Original subtitles

You've reached 687-0953

don't bother leaving a message

i don't listen to them anyway

hi lisa

if you happen to get this message

this is piero mansani

a friend of your cousin tommaso

i just want to say

everything's fine here in livorna

i mean, shitty as usual

how about rome?

That is, if you're there, who knows

i'll leave you my number again

so if you by chance

what the fuck do you want?

I'm ready

i told you not to bug me when i'm on the phone

buy flowers cemetery mommy

i'm not going to the cemetery

go, mara'll go with you

from my diary of those days

saturday, april 21

exhausted

i fight the idea of dying

in the useless delusion of

seeing you again, my love

you may ask yourselves

how is it possible that a boy not quite 20

with a healthy constitution

and a respectable academic record

can fall so low?

It's a long story

let's start from the beginning

i came into this world at midnight

sharp on march 12, 1974

in a place on via della coroncina

neighborhood of ovosodo

the super 8 film my father shot didn't come out very well

he and mom were very emotional

because their other son had turned out a bit odd

piero? Wanna play?

I have to finish my homework

the doctors used to shake their heads when examining him

they said he wouldn't live very long

but big lvano didn't feel like dying yet

leave me alone! Mom help!

Piero

you still have that headache?

Come here darling

mom was always a bit sick

but she loved us just the same

did you and lvano fight with each other again?

He hurt me

he loves you, you know

he could have 'braked' my arm

you should say 'broken', not "braked"

i want a kiss too

come on then

one day mom died

we couldn't face it

how could we live without her?

Dad loved her a lot

they met while dancing in the summer of '65

he told her he was the son of a tycoon from argentina

who left him a huge inheritance and a candy factory

an estate in canada with two lakes

one warm, the other cold

but it wasn't true

he had been a docker but had been fried

for political reasons, he said

from that moment on no one had a clue whatsoever

one day he came home with a big car

no one knew where it came from

he was always at the bar bumming rum punch

but mom loved him

together it was like the song

the most beautiful couple in the world

or so i thought

that afternoon, dad took us aside

to talk to us man to man

now you're both big boy

we can talk straight, clear the air, right?

I've been told about a nice girl

a hard worker

since you guys are big now

we need someone at home who can cook and clean

so i thought i'd have her come live with us

even can use a hand

if we can't help each other out

listen, mom was mom, no doubt about it

what's her name?

Mara. She's really a good girl

a worker

serious. During the darkest moments of mom's illness

she was always there for me

she was very kind and understanding

and she's nice. She sings

know which song?

The one you like the one that goes like this

i can't sing, but you know the one

so. It's a deal then

i'm glad you're with me on this

easy now

fucking lousy place

don't exaggerate! It's nice

what's wrong now?

They're looking at me

mind your business. Don't worry about it

here we are

this is piero and this is lvano

say hello, guys

he said good morning

does he always talk like that?

I'll show how we're settled

badly. There's even a pigeon

a blackbird, i'll get rid of it

i wanna lie down my back killing me

is there anything cool to drink?

Orange soda, barley water even a nice little beer

she's thirsty. Something cool

there's tap water

go get us something at the bar

so where's the money?

You always ask for money

when's the last time you changed the sheets? They stink

easy, baby

quiet

wait

come and see

i can do that too?

No, not you

you?

No, just dad

thank god

damn

i can't take it anymore

damn that fucking bastard who ruined you

did you get the towel?

Maybe we should take her to the hospital

i'll call the ambulance

no hospital

she doesn't want to go

her mother died there

your dad, where is that goddamned son of a bitch

don't you think she's a bit ugly?

She's all right

if she turns out ugly, i'll drown her

understand, diana?

Don't you dare turn out ugly

ugly women are all unhappy

you called her diana?

Like the greek goddess and the wife of prince charles

now she's got it good

he may be ugly

but think of the money, the castles the jewels

i would go for that

it must be your dad

mr. Nedo mansani, please

he's not here

we've got a search warrant

search the bedroom

there were words on the warrant

i had only heard in the movies

arrest warrant

criminal association

default, fugitive

understand? This is my house

who know what dad had done

where he had gone

at the time, i didn't ask certain questions

for some time, i was taken with something else

take a guess

girls

the other half of paradise

i wondered: Now that i'm the son of a fugitive

will it be better or worse?

What would girls think?

Would they avoid me? Admire me?

I was under a spell

they were like aliens to me

i was kind of afraid

what were they thinking about?

Did they feel what i was feeling?

I didn't know what i wanted from them

but i wanted it bad

the first symptom showed up one summer afternoon

i wasn't quite nine years old

striker paolo rossi got ready to take the penalty kick

german goalie schumacher was ready to make the save

whoever kicks it out, gets it

whoever smells it, deals with it

up your nose with a rubber hose

if it doesn't fit, sit on it

i'm rubber, you're glue

whatever you say

it was exactly three in the afternoon

of j uly 11, 1982

a fateful day

in a few hours

italy would win its third world cup

that night

while everyone was proud to be italian

in addition to being from livorno

i was very confused

from then on

the world seemed to me a place

where divergent creatures were drawn together to mate

i'm left alone with an idiot

and a good for nothing

some day i'm going to leave the gas on

and we'll all be blown up

what have i done wrong? Tell me, lvano

i just want to be happy and have a lot of money

a nice guy who love me

who take me out to dinner

who gives me lots of gifts

i would love coral earrings

shut up

actually, the only thing i liked to do

was to go buy milk at the corner store

i envied my friend mirko for his moped

for the store where he loaded up on snacks as much as he wanted

but most of all for his mother luana

put it on your tab?

See you, good looking

i envied him because of katia

at age 13, they french kissed

i was envious of whomever knew the secret of love

while for me

that mysterious question

became more and more of a problem

poor, sweet susy susini

who lived in my building

realized that at her expense

katia

can we go?

One second, susy

when i saw her, her reaction at the time

was indecipherable

did you say something?

No. I mean i said hello

i thought so, sorry

are you okay?

I was convinced she couldn't stand me

but katia told me she liked me a lot

in fact, one day she called me

susy wants you to know she's into you

toto, sergino and j uri

also like her a lot and they even told her so

but if you want you two can go out

right away. What should i tell her?

Can you repeat the question?

Sorry, but it's noisy in here

do i have to give you an answer now?

Okay

i said yes

thanks, don't worry about it

tell her i said hello

what did he say?

He was happy, his voice was shaking

this way, the four of us can go out

me and mirkio and you and piero

i've got a girlfriend

i read from my diary at the time

wednesday, may 14, 1987

i can't describe how i feel since i've found a girlfriend

is this love?

It seems more like pride

is lover pride?

Think about it

how's it going?

Okay. You?

Not bad

good

you going home?

Yeah, and you?

I'm going out for a little while

see you later

maybe i took too long to think about it

in fact, a few days later katia called me

susy doesn't want to go out with you anymore

fine, bye

i have to admit i felt a strange sadness

what did he say?

Fine, bye

forget about him, ovosodo's a nerd

should we call sergino?

No

come on

i said no

my girlfriend left me

what's wrong with me?

Why couldn't i do what others do?

I couldn't see myself making 'cucci-cucci'

whispering sweet nothing without feeling like an idiot

i thought what if i'm like fabio?

Or even like danielino?

But no, that wasn't me

even if some displays of machismo

simply shock me

when i have them bent over in front of me

i don't know what gets into me

those beautiful naked backs

i feel like punching them

i didn't dare let on that it shocked me

i lived in a world that did not allow nuances

one more subjunctive

one existential doubt too many

and you were branded a 'queer' for life

dad

no, we were all sleeping

i'm okay. I'm studying

i have exams in j une

not my driver's license, my diploma

when are you coming home?

Nedo? My love, honey

you were a bastard leaving like this

i miss you to death

it's a mess here. They want to evict us

the police have come

where have you been?

Don't worry, it's nothing

i'll talk to the judge

he's a good man

committed to civil rights, they say

i'll tell him what the deal is

love, i've missed you so much

what do they want from you?

Nothing

i've been framed by some bad guys

but there are plenty of witnesses

who will see to it that i'm set free

people like nedo, you know

come on, mansani

j ust one minute

at the trial we found out

that mercedes was stuffed with cocaine

he was sentenced 5 years and 8 months

to this day, i don't know if dad knew

or if he was really just framed

in school

i wrote an essay about the misadventures

of an innocent man

who was caught up in things much bigger than he could control

i also wrote that the cosmos is not built on a human scale

and that man must adapt to it with little gain

except those with power and fame

which even rhymes

piero

your essay is great

i want to read it to your classmates

to show them what it means for a writer to combine

the creativity of a novel with realism of description

that is to combine the fun of story-telling

with life's dramatic reality

j ust like dickens, mark twain and salinger

i gave you an a but in fact i wanted very much to give you an a+

what is it, batoni?

Sorry ma'ma but this isn't creativity

everyone can do that

what do you mean?

Ovosodo really has a father in jail

batoni, you get out

why me?

Because you don't even have the courage

to express your opinions

no, actually, stay here

this way you can help me analyze

the incomparable masterpiece

of our shameless friend there

title create a story that could actually happen

i, one day

an incredible thing happened to me

i told everybody about it

but, swear to god, nobody believed me

that it actually really happened

everybody would have thought that

i made it up all by myself to look cool

i ask if it is a daring and reckless inventor of language

or just a smiling rascal

who would do better to study every now and then

instead of spending his afternoon shooting lizards

and teasing poor fiorella

but ma'ma

honey, you're wasting your time

everyone knows florella likes enrico tampucci

okay all together

the infinite' by our friend giacomino leopardi

giovanna was more than a teacher

to me more than a mother

she was amazing but someone said she was half crazy

because her husband died just after they got married

she was asked to moved

what a surprise

i brought these back to you

you've already read them?

Good, that means

pasoline was a little rough but interesting

but the other one

moravia? Yeah, i know

it made me depressed but maybe it's just me

buricchio, move it

are you hungry? Should we eat something?

Have you seen the grades yet?

No, they haven't put them up yet

i went through a lot to get you a good grade

but mrs. Fazio says you're a disaster with equations

you finished with honors

honors?

Awesome

that word made me want to dress up in jacket and tie

smoke with a cigarette holder and go to cocktail parties

honors, like prince charles

only without the big ears

the commission supports the continuation of your studies

in particular classics

yeah right, classics

that's what it says

classics my ass. Listen to this guy

classics, who do you think you are? A writer?

What would you do for work

the classifieds are full of ads

help wanted, graduates in latin and greek studies, with license

ms. Fornari told me she would pay for my books

how generous

know what you should tell her?

If she has money to burn

why doesn't she send us a money order?

Your damned father still has to pay his lawyer

instead of dreaming go see my cousin riccardo

move it

ever since mara arrived her cousin riccardo

and his garage had loomed over my future

but i had gotten too big for my britches thank to giovanna

and i couldn't see myself as a mechanic

finally, i enrolled at caproni high school on via del mare

an exotic and elegant place for someone from my neighborhood

like beverly hills

on the first day i got off at the wrong stop

it's about time

we couldn't wait any longer

come this way

i'm not used to the bus

i got off at the wrong stop

they sent you alone, on the bus?

Bastards

here we are

the third one is clogged and there's also a leaky faucet

if you can take a look at it

have you been working with mr. Marmugi long?

Mr. Matmugi?

You're not the plumber?

Apparently

i didn't carry myself like the students from this school

but so as not to be rude i was about

to roll up my sleeves and take a look at that faucet

sorry

section a was the most prestigious

i never know if i was there by mistake

or because giovanna had been hard at work

unbeknownst to me

biagini

luca's brother?

My brother remembers you fondly

what a lovely boy

chimenti

doctor chimenti's daughter

give him my best regards

gargani

the son of the renowned captain i suppose

actually he's now an admiral

congratulations

i'll be sure to tell him

mansani

of course. Your father is that nice gentleman

the rotary club vice president

no

i meant not any more

no?

From then on

a shroud of mystery descended over my father's life

so dense it even fooled me

initiation

come on. Run the gauntlet

how about you? Come on curly

i told you to leave me alone

nice going, asshole

moron! Moron!

I was no expert when it came to punches

but at school, what i could do was more than enough

in my neighborhood

you had to know how to fight if you wanted respect

there were certain guys who were absolutely nuts

furio brondi bit the heads off lizards

sniffed gasoline, then tortured us kids

what are your mother?

Whores

what do i do to your mother?

Fuck her up the ass

and you?

What he said

good. Good boy

you have a few coins by chance?

We'll go home to get them

we'll be right back

now he's in rehab weaving baskets

silvano ciriello, we called wyoming

for his special talent

he could also say hawaii lowa and palaia

which was his mother's hometown

at school i minded my own business

but i earned a name for writing essays

and i learned how to exploit

50 (non-negotiable)

I'm done. Can i go now?

Yes, go head

knock yourself out

there's only a half-hour left

subject?

Literature. Count ugolino

current events?

Drugs

ugolino 50,000, drugs 30,000

i have one ready on the european union for 20,000

it's worth b, b+

do drugs

send someone in 15 minutes

i can only do three paragraphs

otherwise you won't able to copy them all

make it good or i'm gonna fail

i was respected sometimes even feared

some people may have even liked me

but i was really lonely

and i stayed that way for four long years

in that seat, in the second-to-last row

the first day of my last year

gargani, see what that strange man wants

finally. How do you get into this school?

Normally, through the front door

it's closed, and it's only 8:30

what, is this the naval academy?

Actually, it's 8:40

wanna know what happened?

I just got here when i realized that i had my slippers on

i had to go back home to put these on

who are you?

Tommaso paladini. This is 5a, right?

Can i come in?

Make yourself at home

where should i sit? Here?

Perfect! Comfortable seat, great view

i'm ready, go ahead

i don't know where you picked up these strange manners

you're right, i come from classics

it's become a real hole

clean up you act

that's why i'm here

i feel changed already

where are you going?

Home

i take the 12 and then change to the 30

where the hell do you live?

After via garibaldi

i'll give you a ride

it's pretty far. Where do you live?

Don't worry about it

is it gonna make it?

Push

aren't they waiting for you at home?

No one ever waits for me

sorry

goddamn it

dry as a bone

we can't even siphon some off

got 2,000 lire?

No

i'll call a friend of mine he'll give you some gas

it's great here

it looks like naples, berlin, bucharest

mirko

they're not back from the store yet

thanks, renata

c'mon piero

i'm coming

who's that?

My brother lvano

delicious, really, out of the world

even the pasta was exquisite

i'd like to come and live here

with piero, diana and lvano

can i call your mom?

That's all i need

big lvano, leave him alone

you're hurting me

tommaso was the key encounter of my adolescence

like brian eno for u2

and coach bearzot for the italian soccer team

glory and disgrace had him as driving power

hi piero. Good morning

bye susy

bye mom

with him. I set out to discover a whole new world

which had nothing to do with my neighborhood

with those afternoons studying in mirko's store

at the start of our friendship

i remember skipping lots of meals

tiananmen, commander marcos

mandela and the panther movement

zhang ymou, peter jackson, tondelli

getting high, kurt cobain kissing and being kissed

smelly feet

coming home at dawn with my head spinning

what time is it?

It's late

you know if you don't say good night to him he doesn't go to sleep

but what do you care

you're on you own in the morning

good night, piero

good night, go to sleep

the days passed the panther was caught

the students had returned to their places

but that seat in the second-to-last row was always empty

mansani beggar paladine bogus anarchist

get out

you're the one who taught me what's important

that's why i could appreciate tommaso when i met him

otherwise i would have judged him by his appearance

which was repulsive

tell me about this tommaso guy

you could have dreamed him up

he's funny, smart, an elegant bum

really?

He's a living paradox

the kind of guy we both like

everyone is unique in his own way

but certain people are made in many different ways

on the surface, they seem simple

but inside, there's much more

he's smooth, sharp, cultured

attractive, with a nice profile and a nice smell too

okay, so she's nice

she's the nicest person i know

she should be the pride of this town

i don't like nice people

i understand

in the sense that being nice is a fade mafioso virtue

typically italian

in france, england they don't try to be good

they care for real virtues that's it, right?

I was wrong to say giovanna is nice i belittled she

she's so much more

only assholes are nice, right?

Good. Can you pay? I've got no money

this music will have to do

i've stopped trying to keep up with the latest hits

tschaikovsky, the pathetic

the second movement, the best one

how's the ratatouille?

Exceptional

a kind of semolina with peppers?

Kind of

the wine should be cool enough now

he's not as repulsive as you said he even brought flowers

i told him to buy them and not to steal from city flowerbeds

he never has any money i think he's poor

what do his parents do?

He said his father's a gardener, a thief

he's dead

i don't think he has a mother

where does he sleep?

All over the place

one time he even slept at my brother's feet

to my friend piero

and this enchanting angel

three cheers for livorno

for our second course something unusual and tres chic

chinese shrimp?

Roasted chicken and potatoes

everlasting, like the infinite by leopardi

and the sanremo music fest i get the thigh

no, i get it

there should be two

what's the law of potatoes?

There are never enough

the inescapable cartesian axiom

descartes wrote about potatoes?

That's right

descartes is from the 1600s and potatoes were brought

from america in the 1500s, right?

You know, you're pretty funny

another drop

the night took on a french flavor

we talked about mallarme truffaut, henry levy

about a special wine called sauterne

i felt as happy as a character out of flaubert

i ignored what was about to happen

but let's not get ahead of ourselves

tommaso and giovanna went to get some dessert

where's the nutcracker?

It always gets lost

and the scissors?

Who knows where they end up

there's a parallel universe a virtual world

inhabited by nutcrackers and scissors

i hate the word virtual

i hate when they say i'm at the office

i hate it intrigues me this book intrigues me

it's almost worse than engaging and offensive

what are you doing?

We spent the rest of dinner practically in complete silence

something inside me did not want to think of something

my ears were ringing

it was my mind racing

to avoid thinking about what it was thinking about

thanks for dinner, see you soon

don't ever bring him here again

in the next days giovanna called me a lot

but i didn't feel like talking

tommaso just disappeared

they say paladini won't be coming to school anymore

you're not friends anymore?

Mind your fucking business

how nice

i'm just telling you because i found this under the desk

if you can give it to him, fine

otherwise, i don't give a shit

actually i can't stand the guy

he didn't come today either?

Tommaso?

Do you know where i can find him?

How are you doing?

Okay

his mother always hangs up on me

his mother? He has a mother?

You know nothing about him, do you?

Neither do i

i've gotta go

what should i know?

What happened?

Nothing

i mean

i'll call you. No, you call me

again form my diary of those days

friday, december 18

i feel angry, shocked and shamed of myself

who's tommaso? And who's giovanna?

What happened between them?

Who am i?

Why do i want to strangle tommaso?

Think about it

i think i've got the wrong house

i'm new around here

i'm on my way. Good boy

excuse me, i was looking for...

your son, i think

my son?

Where can i find him?

He died six years ago

who are you?

Dead for six years?

You're not tommaso's father

would i be here shoveling?

Dolores

this young man is looking for signorino tommaso

he's not here, he's in rome

he's in rome at his uncle's place

you want the address and number?

Sure, thanks

if only i had understood our teacher's little game

about famous relations

i would have figured out who tommaso was

the son of mr. Paladini, knight of rodi

commendatore, owner of a pier in the industrial port

and head of palchimica ins which for twenty years

has been polluting my neighborhood with its toxic exhaustions

sorry, i know it's a bad time

but something incredible has happened

did i wake you?

I know you and i have lost touch recently

but we're good friends, right?

So i said i'll go talk to my friend right away, is that okay?

Talk about what?

Brace yourself

i broke up with katia

after six years. Can you believe it?

I'm a wreck

c'mon

i told her

i took you to the movies to see cristopher lambert

to see the vallesi concert in ponsacco

i took you to the pitignano market there was a big sale

and just once, i wanted to see the stunt car

i even had free tickets

you want to deny me this satisfaction?

You're being unfair. Am i right?

Yeah, but don't speak so loud

i'm glad you agree with me

what, are you going somewhere?

I'm going to rome

to look for my friend

you know what, piero ol' buddy?

I've got a nice surprise for you

another one?

I'm coming with you

j ust like old times, remember?

No

we never took a trip together?

I don't think so

you see? I'm all messed up

i may be out of mind but i know what i want

to live my life enough with these chains, katia

mom, the store, all that

right, piero? I'm coming with you

plus i've never been to rome

are we taking the train?

They say there' a bunch of stations in rome

you have to be careful not to make a mistake

rome olympic stadium

rome vatican, rome termini rome terminillo

where are we getting off?

Take it easy, i don't have any money i have to hitch-hike

i don't even know where i'm going to sleep

i don't think it's a good idea for you to come, mirko. Think about it

piero, my friend, i have thought about

i'm coming

rome! Rome-ward bound

taste, you want?

My mom made it

no eat? I have potato chips

snack for baby

pecorino cheese. They make it here

capalbio 7 km.! Can you believe it?

There's occhetto's oak

the symbol of new communist party

piero too, right?

Would you pipe down

they're nice

the swedes have always been very cool

take stenmark and bjorn borg

that reminds me, is he still dating loredana berte?

I'm not a lady

but a woman with just star in her life

if only katia was here to see this awesome

meanwhile i was thinking

when i get there, i'll be cool

i'll ask for an explanation without getting pissed off

i'll try to be aloof, like the english do

no way! My best buddy

give me a hug

he's awake

what happened?

Your buddy slugged you

you livorno guys are expressive

did he take off?

He's in the john with nosebleed

the count socked him something just came over him

sorry, i don't know what got into me

he hit you, i hit him

the kid who's with him is over there

did you hit him too?

He took a few drags and passed out

he's gone

livorno! Wake up

you're crazy

what about you?

Did you come here to knock me out?

Don't tempt me, i'll do it again

why did you do it?

Are you gonna tell me or do i have to guess?

I get it

you saw my house and you were shocked

horrors! My father's rich. Is it my fault?

May be it is, since even i'm ashamed to admit it

i promise i'll waste it all as soon as i can

then will you forgive me?

It's not that

i ran into giovanna

how's she doing?

Badly, it seems

that night i tried to kiss her

i realized i had gone too far

so the next night i called her

you called her

to apologize

we talked all night

and then i went to her place

and slept together

in her bed?

Where else? On the floor?

She was acting strange the next morning

she felt guilty

go figure

she said get out of here

then she ran after me grabbed me by the hair

then she said sorry gave me a kiss and burst out laughing

she sat down and said i don't feel good

and then she started crying

i told her i'd see her again that evening

but you never went

i was on my way but i ran out of gas

i started hitch-hiking

and this really nice chick

on her way to rome picked me up

so you came to rome with her

i'm sorry, man, really, but what can i do?

Where're you going?

Home. What's there to do here?

Wait, let me see my cousin lisa tonight

then we'll take off

what, you wanna leave me here feeling guilty?

Too good

plate, please

this sauce is out of this world

with the bacon my mom sells at the shop

check it out they eat pasta that's half-cooked

they say it's easier to digest

they're kinda weird here in rome

they smoke that wacky weed

i took a puff 'cause i'm open-minded but i didn't feel anything

rome didn't change me a bit

do you want to eat something

finally, you made it

she's swedish

she looks like a couple of friends i met

hi lisa. The owner of the house

hi, you must be lisa, tommaso's cousin

i think i've seen you somewhere before

j ust for a second

i don't think so

i'm piero mansani. And this is my friend

nice to meet you, mainardi

you want something to eat?

Thanks

sit down, make yourself comfortable

now i remember where i saw you

in a picture in tommaso's diary

you were wearing a dark green jacket

doc martens boots and a striped scarf

but you had shorter hair, i think

a bus was passing behind you

the number 94 bus

i mean i think so, i just glanced at it

tommy, any calls?

This fabio guy, and giancarlo

and someone with a funny name alexa max

alexa? Wasn't he in jail?

Your friend in jail? What'd he do?

Resisting arrest

he kicked out the window of a cruiser

and put a cop in the hospital

why? Why? Are you joking?

Cops are helpful

without them, the criminals would do whatever they wanted

think about your uncle, they would steal everything he's got

if he didn't let them, they'd kick his ass

did you hear that?

I can't believe this friend of yours

what did i say?

Let's see if you can follow this

cops don't serve us

they only defend the interests of the powers that be

what powers?

What, are you stupid? The state

so what? We're the state

are you sure?

Let me ask you something, buddy do you believe in santa claus?

What's santa claus got to do with it?

Italian cops. I've always liked them

even the carabinieri

cops have a cooler more modern look though

piero where are you going?

I'm just going in there

my little buddy from livorno you're one of a kind

i was looking for the bathroom

then i thought the stereo was bothering you

do me a favor, hand me a cigarette

come here. Sit down

what's going on in there?

Nothing. J ust talking

talk with me

about what?

Who are you?

Piero mansani

we talked earlier, remember?

I go to school with your cousin

the guy with a cool family

tommaso told you that

i bet you're a libra

pisces

no way

you should get a tattoo of two little fish

i never thought about it

wouldn't it hurt?

Tell me, why do you live here all alone?

Are your folks on vacation?

Mom is traveling with greenpeace

and dad's in san francisco with his new girlfriend, claire

she was his patient, anorexic

manic-depressive, a real pain in the ass

your dad's a doctor?

Psychiatrist

really?

And you? Do you study?

Last year, i was in art school

then after attempting suicide

my folk sent me to chateaubriand

which is an awful place full of spoiled brats

suicide attempt?

I tried twice

how many times have you tried?

J ust about every day

it's basically a mental exercise

it's a normal juvenile compulsion

or so it seems, who knows

one time i swallowed

two bottles of pills that i found in my dad's office

they pumped my stomach

then another time i injected a syringe full of air into my vein

happiness is the disease of imbecile

who said that?

Rimbaud, celine

i made it up

you're just a smalltown kid

who believes everything he's told right?

Say yes

that's right

you're cute

now i'm going to sleep but don't go away

if i wake up, we'll keep talking

and you keep telling me i'm right

i'm leaving

to where?

Home. You staying?

Are you kidding? Wait

wait up, you taking off without telling me?

During the trip home tommaso warned me about his cousin

he said she was a lunatic who just wanted to make guys drool

and didn't give a damn about anyone

i reassured him

me? In love? Are you kidding?

Three month later

don't bother leaving a message i don't listen to them anyway

hope you don't mind me leaving another message

another two lines i wrote down

i don't know how you, so exhausted

can resist in this lake of apathy that is your heart

may be an amulet saves you

that you keep close to your lip liner

are you out of your mind?

Please, i'm on the phone

that's the hundredth call this morning all long-distance

you sleep all day, don't go to school

get out of here

not a chance, you get out of here

i can't stand it here anymore

you made your brother cry

he may be dumb, but you know

he only goes out to see his mother at the cemetery

you hurt his feelings

now he's afraid to talk to you

months passed, i didn't get one phone call, one message

people had started to go on vacation

i said no, do it yourself

you haven't written anything, obviously

i'm done, may be i'll hand it in maybe i won't

maybe i'll have it published

will i see you later?

No, i'll see you tomorrow

i don't think i'm coming tomorrow

then the day after tomorrow

my cousin's coming tomorrow i'm going to pick her up

lisa?

She's on the way to corsica

listen, tell her i said hello

maybe it's better if you get her

i've been absent too many times you can borrow my moped

mansani, paladini

sorry

paolo, how are you?

Tommaso couldn't make it so i came to get you

isn't livorno on the sea? I want to go swimming

we've got nothing but the sea

on the way to the coast, i thought

paolo, giovanne, call whatever you want

as long as you keep holding me like this

check out this dive, it's called 'the cannonball'

did i splash you?

Tomorrow i'll take you to the beach

the sand there, it's like being in the caribbean

thank to the run-off from the bicarbonate factory

don't you have to study?

Everything's under control

paolino, you're a madman

paolino?

What's wrong?

What do you think of someone who when he sees someone he loves

realizes she feels bad

but pretends he didn't see anything?

He doesn't even have the guts to say hello

someone who love, who?

Don't worry about it i know the answer

you're a sensitive little guy

a coward, i never have the guts

even now with you

for example, i would die before asking you to kiss me

then you're proud. It's a virtue

come here

hey, thanks

you're welcome

i make you laugh, don't i?

So then maybe i'm in love

because someone in love acts like this ridiculous

you don't seem ridiculous to me

so i guess you're not in love

it's understandable

someone like you in love with someone like me?

What are you talking about?

It wasn't the first time i had touch a woman's body

but there was no comparison

that time with my second cousin patrizia doesn't count

one time, she smothered me with kisses and her big tits

now she's a kindergarten teacher

i hope those poor kids are okay

paolo

then there was marina

we called her 'vespucci' like the navy training ship

this floozy weaned most of the adolescents in the neighborhood

i want to tell you a lot of things

go ahead

first of all, my name isn't paolo

what is it?

It's piero, but it doesn't matter

then i have a proposal

let's stay right here, today, tomorrow the day after tomorrow

but i'm leaving soon

to be frank, if i were you i wouldn't go to corsica

the ferries are uncomfortable they're always late

sometimes they even sink

it's too hot there in the summer the vegetation is really dry

perfect conditions for deadly fires

and then there are attacks by independence fighters

dying on vacation must be really suck

do you like the idea of dying?

Then let's die together, right here

we'll hold hands and jump into the canal

but i told you, ernesto's waiting for me with the ticket

i wouldn't even take a bus with

someone named ernesto

why?

J ust kidding

i joke too much, don't i? Then here's something serious

go ahead

i love you

lisa went to meet ernesto

the ferry left right on time

and despite my prayers, it didn't sink

now about d'annunzio's work

debenedetti talked about a sort of deductive mechanism

discuss the concept in light of the analysis made during the year

on decadentism and the doctrine of the superman

in light of the analysis we did in class

on decadentism and the doctrine of superman

we can say that when debenedetti talked

about those things you said

i pretty much agree

so you don't like d'annunzio either?

With all due respect, he's the worst

let's review. Carducci was a windbag

pascoli was smarmy

manzoni paternalistic

tell us which author you like

this year i read some great stuff

lan mcewan, benni, pennac

andrea pazienza's comics

they have a literary dignity

a fantastic book by chatwin, 'songlines'

nelson mandela's biography

that man has had an incredible life

you know this, right?

You know this?

You don't?

Even in your written exam you showed a commendable 'verve'

but you completely missed the subject

you began with leopardian pessimism

and you got lost in an incomprehensible tirade

against tourism, ferries

and you seem to have something against those who go to corsica

quite frankly, i don't know what to say

you're right, neither do i

who cares about church reform

about vittorio amedei ii of aosta

and his son carlo emanuele iii

watch out

my dad let me drive here when i was a kid

take it easy

i told them let's talk about saddam hussein

us oil policy

and what the fuck we're gonna do in the european union

you'd have done that without banging your shoe on the table

kruschev did it at the un too

yeah, but his feet didn't stink

who give a shit, they'll fail us both

we're rejects, human garbage

speak for yourself

that night, i realized that destiny would separate us

i failed because of that exam and that i had too many absences

he passed, but just barely

they said his father had intervened to protect his heir

but i think the school just wanted to get rid of that ball-breaker

who left for greece before going off to university

i decided not to go back to school

maybe i would look for work but taking my time

let's go

i don't feel like it

he's not coming

c'mon? Diving

i don't want to. Go play with diana

let's see how far you get by not doing shit all day

there's nothing to eat, deal with it

they say melancholy is just the presence of a neurotransmitter

called serotonin in your brain

it makes you dangle like dead leaves

you get used to the agony and you never want to get better

i was all alone

i didn't even have mirko around

he joined the police force and was part of the security team

for an important anti-mafia judge

good morning

i'm looking for ms. Giovanna fornari

visiting hours are at five

are you a relative?

A friend

come with me

it's nothing but tears here and i love crying

doesn't this lady have any relatives?

Not in livorno. Why?

Someone should talk to her

she doesn't eat, doesn't sleep

refuses to take her medicine

the other day she slapped the doctor

what's wrong with her?

They used to call it a breakdown now who knows what it's called

talk to her

thank you

sweetie, i'm so happy to see you

what a nice surprise

how are you?

Great

i had a little breakdown and would've already gone home

but the doctor is so arrogant he said i had to take all the tests

he's holding me hostage

how are you?

Not bad

you owe me an explanation how could you fail?

I was an idiot, they were right to fail me

it happens. You'll do great this year

i want to see a perfect score, ok?

Let me see you. You've gotten taller

you've put on weight, you look good

you look thinner

i'm trying to keep up with fashion

an anorexic top model

as soon as i get home we'll have a big dinner

we'll have chickpea pie

my mouth is already watering

my sweetie

what a surprise

that september, dad got out of jail

he took that job at cousin riccardo's garage

but he always got up late and never went to work

see you, dad

where are you going?

To the employment office maybe they have some new jobs

sit down, you're always in a rush

i'm late

you've changed

of course i have

too much, i mean

i'll see you at lunch

before christmas the cops came to take him away again

he'd stolen a car with two gypsies as accomplices

but he had enough time to get mara pregnant again

nice one

awesome

9,200250

he broke the piggy bank

that's all i have

you're in bad shape

take this, smoke to sergino's health

hey

what an honor for our bowling alley: The great piero mansani

how are you?

Not bad. You look good

are you running out to one of your million commitments?

No

we're going to have a pizza later

if you don't have anything better to do

and my friends don't even look at me

this is my first love

i had a crush on him and he didn't even look at me

what a fool

thanks, but i left my wallet at home

it's my treat

after graduation, i applied for a job at the hospital

and lucky, they hired me right away

the salary isn't bad, i'm saving up to rent an apartment

that's great, and you probably have a boyfriend too

tell me about it

i broke up with alessandro in j uly

a total idiot. His life was the gym

soccer and the stadium

i saw all the livorno game

home and away

fascinating

isn't it?

And let's not even talk about sex

one time after we had done it

i saw he was down, so i asked him: Anything wrong?

He said: I'm not satisfied with my pecs and lower abs

when you and i were going out so to speak

i used to play a silly game when i heard you coming down

i would run to the peephole and say

he's wearing an orange t-shirt

if i guessed right you were in love with me

it couldn't have been hard

i always wore the same clothes

that's how i fooled myself

thank for the pizza, goodnight

no problem

wait

sorry, but i thought

who know when i'll get another chance

i thought check out susy

and also maybe i could give it a try

maybe i'll look for her tomorrow

but instead, they came looking for me guys from the military

three months of training in barletta

then to rome's grenadiers

where, during leave, i reminisced

about that brief trip to the capital years ago

the tv presenter frizzi

live here with his wife rita

the tv host maria giovanna elmi lives over there

with her husband gianfranco and their daughter marianna

next door to the anchor-man funari who moved to milan

his first wife lives here with their daughter

you romans just can't understand

you're used to living with celebrities

but it's different for us hick

mansani, tell them

i was saying, whoever was born in rome doesn't understand

where's he going?

Bastard! Get your hands off her

running away, huh?

You okay?

What are you doing here?

Transferring vehicles

but i'll be sent near home soon

i had my big shot uncle recommend me for the post

it's great to see you

me too

where'd you go? I missed you

mansani, what the hell

i'm right here! Duty calls

you look cute in uniform

you too, even without a uniform

call me

my uncle was such a big shot that i was sent to the extreme north

to guard the inviolable

i called lisa, but i always got the usual machine

i thought it was over between us but then

i found a train that was coming up here

so i thought i'd surprise you

do you mind?

Want something else?

I don't know what we can do now

this place only has video games

and a bar with a juke box

the closest cinema is in udine

i could borrow a car

but i don't have a license. Do you?

Let's go upstairs

what's wrong?

I feel a bit...

i have to be back in barracks in twenty minute

or i'm in big problem

sorry

tomorrow i'll get a pass and i'll come get you

and we go for a ride

gorizia is pretty interesting

you're going?

There's this sergeant who's been picking on me

you make me sick

what?

You were right, you're a coward even worse, a liar

you said you love me. It's not true you don't love me

it's been a long time

no one like me

that's not true

i never want to see you again

maybe it's better if we talk tomorrow

i never saw her again

i heard she joined a buddhist ashram

she's doing okay and she has a boyfriend, a holy man

i'd like to take the opportunity to thank this buddha

because lisa could have met a bad end

like poor giovanna

she swallowed all the medicine

she has refused to take all in one gulp

so you're looking for work?

I've applied everywhere even at your father's factory

i hope they bomb the place it's polluting half the city

anyway, you live in the other half

now i live in pisa

you must have taken a lot of exams

not even one

the school is a dumping ground for small time losers

but some folks are really interesting

like the ones who do theater with me

what are you doing?

We're working on dostoevsky

our first play debuts on sunday

what's it about?

Come, so you can see for yourself

welcome to st. Petersburg piotr nedovic mansanski

seem like you've decided to be happy at any cost

what are you doing? You crazy?

Welcome to st. Petersburg

come sleep with us pavel pavlovic

miss claudia petrovna and i await you for tea

hey there handsome stranger

do you know how to dance?

I'm a friend of tommaso's

come with me

velcaninov is very angry with you

who?

You're a handsome scoundrel

take advantage of this poor body it'll cost you just a few kopecs

really, i don't have a lira

this won't cost you anything, stranger

wretched bourgeois

you think men are dogs

you judge everyone in your small-minded way

you're all vermin, you disgust me

disgusting

shut up, you fool

i liked it. I've never been to the theater

i thought i'd be bored

but instead it was like being st. Petersburg, not pisa

are you messing with me?

No. But i didn't understand the plot very well

go to hell, you and the plot

here you go, handsome stranger

tommaso didn't even introduce us

piero, cristina, my... what are you?

My concubine, lover, geisha

whatever you want, i love him

please to hear it

she's cute. Congratulations

i didn't know you were attached

if your want to take advantage

i saw how you two were kissing

actually

i know, i know, she kissed you

she also stuck her tongue in the light technician's mouth

maybe she just wanted to draw my attention

too bad, she's really cute

this fucking love that you all talk about depressed me

i just want to live like a dog

and rummage through the garbage of life

like that hungarian poet used to say

what's his name?

Give it a rest, like my uncle from lucca used to say

that night, i got over any regrets i had about not studying

i was lucky because at the time, april 1994

i was unexpectedly blessed by the new italian miracle

i got one of those million jobs

that the new government promised

at tommaso's father's factory

without even a recommendation

the job waiting list is a kind of

hit parade of the unlucky ones

with a dead mother, a dad in prison and a handicapped brother

i entered the top ten triumphantly

keep in mind that genercomit europa is gaining

but the fideuram index is low

you won't do shit with the fideuram index

actually, it's important

you have to go with secure italian commodities

capital credit, for example has been performing well

if you ask me

there's no question marks or treasury bonds

how much have you invested?

Nothing, but if i had money

my co-workers, most of them older and married

were much different than what i'd imagined

during my revolutionary high school days

they used to pick on me but they like me

because i tried to lighten up the endless work day

so does pip get together with estrella?

Piero, does he?

Hold on

first, there's the inheritance he got from the convict

the guy pip helped out?

Yeah, and after finding him with his friend herbert

he tries to help him escape to australia

but he fails

after the daring escape by boat on the thames

he is arrested

they arrested pip?

You idiot. The other one

does he get together with estrella?

Wait

after the fire which kills mrs. Avisham

estrella free herself from the old woman and goes with pip

and then they fuck

it doesn't say in the story

i really identified with uncle joe

he was kind and patient with miss gargery

it was like seeing myself with my wife

bube has to hide out because they're after him

and mara decides to stay with him at the hunters' shed

and they fuck

right

and then the party car comes to take them away to russia

does she go with him?

She stays and waits for him

she finds a job

and she goes out with a really nice guy

and they have a lot of fun

and she fuck him too

god, you are disgusting

no, they don't fuck

everyone knows she's bube's girl

and she wants to remain faithful to him

in fact, when bube comes back for the trial

they convict him?

He killed a cop and his son

they won't give him a medal

right, piero?

Are you mansani?

You're expected in the manager's office

order in the court

we can only take three opinions

i think they're going to fire him

i think they're going to promote him

i think they're going to fuck

this way

who wants to see me?

Mr. Paladini, in the conference room

mr. Mansani

dear piero, finally

i trouble you because we wanted to surprise tommaso

today is his birthday do you know my wife?

Diletta, this is piero

chiara, her sister, director of personnel

lucarelli, my son-in-law

the commercial director, mr. Bruni

all set? We have the candle

turn off the lights

you're all crazy, i'm out of here

blow the candles out

speech

his dad spoke, announcing that tommaso was going to the states

since he hadn't done anything in pisa

they sent him to harvard

he said he couldn't wait for tommaso to take his place

so he could enjoy his retirement in cuba with commies and palms

but may be he was joking, who knows

tommaso has told me so much about you and you family

your father, the poor dear

i know

i made you a little package from what was left over, so you can

bring it to your brother and the woman who lives with you

and give them my best regards i mean it, i care

thank you, you shouldn't have

let's go

are you really going to america?

Yeah, but if they think i'm going to study business administration

i already know the low-down on boston's jazz clubs

there's a cool artists' community

it's only two hours by train to new york

why don't you come too?

Me? To do what?

J ust come, you'll see when you get there

maybe one of these days

check it out. Dad's present

useless, i can't even take it to boston

wanna go for a ride?

No, i have to go back in

otherwise your father'll fire me

my friend

good luck

i got you all dirty

when i get there i'll call you and give you my address

i got home depressed that day

as if all i had ahead of me was my pension

luckily, i was wrong

on the luggage rack?

Yeah, thanks

moving?

Yep

i'll put this over there

i found a lovely apartment

top floor, with a view of the fortress

you have to come see me

if you want, right now so i can help

great

i don't pay much either 120,000 with rent control

believe that?

A teacher used to live here but they said she was transferred

i think this is the key i have to change the lock

great

what do you think? Small, but it's got a certain charm

now it's empty, check out the terrace

buricchio

you've never seen him before?

No

think he's hungry? C'mon. I'll give you some milk

see how things turn out?

One person's misfortunes leave room for another's happiness

where solitude and desperation used to live

you can bring back a little i don't know what it called

hope? Joy? Love?

They're all big words but you got the picture

were you careful?

Not me. Were you?

You didn't take, you didn't have

nothing

oh god

honey

what's wrong? Are you crying?

From that day on we saw each other every day

in exchange for some odd jobs i found dinner on the table

not like that, you have to brush

that's why it didn't work

she convinced me to get that damned diploma by self study

unification of italy?

porta pia?

crispi government

18,851,886

colonial policy

that's enough

you want your son to have an ignorant father?

What do i care, i don't have kids and i don't want any

you're not pregnant, are you?

Six weeks

what do we do now?

I didn't tell you so you could decide what to do

i've already decided

you want to keep it

definitely

what if they don't renew my contract what if i'm unemployed?

Who asked you for anything i have a job

i get a year's maternity leave my mom will help me out

are you hungry?

So what, i don't count?

Do what you want

i can tell people that he's the son of a hospital patient

a fallen aristocrat whom i made happy on his death bed

you're joking. You're crazy

a kid is a huge responsibility

i feel sick

poor baby, he's sick

that's right

if it's a girl, you've got to call her givoanna

like joan of arc i was thinking valentina

martina

no, givoanna sounds better giovanna mansani

can i have some water?

I've got something stuck right here

like i ate a hard-boiled egg with the shell

it doesn't go up or down

in j uly i got my diploma

in september we took the leap

the ceremony was nice even though a bit tiring

there was mirko who had married katia

they're expecting a second kid

he risked his life protecting that judge in sicily

then lost his hand in a stupid accident

but not his sense of humor

with the compensation he opened a sandwich bar

he told me, i need a hand

and burst into laughter

every now and then i work for him to make a little extra

dad is almost done going time

if all goes well, he'll be out before christmas

big lvano is doing really well

the doctors finally faced the facts

a swiss psychiatrist from lucca

is writing an article on his case

he goes out alone now and spends time with his african buddies

i'd pay to know what they talk about

and in what language

i figure maybe he's not retarder

maybe he's just a foreigner

giovanna was born in october

everyone says she looks exactly like me when i was a baby

thanks to my diploma i'm working with computers

one day i happened to find

the website of one tommy paladini from boston

he offers catalogs of on-line exhibits bootleg tapes

maps of alternative boston all at give-away prices

one of these days i'm gonna send him some e-mail

every morning before bringing giovanna to daycare

and going to the hospital

susy drive me to work

and rain or shine she always says the same thing

you get more handsome everyday

and i go to work nice and happy

maybe i've become a complete idiot

or maybe just i'm happy except for that sort of

hard- boiled egg inside which doesn't go up or down

but which keeps me company now like an old friend