaster falls on his head?

- I don't have a child. - So what? Consider that.

I don't know. Angela and Salvatore. You'd have them go there?

Excuse me. Even Lorenzo said that

there's this Mattarella who wants to fix things.

He wants to fix the schools, hospitals and poor people's homes.

- Can't you hold still for 5 minutes? - What'll I do in the meantime?

Light a candle to the Madonna and ask her,

"Please don't let anything fall on the head of my kids"?

- Of course not. - There you go.

Massimo, tell me the truth.

Does this create problems for you?

If these good builders find out what certain teachers are doing,

what do you think they'll do?

What will they do?

No, it doesn't create problems.

You know what? If it bothers someone, too bad for him.

- Kids before everything. - Yes.

You're a good woman, Pia.

- Will you come up? - No. I'm going. Patrizia is waiting for me.

- I made "muliciane". You eat them. - Thank you.

- Let me know how they are. Bye. - Bye.

- Thank you. - Forget it. Be a good girl!

What the hell will I do now?

My uncle didn't go to Patrizia right away.

- What're you doing? - What do you want? I'm going around the city.

He went around the city the whole time,

waiting for that burden on his stomach to go away,

and that in its place, a way out would appear.

- Where the hell is it? - What're you looking for? - This.

We'll put those two in here, the tax collector and the teacher.

- The Melfis, Pia and Massimo. - Them!

No!

Massimo, what is it?

Lorenzo, you're not sleeping?

- Does the light bother you? - No.

Do you really think Mattarella will change things?

He's already doing it. But he needs that right people to do it.

People like you, who, to defend the rights of your students

go against everyone.

- People like you, huh? - That, too.

In fact, I want to tell you something.

I will apply for the contest to enter the Regione.

- You'll leave the registry office? - Yes. No more bureaucracy,

certificates, ID cards and Cusumano.

I will go where things can really be changed.

Tomorrow I'll prepare all the cards.

Even Marina said I am wasted at the registry office.

Well, if Marina said it...

I will say it, too. I am sure that you can make it, Lorenzo.

It is a good idea. They don't do jack shit all day at the Regione.

They retire six years before we do.

Lots of benefits and annuities. A real bed of roses.

Some go in a bathing suit.

You can't imagine the cafeteria! There is everything,

a huge menu, like in the best Italian restaurants.

Cusumano, the Regione is not a place like the others.

You can really change things there.

Don't worry. We'll change things.

Why do you say, "we'll change"?

Do we want to break such an association?

I'll come too. We'll both try, you and me.

We'll go to paradise together. Understand?

So it's true that you're going?

- Where are we going? - Lore'!

Tomorrow no school. Let's go to my mom's school and protest!

If it's for a just cause... But then we'll go to the pine woods.

Great! What'll we write here?

I was thinking, "No schools for poor devils".

- Where's Fofo? - He should be here. - I said he wouldn't come.

He doesn't care about poor children with broken down schools.

- He must be playing tennis on horseback. - Or he forgot.

- Hello? It's Salvatore. Is Fofo at home? - No. Why?

- He was to come to my home. - No. He took Alice to dance school.

- Can you give me the address? - Via Liberta.

- Thank you. Fofo isn't coming. - Where are you going? - To Fofo'.

- And where is Fofo? - At dance school.

One, two, three, five, six.

Cambre!

- Salvatore! - Alice.

- Who is he? - Giammaresi Salvatore, her boyfriend.

- It's not true. - Yes, it is. - No, it's not.

Get away! Alice, wait.

Go away, Salvatore. I don't want to talk to you.

- Why? - That will teach you to vanish.

- I didn't vanish. - Yes, you did.

- I had to flee from the Mafia. - Mafia, again?

I swear, my uncle came to get us and we went on a ship.

- I even wrote to you. - It's not true.

- I sent you letters. - That's not true.

- I swear. - Then why didn't I get anything?

- Exactly. - Maybe the Swiss mail isn't working well.

Everyone knows that everything works there.

- You make things up, as usual. - No, I don't.

Yes, you do. I don't want anything to do with you.

I can't trust you.

Alice, come.

I don't make things up.

- Elisabetta, what are you doing here? - The manager is staring.

I know, but let's pretend it's fine. Go and sit down.

Tell me what you did yesterday. You don't laugh, what did you do?

What's going on?

Don't get up. It might be dangerous.

Don't get up. Massimo, what is it?

Since you were right, I asked my friends for help.

- For what? - This school is shit.

What are you doing? You can't stay here.

We're taking pictures of the garden, it's a pit.

- Are you mad? - Where will the kids play?

You can't stay here.

Let's have a tour inside so we can see the real horror.

- I'm calling the police. - Only the sly ate here.

Sly, who? - Can you tell me what happened?

- You want to change things? - Yes. - Then let's change them.

Shit, you talk so much.

- Kids, don't worry. - We're here too.

It's the best day of my life.

- See? - I took you Huey, Dewey and Louie. - I'm proud.

My uncle had managed to get everyone to agree in one go.

My mom, my dad, the right and left-wing press.

Go!

Good evening, everyone.

Hi.

You've cut your hair.

- She's still beautiful. - Mummy's girl.

This time you took me by surprise.

I wasn't expecting this from you. I have to apologise.

Better late than never. Go on, I like it.

Don't get used to it.

- Can I sit on the throne? - Please. It's the place of honour.

- I deserve it. - I'll sit next to Patrizia.

No, I don't like formality.

And he made the mafia men happy too.

At least the ones called to sort the Newton school.

I'll make a dish you love. Guess what it is?

- What? - "Sarde and beccafico". Great

Because emergencies, when there's no time to compete or

check, are the fortune of louts and charlatans, then as today.

If in Palermo people study, it's thanks to me.

- You've fixed it well. - Thanks, Don Masino.

When you reason with your belly, you make me angry.

Because in the end, the belly's close to your dick.

I like it when you use your brain.

You have that extra grit.

Exactly, Don Masino. That's what I am asking you.

To make me work hard where I can use my brain.

Because I belong to you, you have to know this.

I don't think I'm suited for...

for certain things.

- "Certain things?" - Yes, let's say...

- Massimo, you're offending me. - No, please.

After all I've done for you and your family.

You're coming here and spitting in my plate?

- Don Masino... - Kneel.

I treated you like a son.

- Don Masino. - Quiet!

- You're done for. - Please, give me another chance.

Please, Don Masino!

Please.

I didn't mean what I said.

Please, Don Masino, I beg you.

Please.

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