Original subtitles

THE BUTCHER

Do you think we should say everything'?

How do you mean'?

Like that it was your idea originally and I was against it

No, better not - we ought to be a bit more diplomatic

You'd better do the talking then

No, it might look suspicious

We have to act naturally

It isn't easy for me

I'd rather be honest and say it was your idea originally

That doesn't mean you don't go along with it, does it'?

So what'? That's not the point

What's the problem then'?

Now we must stop to think...

about a fundamental aspect of our decision

The child of our dreams...

can never correspond to a real child

It's one thing to dream, quite another to live

A well-balanced person doesn't get depressed

When the dream inevitably turns out different from the reality

We all agree about that, don't we'?

You, for instance...

Granted that all of us, of course

Would like an attractive, tall, bright, endearing child

But since love isn't measured in aesthetic terms

do you think... you would agree to adopt and love a child

who is not particularly attractive'?

Well, sure... when you want a child

you can hardly go to a supermarket and pick one

A child is a child, so...

Well, yes, I think we should take him

Should take or... would want'?

Would want, sure... would want

Would you like to say something'?

I picture him blond, with green eyes

in a bright, airy room

with all his toys

I'm standing there watching him. And as he plays...

- I can hear him singing - What is he singing?

No, I can't actually hear the song

but he's singing softly,

like we all do when we're content

- It happens, doesn't it'? - Sure

Alina What'?

Nothing

Well'? Well what'?

Did I sound convincing'?

Vef)'

Why do they say these sessions are just to get to know us

to exchange experiences and all that bullshit

when it's obvious they're testing us'?

Who the hell do they think we are'? A bunch of idiots'?

What's up?

Miss Alparti is one of the many well-connected young people...

her father is a university baron

and powerful art critic

who wake up one fine morning and conceive a whim to be an artist

She could have been something else - a poetess, a writer a musician...

But unfortunately for us she took it into her head to be a painter

with the deplorable results we can all see

I appreciate that an exhibition of her work in our gallery

could be of some... diplomatic benefit to us

However, the immediate result that I can see

is a vertical drop in the style and image of our gallery

the only gallery in this city with international prestige

So I wonder, dear Alina, why on earth...

you want us to make such a bad impression'?

Lorenzo, why do you turn everything you say

into an ideological statement'?

Giulia Alparti is no Picasso

She's no Guttuso, we all know that

but I found many interesting aspects in her recent work

Now that is a brilliant example...

of pitifully groping for arguments!

Congratulations, Alina, you outdid yourself,

Bravo...

Listen, don't you dare speak to me like that!

We're friends but show some respect

I've listened to your bullshit all morning

which is more than you did with us

I'm in charge here anyway, so I'm telling you officially that

Giulia Alparti's show will be held here on the date

I'll let you know tomorrow

If nobody has any comments, the meeting is over. Thank you

"Dear Alina, generosity prompts me to shrug it off"

"as a case of power golng to one's head"

"it happens in the best families"

"For the sake of our old friendship and ideals"

"you can affectionately get stuffed"

"Good luck, hopefully many miles away"

"your darling ex-manager, Lorenzo"

What was your answer'?

"Resignation accepted" And tomorrow I'm seeing Giulia

I'll get more things

From Lorenzo'?

Come on, from Giulia

Believe me, I really like her work

Don't you So, so

How much is so-so'?

I told you at the meeting

Aside from the politics,

which you know leave me cold I quite like Giulia's work

I just think you're overestimating it

If Lorenzo slated it

it was for ideological reasons, that's all

Let's change the subject

Yes maybe we'd better

When does Daniele leave'? Tonight

Where did you say he was going'? Ex-Russia'?

Kazakhstan Tadzhikistan, those places... Samarkand too

Not bad I wish I could go with him

What's the weather like there'?

Beautiful... Summer, nice and cool

How do you feel about him going'?

Normal And after'?

A complete washout Why

I don't feel like going out any more... people bore me...

The weeping widow More or less

You know what we should do'? We should revive our snappy spinster tandem.

We're cute, we're shapely...

No, spare me that. I'd rather be a widow

Do you think Daniele plays the weeping widower too'?

Or does he lay the Samarkand girls?

Nice, very funny... I'd bust his face if he did

Attagirl, that's it!

No, look, I honestly don't think he's the type

Sure'? Positive'?

What time is he going'?

9:20

Our sauna's off today then'? Why'?

I thought you'd want to be with him

No such luck! He rehearses right up to the last minute

He'd rehearse on the plane if he could

You're here at last! Everything okay'?

It is in here, outside it's sweltering!

Let's see what you've got for us. Come on

There's more room here

Yes but the light's poor. What a pity...

They're beautiful! What do you think'? This one's great

The reflection's terrible, let's go outside

How nice and cool it is here! And the light's very good too

Maybe round here... that's better

Now we can appreciate it.

This is beautiful Nice line that

Alina

The tests show you are very run down physically

It's one of two things you don't sleep enough

or you don't eat enough. Or both

How much sleep do you get'?

A normal amount. More than normal, I'd say

I could sleep 20 hours a night

That's not a good sign either

Can you tell me what you eat'?

Milk... yoghurt... lots of fruit... vegetables

Are you a vegetarian'?

No, not exactly

What do you mean by that'?

I eat meat occasionally when I go out to dinner

but I'd rather not

Would you have any objections to an animal protein diet'?

You mean I'd have to eat a lot of meat'?

A normal amount. Regularly

Yes, it would be a problem

I won't go into the logic of that, it's none of my business

My job is to prescribe a diet

consisting of 200 grams of red meat per day

Freshly cut, to be eaten rare and never boiled

Plus this vitamin complex

to be taken twice a day before meals

Your problems... of conscience, let's say, are your business

but you should know

that your usual diet seems poor to me and totally inadequate

Do you eat many oranges'? No, not many

There, you should have a lot of oranges too, if you don't mind

There we are... for Mrs. Emilia

Always pretty as a picture...

Young... and bubbly

yes, like mineral water

If I wasn't married, I'd jump at the chance!

Why let marriage stop you'? There's always divorce

How can I do that'? I wouldn't know which one to pick

I'd jump at the chance with you too

Jump with who you like, they're welcome to my place

You don't know what you're missing

It's nice and cool in there, huh'?

Like to come in with me'?

If it wasn't for you, I'd stay in there all day!

Give me the usual, Bruno

"This is 5798961"

"You have 30 seconds to leave a message" "or send a fax after the beep, Thank you"

"Alina, this is your erstwhile vice-manager Lorenzo Viliani"

"who misses you terribly"

"Don't worry, I'm not asking you to hire me back"

"Hey, this is the third time I've called!"

"When will you stop being so snobbishly anti-cell phones?"

"lt's only a matter of time you'll give in like the rest"

"l want to talk to you. Can you call me?"

"l have a cell phone -

although you banned it in the gallery"

Any news of the engineer'?

Yes, I called him... We met up too

Really? What did he say'?

The kids, the family the poor things...

Wasn't he the one whose wife lets him have sex once a month'?

That's him

He's a real jerk then

Every time he went home he was so stricken, poor guy

I'm so sorry for him

You know what'? He can take his thing and put it on ice

Yes, but... he wasn't bad

What, him'? The engineer

Don't tell me you liked him Well, yes actually

Would you have gone with him'?

If I hadn't been happily married, yes!

Well, you can keep him Provided you don't bug him

you let him have it when he wants,

and you leave him... the evenings, Sundays,

Christmas, New Year's Eve...

apart from that, he's the best guy in the world

Honestly, though, I can't see what you were expecting

Nothing in particular

But they can both go to hell, him and his wife

He's always moaning that they never screw, they never talk

They went on a trip and didn't say one word to each other

What a shit marriage!

You always said you liked married men - it left you free

Yes, but not assholes like him!

After all, though, he could have been a distraction for you

Listen, I'll take care of my own distractions!

Well, I just hope you're being honest

You seemed more relaxed when you were seeing him

Alina, please! Let's change the subject

Okay, let's do that You choose the subject

By the way, I've been wanting to ask you

Did you ever go to that butcher's I told you about'?

Yes How did it go'?

Okay... how else could it go'?

Your diet'? Fine

And how do you feel? Okay'? Yes

Aren't you tired of eating meat all the time'?

There you are, Mrs. Margherita My prettiest client!

I'm homely then'? No, you have all the charm

All right, give me ten sausages. The usual mind

Here you are. Fresh and tasty

Miss? Mrs. , actually

Same as yesterday Two steaks, not too thick

Half a kilo of minced beef, lean

Lean as can be!

Is there a time you're less busy?

I have to come every day for the diet I'm on

and you have so many clients that...

There's nobody here at 8 when we open

Well, that's a bit too early

When we're closed for lunch then

From 2 to 3, but we make up the deliveries then

If that suits you, there's nobody here then

That's ideal. It's just the time I leave the gallery...

where I work, here by the sea

Good, If you see the door closed, come in anyway

We're always here

Thank you... Goodbye

Haven't you finished yet'? Nearly, ma'am

Did anybody call'?

Your husband, not long ago

What did he say'?

He left his phone and fax numbers

But he says it's better if you send him a fax

they don't speak much English there

Giulia! How wonderful!

Isn't it great'? All thanks to Alina!

Congratulations!

It's none of my doing. This is all Giulia and Federica's work

Thanks, Alina. Hello, you came just in time

Please don't ask me to talk about this artist

I'm not here in my usual capacity, as an art critic

but as a father - a shamelessly excited one at that

I know very well the problems my daughter had to overcome

to be here today, because of my... bad temper

That is why I intend to embrace the manageress, Mrs. Regis

both physically and metaphorically

for overlooking our past and recent disagreements

and for assessing Giulia's work dispassionately

I want to thank you all

for your enthusiasm and interest in this exhibition

Which I hope will be the first of a long, successful series

My sincere thanks to all of you

Where were you'? Hiding huh'?

Professor! How are you'?

Is anybody there... '.7

ls anybody there... '.7

Hello... '.7 Yes, it's me

Listen, my phone card's nearly run out

Can you make it tomorrow night outside the gallery'?

Yes, okay... See you tomorrow then

Good morning... I came at 2:15

Didn't you find us'?

We were here or in the cold store

Doing the cuts The cuts'?

I was helping Bruno with the deliveries

If you'd waited a minute or called we would have come

Where else could we be'?

Two chicken breasts for the lady. Will you do it'?

See'? There's hardly anyone here now too

Two nice beef steaks, not too much fat. The usual

Shall I sit here'? Under the Madonna'?

Wherever you like

News from Daniele'? Yes

Everything Okay'?

Yes...

Come on, help me cook No, let's talk

Want to tell me the secrets of your new job'?

Well, no, if it's secret, it's secret

What do we talk about then'? Us, right'?

I've got a little speech all ready. Sit there

Joking aside, Alina...

I think our decision to split up professionally

was the wisest thing we could have done

Two cocks ruling the roost...

I mean, one hen with ambitions to be a hen-cock

and one cock who rightly aspires to be a cock

couldn't have stayed together

It's wrong to think that two people...

can work well together just because they're friends

Work is something, friendship is another, right'?

That's why, since we're intelligent people

we solved the issue brilliantly

Very brilliantly

Exactly, so I think this is the right time to build something

What'? Our new relationship!

The fact that we were friends and we also worked together

made us grow apart because of the quarrels and tension

Right Look at this

The old days

Where did you find them

I never throw anything away

They're fun, aren't they'? Admit it

It seems an age, but it was only four years ago

My, what a good time we had!

Even then, it isn't that things went terribly well, but...

Terribly well'? It was a regular disaster!

Oh no, not the physical side

That was just great, if you remember

Yes, but that's not enough Better than nothing, though

Listen, Alina, I think we...

we can keep one another at arm's length

but to get the best out of ourselves

I think we should start to I don't know...

see each other... on a regular basis, say...

have an affectionate relationship...

Let's go and cook, come on. We'll do something useful

But I'm serious

I'm fine like this, that's all. I'm very attached to Daniele

I couldn't really say why

He's so serious, so different to me

But sometimes he's like a child

I think a lot of it is due to the fact that we moved here

to Palermo. I'm more relaxed...

And this adoption thing... Imagine, only a few years ago

the thought of having a child terrified me

but since I've realized how much it means to him

it means a lot to me too

Get it'? I can't bear the idea

of having an affair with anyone let alone with a guy like you

Why'? What's wrong with a guy like me'?

You know what our relationship makes me think of'?

Those two-month stories kids have, that mean nothing

Our story lasted a lot longer than two months

How long'? Three months'? Four'? At least four months

Okay, sold for four and a half months

Yeah, that's better

Why take it like that anyway'? Didn't you have...

that Danish... Finnish girl'? The tall one'?

She left me No! Why'?

I wasn't her type

Poor Lorenzo!

Listen, Alina... can't I stay here at least for tonight'?

Absolutely not

Why not'? I even brought my pyjamas and toothbrush

I appreciate the effort, but it's no

Not even on the sofa?

Not even on the carpet

Sweetheart, it's 4 a. m. And I can't sleep

I don't want to spoil your dreams by calling you

When you wake up, you'll find this

Only three days to go before I'm home

but I think of you all the time. Sleep safe

Always remember I love you. Daniele

Good morning, Mrs. Regis. How are you'?

Fine, thanks, and you'? Please sit down

Everything all right'?

I wanted to inform you personally

that your adoption application has been accepted

I also wanted to say that we were pleasantly surprised

by the fact that a busy couple like you

made this difficult decision

Congratulations, then, and good luck

Let's get to work right away

I see from your meetings with the psychologist

that you're completely amenable

You made no issue of sex or age and that does you great credit

So we'll get down to business

I want you to meet the head of our social services

She can't wait to meet you either

Yes, we're here Can you come right away'?

Here I am! Mrs. Regis. What a pleasure! Please don't get up

Pleased to meet you. Your husband's on tour

it was in the paper but I asked to meet you anyway

to exchange first impressions between women

Yes, we have a very sensitive case

we want to submit to you

A five-year-old girl... beautiful child

and so affectionate! Her name is Robertina

She lives with her elderly grandmother

Her mother's dead and her father... well, never mind

Unless we find a family for her

she'll go to an orphanage Why is that'?

Well, like I said, her granny is getting on

She loves the child very much, but Robertina is nearly six

She'll have to go to school, and her granny isn't reliable

We wanted you to meet them both, with no commitment

The child is a real darling, so cute and affectionate

I sure she'll throw her arms around you!

I can see it already! But that mustn'tinfluence you in the least

We're only asking you to call on them

at their house, with no commitment

Yes, because...

Of course, your husband being away... These are big decisions

that must be considered at length. We're aware of that

Would 11:30 tomorrow be all right'?

In the square in the Vucciria'?

Do you know the area'?

Not really, but I'll find it

It's easy, you can reach it from Via Roma or San Domenico

It's on the map... orjust ask anybody

Where are you going'? The Vucciria square

Jump on, I'll take you

What's the problem'? She wants to go to the square

I said I'd take her, but she doesn't trust me

He's a good boy

I know, but the problem is the skirt

I always go on my husband's scooter

Where is it you have to go'?

The Vucciria square. They said it was around here

It isn't, it's on the other side

Go with Toti, he's a good boy Don't you trust me'?

No, no. I believe you Go on, take her

Don't speed! You'll be there in a sec

Looking for somebody'? No, no, thanks

What are you after'?

She's looking for somebody

Can I help you'? No, no, thanks

She doesn't need anything so beat it. Scram!

If you need me. Miss I'm right here

Mrs. Concetta!

Here I am! Coming!

How are you'? So-so

See what a pretty lady I brought you'?

How's it going'? So-so

Here we are. Robertina'? She's asleep

What, still? It's noon

Well, she stays up late watching TV

That won't do, we've told you before

The child must go to bed early

You mustn't let her stay glued to the TV

We've told you that time and again

She won't listen to me You're not firm enough

But what can I do'? Now don't make me angry

Come here, sweetheart

See what a pretty lady I brought you'?

Would you like to meet her'?

Say hello to her

Come on, sweetheart

I'll give some candy like the other time

Hello. Miss

Here we are Isn't anybody here'?

There's a customer!

He goes and cools off in the cold store

This is when we do the cuts for the deliveries

It's nice and cool there

Bruno, hurry up!

Two steaks, same as usual

Baby, you're a featherweight compared to me

I'll have to take your clothes off gently or you'll break

You'll take my clothes off too

You've got no option

I'll have a hard-on and you'll be slavering

with the urge to touch it and suck it

and ride it like a cowgirl on heat

It'll be just great

I'll give you everything you want. I'll knock you out

Mrs. Emilia, I'm all yours

You mean that'? Absolutely!

How's the diet going'? Fine, thanks

You're looking well I mean that

"Roberta here. A fax came for you from the Rotterdam Artfest"

"l tried to send it on you, but something's out of order"

"Call you tomorrow. No, sorry, tomorrow's Sunday"

"See you on Monday then. Bye"

"Hi, sweetheart. I'll be home a day early tomorrow night"

"l found a flight right after the concert. Happy?"

"Send me an answer by fax. I'll call you in the morning"

"Always remember I love you"

"l'll knock on your door tomorrow morning at 10"

"lf I've got it all wrong, don't be in"

Sweetheart, I'm so excited that you'll be back tomorrow

I can't wait to be in your arms again

I'll be at the sea all day with Federica

Let me know when you're arriving

I'll pick you up at any time

Good luck for your last concert

I love you, Alina

The air conditioning's out of order

"Alina, sweetheart, I'm on my way to the concert"

"lt's been raining all day, but I know it's so hot there!"

"Nothing, I just needed to hear your voice"

"even if only over the answering machine"

"l guess you're at the sea already"

"l love you"

"This is 5798961"

"You have 30 seconds to leave a message" "or send a fax after the beep"

"Alina, what's going on'?

Found a message from Daniele"

"He thinks we went to the sea"

I've just got in. Where are you'? What are you doing'?

"Call me, we can have dinner together"

"l'll be in all evening. Bye"

"This is 5798961"

"You have 30 seconds to leave a message" "or send a fax after the beep"

"Hi, sweetheart it was a triumph"

"The audience begged for an encore"

"but the manager said no as usual"

"l'm in Moscow, waiting for the connecting flight"

"Be with you in three hours

Don't expect any sleep tonight"