His Days Are Numbered (1962) - full transcript
A middle-aged plumber quits his job and questions his life after seeing somebody his own age suddenly die from a heart attack on his way to work.
ON BORROWED TIME
With
Story by
Screenplay by
Music by
Editor
Director of Photography
Directed by
Please, gentlemen.
Your ticket, please.
Your ticket, please, sir.
Your ticket, sir.
Your ticket, sir.
He's dead!
He's dead!
Driver! Stop, please!
Get down! Please, get down,
gentlemen!
Come on! Please, get down,
gentlemen!
Let's get down. Come on.
Mr. Cesare!? It's aImost
eight o'cIock.
Mr. Cesare?!
Mrs. Proietti has called.
She says you should
go for that repair.
She says nobody coud wash
themselves this morning.
What am I to tell her?
Alright!
Mr. Cesare, aren't you
feeling well?!
No, no, I'm just fine.
How come you've
dressed so smartly?
Yesterday, I saw a guy
die in the tram.
- Did you make it up?
- No.
But we had, more or less,
the same age.
Yeah, sure, laugh, laugh...
Laugh!
But that one laid there, stiff...
Do you get it?
Heart attack.
Heart... attack...
And he was my age!
That means... your age also.
Do you get it?
One gets in the tram in the morning...
like usually...
fresh like a flower...
and suddenly, the heart... fails!
Don't go by tram anymore...
I'll do something else.
Let's hear it...
I've stopped working.
But you're almost 53 years old...
You're not a child anymore.
It's just because I'm 53 years old.
How much more will I be around?
5, 10... 15 years.
And, who knows, maybe less.
Then you shouldn't have started
working even as a child.
Even new borns die.
At a child, it's a misfortune.
But at our age, we live with death.
Do you understand this?
Do you remember my poor wife?
Strong, sturdy... she seemed in
perfect health, didn't she?
But, then, in 15 days...
she was gone.
Come on, climb up!
But who's gonna support you?
That's the least important thing.
I've got some money put aside.
This means that when it'll be gone...
something will happen.
Did you see it?
Did you see how you die?
Keep it up! Keep on working!
Go on!
- Hey, Ce'! Wake up!
- Come on! It's daybreak!
- I really feel well.
- Yeah, sure, sure.
Sleeping one night in open air,
it already makes you feel younger.
- Amilcare!
- Where're you going?!
Somewhere. Wanna come?
Come. Come with me.
Amilcare. Don't be afraid, come.
Look.
Come here and look.
Takke a look.
This one here was born
the same day I was.
You see?
The 11th of April, 1908.
The same date,
exactIly the same one.
April... 1908.
And what does it mean?
What does it mean...
It means... it means...
Don't you get it?
It means I'm on borrowed time.
- This or that, we all Iive on
borrowed time. - Exactly.
And so, I'll go on hoIiday.
- Show me your identity card.
- Why?
Show it to me.
Come on... Quicklier...
What do you want with it...
it's expired...
Amilcare Franceschetti... painter...
Italian nationality... domicile...
Whar are you doing?!
No!
What are you doing? Where're
you going? Eh?
Where could I go? After all, what
do you want from me?
- Why? - What did I do to you?
Why do you want to harm me?
- I?!
- You wanna make my heart sick?!
If you don't want to do anything, you
don't want to work, don't work.
- I'm tired... wanna go sleep. Gravedigger!
- I?! Gravedi...? Why?!
Come here! Stupid! Come here!
Come here!
- Come on! Let's go! Follow it!
- Get down! I must go to work!
What work? You'll go afterwards!
''WE WANT HOMES!''
- It's the 2nd time we demonstrate for
houses. - Is there a doctor's office here?
- Yes, and I'm the doctor.
- Oh, it's you...
Could you tell me the scientific name
for ticks? - Argas reflexus.
They come from Africa and
can even carry meningitis.
Before making this demostration, have
you notified the authorities?
Yes, in fact we did, but to no avail.
- How many inhabitants are you here?
- We were 11 ,000, but it's only half now.
- And the ticks? Tell me about the ticks.
- Some stray dog mus've got'em, kids took
it inside. - I'll show you the ticks.
- Why, is there a certain place?
- Yes, they're found by kids on the wall.
- Here, look... Here!
- That's where you saw them? - Yes.
- There's a nest! There's a nest!
- There's a nest of big ticks, dog ticks.
And not only here.
In Quarticciolo also.
- So there are more cases.
- The mother passes it to her son.
- Is it dangerous?
- Yes, they prick, they attack...
- Where are you taking them?
- To the slaughterhouse.
- Where?
- To the slaughterhouse!
Sir.
Sir!
What's happened?
- Nothing... Excuse me.
- Leave me alone!
Doesn't matter!
Come on! Cut them.
How come you didn't go
to work this morning?
I work the afternoons.
Ah, the afternoons.
Hearts.
What are you doing!
Play, it's your turn.
Damn it! Now I'll have
to play a trump.
What are you doing? You must first draw
a card. What's with you this morning?
How much I'd like to be able to swim...
Eh? To swim?
Well, learn.
I'm afraid of water.
But, it's so good staying at home
and doing nothing!
Mr. Ce', you're even teaching
her to play cards now?!
Can I have a smoke?
Be careful! Your mother's around!
Smoke, smoke...
Excuse me...
- You've got patience...
- They have to be washed.
- Get lost! Get lost!
- Get lost... And where?
Go take a walk. Don't you see what
a beautiful day it is?
If only I couId go... Get lost!
Good afternoon.
- Your ticket, sir!
- Eh?
- Your ticket.
- But...
- How much is it?
- 300 lire.
- Who painted it?
- Raffaello.
- How much could it cost?
- How should I know...
Not that I intended to buy it, but...
- And this one, whose is it?
- Cranach.
This one is really beautiful, no?
- It's beautiful, this one, eh!
- No.
Why not?
Then how come I like it?
Simply because you like it.
What work do you do?
What has that got to do?
I'm a plumber.
So you're a solderer.
Everyone with his craft.
- Why, are you a painter?
- No, I live among them, I'm an art dealer.
- You're a solderer, no?
- Yes.
What are the connotations of this
painting, eh? Soppiness, melodrama,...
sentimentality
Haven't you ever played
with beautiful figurines?
What do I know about
beautiful figurines?
Then, even this is melodrama,
sentimentality?
This is not melodrama. This is life,
not make-believe.
- It's Raffaello!
- He seems alive!
You see, professor, if one like me
understands only today certain things,
they tell you it's too late.
And this is unjust.
Don't you think so?
Or at least it's sad, isn't it?
No, it's fair. You'd have had to be
Einstein to know more than...
This is the most dramatic
sign of old age.
Why should a 45 years old man have to
get involved with 45 years old women?
Why?
Because one...
come, come to my house, I live here,
in the back, near the lock.
I'd like to show you
something... new...
artistically fulfilled...
somehow distinct... with shapes...
See, yours is a modern problem. You're,
without even knowing it, an existentialist
But... who's in there?
No, no, don't expect finding models,
nude women...
See, my guest paints in a totally
informal manner.
How's that? In...
Informal...
Come, come...
You don't have to understand...
just watch.
Come, come...
Society expresses it's issues...
these paintings...
- Society alienates...
- Alienates...
History in itseIf is...
Well?
Still stuck? That american's waiting.
- I had said an informal one...
- Yeah, sure... - No, this is zilch.
- My friend, the plumber.
- Glad to meet you.
The bog's in there.
Incredible things... these blessed
painters they use lavatory... tub...
for a wastebin... jars, canvases,...
caulifIowers...
and then it gets blocked and...
you need something to clear up...
- Do you have a monkey-wrench?
- I don't, but I can find one.
Please, there, in that corner, on that
brick... spruce it up...
we're trying to make it look decent,
after all, ...
You, you do what... sweep it...
Do it, do it...
We think we know so many things,
but we know nothing! Got it? Nothing!
We are like cats, prisoners in a sack!
- Got it. You have drunk.
- I have drunk...
- If il professore sees you, you're done for
- Why?
Why... Because it's too obvious...
You understand immediateIy what this is,
a zebra crossing!
- Look here!
- No!
- A dot!
- I'll lose my jOb.!
- Go away! - If you'd be a free
man like me... - Mad man!
Yes! I'm mad, and you...
You are mad! You!
Oh, my God, oh, my God!
Oh, my God!
Listen! This stairway, did you climb
it running? - Yes, running.
And it left you breathless.
- You still smoke 30 cigarettes a day?
- Unfortunatelly, yes
- Well, this is it.
- What's wrong with me?
- What did you expect, a giant if you'd
make him smoke 30 cigarettes a day,
and then make him climb a mountain
running would be breathless!
Who knows, then...
where the attack will come from?
What attack?!
Doctor!
What?
- Doctor, I'm afraid!
- Afraid of what?
I'm afraid of... the thing.
- Of cancer.
- I'm afraid also!
What are you saying!
Doctor!
Doctor! I'd like you to tell me...
you surely must know,
you've studied so much and...
- if... you must surely know this.
- What?
I'll tell you, you might think it's a
stupid thing, but...
wouldn't it be possibIe to know
from now when...
will I die?
- Did you take me for a fortune teller?
- No, no, doctor! - Go, go.
Excuse me, you know...
don't be mad... you've known me for so
long examined me for so many years
maybe, just maybe... you must know it...
- At least, at least not now, no?
- No one of us can know it, Cesare.
- How come you don't know?
- But I can't know it!
- Excuse me, there's peopIe waiting for me
- I'll take my jacket
- Thanks, doctor. Good bye.
- Don't worry, good bye.
- Could I have a bath, please?
How much? - 2.50.
- Bath.
- Bath?
Giulia...
You didn't recognise me at first,
did you?
But I, I have recognised you
as soon as I saw you.
You haven't changed a bit.
No, no, you haven't changed.
My God, a little something... that's
bound to, time goes by for all of us...
Look at me...
Will you take the bath?
Eh? Well... sure...
But I don't have anything,
no towel...
no soap, I've got nothing.
I saw you a few times.
One day, you were on Corso Vittorio, with
your wife, I think, five years ago...
Did you? And why didn't
you call for me?
How could I? I was with Rodolfo...
- He's called Rodolfo, your husband is.
- Yes... Come!
- Get in. - Do you know I can't remember
anymore why we didn't get married?
- I do remeber. You didn't want to.
- I?
I didn't want to? I was saving money!
What money? The one you were playing
every evening at the cafe?
If I, afterwards... I'd have looked for you
after you had married the other one,
Why ask me these questions now?
And if...
I'd have stopped you, asked you to see
each from time to time...
would you have said yes?
How should I know?
- It's ready. Take your bath.
- Couldn't we meet again? - Why?
Nothing. I just wanted to spend
some time with you, speak...
What's there to speak about?!
Alright.
Go! I got things to do.
I've got to make important decisions.
I need help.
Why shouldn't we meet one of these days?
In front of the Giulio Cesare Cinema...
- In front of a cinema? - Yes, yes.
- What's with all this, Ce'?
Yes... step in, please.
I've got a
husband, children...
I even am a grandmother, and we
are to meet in front of a cinema!
You must come, Giulia.
I must have your advice.
- Giulia.!
- Are you mad?
Departure Of Air France flighT
Number 609 to Paris.
- Excuse me, where does it fly to?
- To Paris.
Excuse me... Wouldn't there be
a smaller flight available?
- What do you mean?
- I don't know... a short flight,
if not a small tour, above the city...
Then, sir, you should go
to Aeroporto dell'Urbe.
Yes. Yes, hello?
Thank you.
Look who's here, Robertino!
Come, hug your grandpa!
Now, grandpa's going to give
you a pack of sweets.
Why have you come?
You need money?
What are you talking about, papa?!
I haven't seen you for so long...
- Take the child
- Come to papa, come
Exactly.
Since the last time you
needed money.
Now, if Robertino gives grandpa
a big kiss
He's old, and miserable, grandpa
gives him the sweets.
Just a moment, the kiss first!
A nice kiss. I wanna feel it!
- Have you eaten yet?
- Yes.
- And you've even drunk.
- Yes.
You smell it.
What do you intend doing?
- You bring it out at last? - What do you
intend doing? - What do you care?
What do you mean
what do I care?!
I've been working until half an hour ago.
But I still can't afford to rest.
Maybe in a few years time... I don't
know, but at first I must settle down.
Allow me to get started
and then we'll see...
I get it. You want to
retire me... naturally.
When I'll be stenching, no?
Papa, don't be childish!
No need to call me 'papa'. If you're
tired rest for a while.
You're thinking about how much wouId
supporting me cost. True?
Come here, you! Let's not allow the
child to hear us this way. Take him home.
Good bye, Robertino. Kiss grandpa.
Come on.
Take him... Come on, go.
Go!
- Isn't Graziella eating tonight?
- She's working very late, poor soul
Oh, yes?!
I don't even know where
to go this evening.
I really haven't decided.
- Try seeing the Coliseum lit.
- Oh, yes...
What are you talking about...
It's only a big scam!
Then go at the station... see
all those people
I've really thought about that.
- But... same thing as going to bed, no?
- Sleeping?! Go in a night club.
What should I do in a night club?
Watch the others having fun?
I'm not even hungry tonight!
Sometimes, I think I don't care about
anything anymore.
Will this story go on long, Ce'?
Or will it end with you telling me one
evening you don't have the board money?
Here's Jupiter! Average
distance, 777 million km.
And Saturn? - 50 lire
- 50 lire. Here's 50 lire
- Please.
- Thank you. - Don't touch it, yes?
1,400, 000, 000 km. Watch it.
Admire those rings!
They look like a priest's hat!
What are you looking at?
Have you told my mother anything?
No.
Mr. Cesare, I wanted to tell
you one thing.
I don't want to hear anything
you've got to say.
But don't you want to help me?
I just did what you did.
I've stopped workin'.
But what are you saying?
In fact, I've had the idea
before you did.
I've quit my job two months ago!
- Does your mother know it?
- No.
At the end of the month
I givve her my pay, like before.
What do you imagine?
I've worked all my life.
I.
Since I was 12 years old. I'm oIld.
I'm 54. Do you get it?
And I'm 17.
You get money from those
with cars? Eh?
It's someone I've known
for a long time.
He's nice to me.
But he's old!
He's your age!
And you're not at all old.
- I... I'm ashamed.
- What for?
'What for'?
To hear you talking like this.
I wanted to have fun.
Mr. Cesare.
Do you think I didn't look
for other jobs?
I had even found one.
But it was a cashier's job.
They asked for a deposit. 50,000 lire.
Who was going to give it to me?
How could I find 50,000 lire?
I don't care anymore.
30...
40...
and with these ones, 50. Here's your
50,000 lire.
But start working again! Got it?
Go immediateIy back to work!
Go! Or I'll let your mother know.
And when must I give it back to you?
100 llire per month.
Are you ready, Amilcare?
Let's go, Spartacus!
I'm not bathing, the water's cold.
So many people!
I often feel like stopping them,
one after the other.
Who?
All these ones.
They always are the same ones.
And why wouId you want to stop them?
To speak to one another, to find out what
they do, where they go, what they think.
But what do you care about it?
What do you care?
You walk amidst strangers, get it?
How many human beings
have I known in my life?
One hundred?
Two hundred?
What?! Three hundred, tops! Isn't it?
You don't care you don't
know your fellow men.
The most one does is read
in the papers:
cuts open his wife, six children,
then kills himself.
Or:
cuts his father's head, then
runs away, and so on.
I see to my business.
After all I know nothing
about anything.
I don't even know a Russian!
Got it?
What do you want to be
when you grow up?
- I? Nothing.
- How's that 'nothing'?
- You'll have to do something, isn't it?
- I... astronaul.
Astronaut!
- And you, what's your trade?
- I'm a solderer.
I'm a solderer, my friend...
A good trade! What do you think!
You play around with the blowtorch!
Pipes break down in houses, and then
everyone's calling for you:
rich, poor, film stars, Ministers,
Cardinals, you go in everyone's home!
- Got it?!
- Which houses?
- What's happened?
- Someone has drowned!
- Has one of us drowned?
- What am I to do with you?!
- Why? - Where have you been? We've been
looking for you for an hour!
- But I was here, on the beach!
- The hell of a fright you've given us!
- You though it was him that had drownwed?
- Yes, him!
There's nothing! Nothing! It's a scam!
The one that should have died is alive!
Imagine!... Had I really drowned...
More, imagine the three of us...
we are dead!
We are three... ghosts!
LOOk.!
LOOk.! LOOk.!
You see?
You see the people?
The people have fun.
All of them.
They all have fun.
We are dead and all goes on as before,
without us.
You're a fun-killer!
I... I try to understand.
I'm tearing myself apart to understand!
That's what it is!
Hi!
I've aIready bought tickets.
Look at her! You've bought new shoes!
Oh, Ce', what a fun-killer you are!
Why fun-killer?
What did you want to tell me?
Nothing. You know...
I wanted to be with you a little,
I wanted your advice, because...
I don't know, strange things have been
happening to me for these last days,
I feel I'm getting a little crazy...
Nothing bad...
I don't know, maybe I've decided
to return to my home village
but here it's not the place to speak about
this kind of things. Let's see the movie!
- Where's your hand?
- No...
- I don't even have my glasses...
- God how they're shooting!
Thank you.
- What are you doing? I'm no seat!
- I'm sorry, I'm sorry
- There's no excuse!
- Please, don't get angry.
- What happened?
- Oh, nothing, I've only sat on someone.
It's so dark...
I'm sorry. I'm deeply sorry.
- Do you want... my glasses?
- No, thank you.
I'll do without.
- What are you looking at?
- Eh? Nothing.
What did you want to tell me?
What are you doing here?
Haven't you gone to work?
How was it? They wouldn't
give you the job?
I didn't even go.
And what have you done with
the money I've given you?
I've bought a periwig.
A... what?
A periwig.
What's this?
You've bought yourself a wig?
A wig?!
That's madness!
I shouldn't have spent that money, no?
I took 50,000 lire from my pocket and
gave it to you so you could pay the... the
the deposit.
And you go buy yourself a... a periwig!
But that's laughabel upon my word!
Don't worry about the money.
Somehow...
I'll pay it back.
You'll pay it back... how will
you pay it back?
I don't like being in debt.
Please...
Lucky you!
Life, you understand,...
Years go by.
They go by.
They go by, they go by...
And how they do go by!
Do as you like!
Are you alone?
This is called The Drops Mountain...
Nobody ever comes here...
who knows why...
They say that in Antiquity here was
the Roman Customs.
They broke all the jars... Oil jars...
All in pieces.
It must be because of the climb.
It has even worn me down.
Do you want to make
a drama out of it?
Stop it!
- Who are they mad on?
- With the wholesalers, who else!
- But why? - 'cause they buy the fruits
cheap and sell them pricily.
- Damn bastards.
- That's how it goes.
What do you want?
I appologize, ma'am, I only wanted
to take a look.
Come in.
Thank you.
- These are americans, no?
- Yes.
- Well?
- There, inside...
- that's where I was born.
- Have you finished?
Oh, yes.
Good bye, then.
Good bye... and thank you.
- I sell it 'cause I need the
money for my family!
- If you want, give it to them! I won't!
If I have to take from the tree, I won't!
I need the money! I ned the money!
- And what about your rights?
- What rights! The money!
Then wholesale dealers
Will always win!
I can't recognize noone here anymore.
Some went to Rome, some to America...
some are dead...
- Who has died?- For instance,
SempIlice Santurri, the postman
- The one a with a little hunchback.
- Ah, Semplice Santurri, I think I remember
- What did he die of?
- DruNnkard.
That's why I only drink when eating.
You should know that around here,
wine is for killing time.
By the way, how much does
land cost around here?
They shove earth in your face. They give
it away, 'cause nobody works it anymore!
- If you don't mind...
- Please do.
- Oh my God you don't recognise me!
- Who are you?
How come who am I?
I'm Cesare!
Constantino! Know what I've decided?
I've decided to return here, home.
We are good here. I'm pleased.
Little work and can sleep a Iot.
Here's real wine.
Bread from flower.
Let's go!
What is it? Come on! Come on!
We have arrived.
- Thank you. Good bye.
- Good bye.
'FORWARD'
I'm coming. I'm coming.
But can an existence made of thousand
identical moments be called a life?
A chain of imposed moves and steps?
Without a holiday or a getaway!
A job he didn't like,
and a family...
that didn't love him!
365 days a year, for more than 40 years...
You are the ones...
That should send this maN into prison.
- No!
But what else has his life been
until this very day?
If not darkness, prison! Penitenciary!
Forced labour!
Forced residence!
It's true.
Silence! Or I'll evacuate
the court room!
- What has she done?
- Her son got 15 years.
15 years!
- And he's innocent!
- Categoricaly not! Rape...
attempted murder, caught in the act...
Categoricaly not!
- Congratulations. - Congratulations.
- Thank you. Good afternoon.
- A cappuccino.
- Immediately, your excellency.
- Good afternoon, your excellency.
- Good afternoon.
- A magnificent speech!
- Congratulations.
- It was the perfect closing argument!
- Please! A brioche!
- Excuse me, sir, but who is that one?
- It's Sigurette, the Prosecutor.
he has just made one of those closing
arguments... Two life imprisonments.
- Two life imprisonments?
- Yes, two.
Ce'!
- Hi!
- What are you doing here?
- GIad to meet you.
- GIad to meet you.
Oh, nothing. I've got nothing to do.
So I come here to kill time.
At the bad Palace.
To see what's happening. What are
you doing here?
There's a little thing... I'm a witness.
- Witness at what?
- A law-suit, a friend...
Do you who know he is? He taught me
being a solderer. I worked in his shop.
The only thing I know how to do.
- Listen, Ce'... - What?
Listen...
- Is it true you don't want to work anymore?
- Yes.
I mean... what will you do
when money runs out?
It has already run out.
- What will you do, steal?
- Come on...
I'll teach you a scam
Nice, quick, three big ones!
- They'd all do it!
- Sure, all... There's the fright.
You have to make a sacrifice.
The judge won't wait for us!
Let's move it!
Ciao, Ce'!
Hurry up! Are you coming? Move it!
We already are half an hour late!
Move it!
- Everything's ready. Come back the day
after tomorrow. Don't forget, please!
If you please, where should I go for
craftmen's pensions?
If you please, here's for pensions?
- What's your trade?
Plumber.
- For how long?
- Almost 30.
- What's your name?
- Conversi Cesare.
- How oId are you?
- 53.
- 60 are needed.
- Oh, yes?
How much do I get at 60?
From 12,000 to...
- 12,500.
- How much?
Around 12, 000. And a little more.
I'm no Bank of Italy!
Enough it's enough!
And with those I gave you yesterday,
it makes 7,000.
You do as you want...
but if you wanna eat, you must toil!
It's easy doing nothing,
and making us work!
Go at your son, at least!
What am I to do?
What do you want?
Listen!
You must tell me something.
You must tell me how much can a man
like you make in one day?
I don't speak with you.
I don't speak with anyone.
What do you care?
The check.
- Alright. 2,007. Keep the change.
- Thank you.
- 2,007? - Sure. We've eaten fish, chicken
and the wine...
- And you even gave her a 300 tip!
- Sure. Of course.
- Have you gone mad?
- Why?
I don't know, you probabIy eat like this,
only once a week, or even a month.
Hey, I eat everyday, you know. I don't
care a damn about anyone.
I do anything. I steal, I only think about
myself, I think about protecting myself!
Have you ever helped anyone?
No one.
Must hold tight! You must defend
yourself! You must steal!
Got it? Hold tight!
For instance:
I'll give you a very simple one.
Watch the bus.
Keep watching it!
When it leaves, there's always a... jump.
watch it.
I'm impressed.
- Exactly.
- Yes.
It's legal.
So, when the bus starts, you fall
and pretend you hit your head.
And if you know how to do it,
the transport company...
pays.
- Got it? It's a very simple trick.
Yes.
It's simple.
You can even do it without
any organization.
It's a loner's job!...
You don't make much!
- Counselor, he is Ce'. - Glad to
meet you. - Glad to meet you.
You must subtract 30% from the
insurance money.
Let's say you get 3,000,000.
The net sum you get is 2,100,000.
That's how it is.
Yes, that's how it is!
First of all, there is my cut. I don't
want any percentage, but a fixed cut!
Then there's us.
You must give us two 5%.
- And there's the executioner.
- Who?
The executioner is extremely important.
He's a technician.
It's in your best interes for him to be
chosen with the utmost care.
Executioner...
Hello?! Yes, speaking. One second.
Please go in the garden.
Come on, let's go!
- What executioner?
- He must be very precise, like a surgeon.
I know one better than Valdoni.
It's nothing, I've done it three times.
You'll see.
- Yeah, sure.
Only one hit. The arm breaks
exactly at the right place.
Yeah, yeah... who knows how
strong the pain will be!
Excuse me, besides this...
technician, is there anyone
else to be paid?
Well, the driver... -Eh? - The one who is
supposed to have run you down.
- Pardon?
- He'll take 100,000.
And the witness.
I can't go to the courthouse
without a witness!
Think about it!
It seems simple to me!
Do you know I like you?
You remind me of my father.
For him I started doing 'accidents'.
I organized it.
The flakes 'accident'.
You want an ice-cream?
- No.
Cream, chocolate and caramel.
Take the peanuts.
- What did you break him, your father?
- A leg.
This one.
Who could say the pain
the poor old man felt?
He didn't feel anything.
He got scared. Courage!
- But then...
- Then?
What was the scam?
I broke him a finger. This one.
30,000. Peanuts!
What do you advise me?
An arm or aleg?
A leg. It pays more.
But it's more difficult.
Better an arm.
Maybe.
But it pays less.
A leg...
or an arm.
Mr. Ce'.!
- Who is it? - Vinicio, on the phone,
says he wants to talk to you.
Nothing, nothing, tell him that...
that I'm not here. I'm not here!
It only takes an instant, you'll see.
Once it's done, we'll take you outside, on
the street, where we've set everything up.
You'll see they'll gather round, one will
notice you have a broken arm
they'll say you must be taken
to a hospital. Let them take care of it.
- Got it?
- Vinicio!
- All set?
- All set.
The car's here. Waits the signal.
The witness also, he's in the bar.
- This is...
- Cesare. - Glad to meet you.
You must take off your jacket.
- Alright.
- Got it?
You must roll the sleeve
of your shirt, got it? - Yes.
- You must roll... - Stay calm, don't
butt in - Courage!
Yes, courage. Courage.
- I've already done it three times.
- Yes? Then show me! Courage.
Don't you question my courage, I've
got it, just hurry up.
Let's do it!
- What am I to do?
- Nothing.
- I...
- Get down.
- Come on!
- Eh? What? - Nothing.
Sit. Like this.
- Like this?
- Like this.
- You've got guts, I won't harm you.
- What? What?...
Very well. I won't harm you.
Very well.
I won't harm you. When the arm will be
numb, you'll tell me. Got it?
It'll be numb?
- Yes.
- Vinicio!
- I'm here.
Tell me...
Listen... are we sure that they're paying
more for the right one?
Yes, of course. You're right-handed,
they pay more for the right arm.
I understand.
Talk to me!
Talk! Talk!
Say anything..
say all that you want. Talk! Talk!
- Talk, talk... - The money, Cesare,
think at the money.
- Think at the money, Cesare!
- The money
You'll take a nice trip!
You'll take a woman! Two!
- Three!
- Four.
- Think! You won't work anymore!
- Hope so!
You'll never work again in your life!
You'll buy a piece of land!
In your county!
Where has he gone?
At Maiacane.
At Taormina. Cesare!
I think it's numb.
I don't feel anything anymore.
Fuck it!
Hey, I could have busted his arm!
I'm sorry! I'm sorry!
Come on! Come on!
Come on, try again!
I swear, this time... this time
I won't move!
Cesare! What happened?
I'm sorry! It was a...
moment...
Come on!
Cesare! You must stay calm...
- Yes. Of course.
- If not, it's worse, he could hurt you.
- Yes, yes... where has he gone?
- Don't think about it.
Look at me. If you do such things,
everything is much more complicated.
Don't look, it's worse! One second, and
everything's over!
I don't want to watch!
But you shouldn't hold me!
I'm scared! I'm scared! I'm scared,
I'll never be able to do it!
I'm not used with such things, be patient,
excuse me, but it's not my fault!
- But now, we'll do it, yes?
- No!
Come here!
- Let me go! Let me go!
- Come here!
You won't get out of here without
a broken arm, got it?
- But why? What did I do to you?
- Think about it, 2 million!
I don't want them! I don't want them,
you understand?
I prefer to beg!
Coward!
I'll break your arm!
Scram!
SCram.!
Beggar!
You're a beggar!
What? Is it my fault?
He's afraid.
He's old.
Oh, my God!
It's too much...
- Hi.
- Hi.
From tomorrow...
I'll go back to work.
I'm tired, Ce'.
This evening...
I'd give anything
to be somewhere else.
Even there,look...
There...
Anywhere...
But not here.
Says work is a necessity...
says that without work gets bored...
What can you do?
Perfect!
We are finished.
Anyway, I did it! Now it's your turn, no?
If you wanna give it a flush...
And says there's also something to gain...
Work, says, doesn't let you think,
it drives thoughts away.
- Where did you spend the holidays this
year, Cavaliere? - In Rome.
- Rome. How come you didn't go to Palermo?
- Soon we'll be spending them on the Moon!
You're right. And this is my space ship!
- What happened?
- Oh, Ce', thanks God!
- Ce', come see what happened. - What did
you do,ma'am? Build a swimming pool?
- Eh, no... - Don't you have a tap?
- No, it broke down.
More, more!
''TITOV IS BACK ON EARTH''
Sir. Sir! We have arrived.
THE END
With
Story by
Screenplay by
Music by
Editor
Director of Photography
Directed by
Please, gentlemen.
Your ticket, please.
Your ticket, please, sir.
Your ticket, sir.
Your ticket, sir.
He's dead!
He's dead!
Driver! Stop, please!
Get down! Please, get down,
gentlemen!
Come on! Please, get down,
gentlemen!
Let's get down. Come on.
Mr. Cesare!? It's aImost
eight o'cIock.
Mr. Cesare?!
Mrs. Proietti has called.
She says you should
go for that repair.
She says nobody coud wash
themselves this morning.
What am I to tell her?
Alright!
Mr. Cesare, aren't you
feeling well?!
No, no, I'm just fine.
How come you've
dressed so smartly?
Yesterday, I saw a guy
die in the tram.
- Did you make it up?
- No.
But we had, more or less,
the same age.
Yeah, sure, laugh, laugh...
Laugh!
But that one laid there, stiff...
Do you get it?
Heart attack.
Heart... attack...
And he was my age!
That means... your age also.
Do you get it?
One gets in the tram in the morning...
like usually...
fresh like a flower...
and suddenly, the heart... fails!
Don't go by tram anymore...
I'll do something else.
Let's hear it...
I've stopped working.
But you're almost 53 years old...
You're not a child anymore.
It's just because I'm 53 years old.
How much more will I be around?
5, 10... 15 years.
And, who knows, maybe less.
Then you shouldn't have started
working even as a child.
Even new borns die.
At a child, it's a misfortune.
But at our age, we live with death.
Do you understand this?
Do you remember my poor wife?
Strong, sturdy... she seemed in
perfect health, didn't she?
But, then, in 15 days...
she was gone.
Come on, climb up!
But who's gonna support you?
That's the least important thing.
I've got some money put aside.
This means that when it'll be gone...
something will happen.
Did you see it?
Did you see how you die?
Keep it up! Keep on working!
Go on!
- Hey, Ce'! Wake up!
- Come on! It's daybreak!
- I really feel well.
- Yeah, sure, sure.
Sleeping one night in open air,
it already makes you feel younger.
- Amilcare!
- Where're you going?!
Somewhere. Wanna come?
Come. Come with me.
Amilcare. Don't be afraid, come.
Look.
Come here and look.
Takke a look.
This one here was born
the same day I was.
You see?
The 11th of April, 1908.
The same date,
exactIly the same one.
April... 1908.
And what does it mean?
What does it mean...
It means... it means...
Don't you get it?
It means I'm on borrowed time.
- This or that, we all Iive on
borrowed time. - Exactly.
And so, I'll go on hoIiday.
- Show me your identity card.
- Why?
Show it to me.
Come on... Quicklier...
What do you want with it...
it's expired...
Amilcare Franceschetti... painter...
Italian nationality... domicile...
Whar are you doing?!
No!
What are you doing? Where're
you going? Eh?
Where could I go? After all, what
do you want from me?
- Why? - What did I do to you?
Why do you want to harm me?
- I?!
- You wanna make my heart sick?!
If you don't want to do anything, you
don't want to work, don't work.
- I'm tired... wanna go sleep. Gravedigger!
- I?! Gravedi...? Why?!
Come here! Stupid! Come here!
Come here!
- Come on! Let's go! Follow it!
- Get down! I must go to work!
What work? You'll go afterwards!
''WE WANT HOMES!''
- It's the 2nd time we demonstrate for
houses. - Is there a doctor's office here?
- Yes, and I'm the doctor.
- Oh, it's you...
Could you tell me the scientific name
for ticks? - Argas reflexus.
They come from Africa and
can even carry meningitis.
Before making this demostration, have
you notified the authorities?
Yes, in fact we did, but to no avail.
- How many inhabitants are you here?
- We were 11 ,000, but it's only half now.
- And the ticks? Tell me about the ticks.
- Some stray dog mus've got'em, kids took
it inside. - I'll show you the ticks.
- Why, is there a certain place?
- Yes, they're found by kids on the wall.
- Here, look... Here!
- That's where you saw them? - Yes.
- There's a nest! There's a nest!
- There's a nest of big ticks, dog ticks.
And not only here.
In Quarticciolo also.
- So there are more cases.
- The mother passes it to her son.
- Is it dangerous?
- Yes, they prick, they attack...
- Where are you taking them?
- To the slaughterhouse.
- Where?
- To the slaughterhouse!
Sir.
Sir!
What's happened?
- Nothing... Excuse me.
- Leave me alone!
Doesn't matter!
Come on! Cut them.
How come you didn't go
to work this morning?
I work the afternoons.
Ah, the afternoons.
Hearts.
What are you doing!
Play, it's your turn.
Damn it! Now I'll have
to play a trump.
What are you doing? You must first draw
a card. What's with you this morning?
How much I'd like to be able to swim...
Eh? To swim?
Well, learn.
I'm afraid of water.
But, it's so good staying at home
and doing nothing!
Mr. Ce', you're even teaching
her to play cards now?!
Can I have a smoke?
Be careful! Your mother's around!
Smoke, smoke...
Excuse me...
- You've got patience...
- They have to be washed.
- Get lost! Get lost!
- Get lost... And where?
Go take a walk. Don't you see what
a beautiful day it is?
If only I couId go... Get lost!
Good afternoon.
- Your ticket, sir!
- Eh?
- Your ticket.
- But...
- How much is it?
- 300 lire.
- Who painted it?
- Raffaello.
- How much could it cost?
- How should I know...
Not that I intended to buy it, but...
- And this one, whose is it?
- Cranach.
This one is really beautiful, no?
- It's beautiful, this one, eh!
- No.
Why not?
Then how come I like it?
Simply because you like it.
What work do you do?
What has that got to do?
I'm a plumber.
So you're a solderer.
Everyone with his craft.
- Why, are you a painter?
- No, I live among them, I'm an art dealer.
- You're a solderer, no?
- Yes.
What are the connotations of this
painting, eh? Soppiness, melodrama,...
sentimentality
Haven't you ever played
with beautiful figurines?
What do I know about
beautiful figurines?
Then, even this is melodrama,
sentimentality?
This is not melodrama. This is life,
not make-believe.
- It's Raffaello!
- He seems alive!
You see, professor, if one like me
understands only today certain things,
they tell you it's too late.
And this is unjust.
Don't you think so?
Or at least it's sad, isn't it?
No, it's fair. You'd have had to be
Einstein to know more than...
This is the most dramatic
sign of old age.
Why should a 45 years old man have to
get involved with 45 years old women?
Why?
Because one...
come, come to my house, I live here,
in the back, near the lock.
I'd like to show you
something... new...
artistically fulfilled...
somehow distinct... with shapes...
See, yours is a modern problem. You're,
without even knowing it, an existentialist
But... who's in there?
No, no, don't expect finding models,
nude women...
See, my guest paints in a totally
informal manner.
How's that? In...
Informal...
Come, come...
You don't have to understand...
just watch.
Come, come...
Society expresses it's issues...
these paintings...
- Society alienates...
- Alienates...
History in itseIf is...
Well?
Still stuck? That american's waiting.
- I had said an informal one...
- Yeah, sure... - No, this is zilch.
- My friend, the plumber.
- Glad to meet you.
The bog's in there.
Incredible things... these blessed
painters they use lavatory... tub...
for a wastebin... jars, canvases,...
caulifIowers...
and then it gets blocked and...
you need something to clear up...
- Do you have a monkey-wrench?
- I don't, but I can find one.
Please, there, in that corner, on that
brick... spruce it up...
we're trying to make it look decent,
after all, ...
You, you do what... sweep it...
Do it, do it...
We think we know so many things,
but we know nothing! Got it? Nothing!
We are like cats, prisoners in a sack!
- Got it. You have drunk.
- I have drunk...
- If il professore sees you, you're done for
- Why?
Why... Because it's too obvious...
You understand immediateIy what this is,
a zebra crossing!
- Look here!
- No!
- A dot!
- I'll lose my jOb.!
- Go away! - If you'd be a free
man like me... - Mad man!
Yes! I'm mad, and you...
You are mad! You!
Oh, my God, oh, my God!
Oh, my God!
Listen! This stairway, did you climb
it running? - Yes, running.
And it left you breathless.
- You still smoke 30 cigarettes a day?
- Unfortunatelly, yes
- Well, this is it.
- What's wrong with me?
- What did you expect, a giant if you'd
make him smoke 30 cigarettes a day,
and then make him climb a mountain
running would be breathless!
Who knows, then...
where the attack will come from?
What attack?!
Doctor!
What?
- Doctor, I'm afraid!
- Afraid of what?
I'm afraid of... the thing.
- Of cancer.
- I'm afraid also!
What are you saying!
Doctor!
Doctor! I'd like you to tell me...
you surely must know,
you've studied so much and...
- if... you must surely know this.
- What?
I'll tell you, you might think it's a
stupid thing, but...
wouldn't it be possibIe to know
from now when...
will I die?
- Did you take me for a fortune teller?
- No, no, doctor! - Go, go.
Excuse me, you know...
don't be mad... you've known me for so
long examined me for so many years
maybe, just maybe... you must know it...
- At least, at least not now, no?
- No one of us can know it, Cesare.
- How come you don't know?
- But I can't know it!
- Excuse me, there's peopIe waiting for me
- I'll take my jacket
- Thanks, doctor. Good bye.
- Don't worry, good bye.
- Could I have a bath, please?
How much? - 2.50.
- Bath.
- Bath?
Giulia...
You didn't recognise me at first,
did you?
But I, I have recognised you
as soon as I saw you.
You haven't changed a bit.
No, no, you haven't changed.
My God, a little something... that's
bound to, time goes by for all of us...
Look at me...
Will you take the bath?
Eh? Well... sure...
But I don't have anything,
no towel...
no soap, I've got nothing.
I saw you a few times.
One day, you were on Corso Vittorio, with
your wife, I think, five years ago...
Did you? And why didn't
you call for me?
How could I? I was with Rodolfo...
- He's called Rodolfo, your husband is.
- Yes... Come!
- Get in. - Do you know I can't remember
anymore why we didn't get married?
- I do remeber. You didn't want to.
- I?
I didn't want to? I was saving money!
What money? The one you were playing
every evening at the cafe?
If I, afterwards... I'd have looked for you
after you had married the other one,
Why ask me these questions now?
And if...
I'd have stopped you, asked you to see
each from time to time...
would you have said yes?
How should I know?
- It's ready. Take your bath.
- Couldn't we meet again? - Why?
Nothing. I just wanted to spend
some time with you, speak...
What's there to speak about?!
Alright.
Go! I got things to do.
I've got to make important decisions.
I need help.
Why shouldn't we meet one of these days?
In front of the Giulio Cesare Cinema...
- In front of a cinema? - Yes, yes.
- What's with all this, Ce'?
Yes... step in, please.
I've got a
husband, children...
I even am a grandmother, and we
are to meet in front of a cinema!
You must come, Giulia.
I must have your advice.
- Giulia.!
- Are you mad?
Departure Of Air France flighT
Number 609 to Paris.
- Excuse me, where does it fly to?
- To Paris.
Excuse me... Wouldn't there be
a smaller flight available?
- What do you mean?
- I don't know... a short flight,
if not a small tour, above the city...
Then, sir, you should go
to Aeroporto dell'Urbe.
Yes. Yes, hello?
Thank you.
Look who's here, Robertino!
Come, hug your grandpa!
Now, grandpa's going to give
you a pack of sweets.
Why have you come?
You need money?
What are you talking about, papa?!
I haven't seen you for so long...
- Take the child
- Come to papa, come
Exactly.
Since the last time you
needed money.
Now, if Robertino gives grandpa
a big kiss
He's old, and miserable, grandpa
gives him the sweets.
Just a moment, the kiss first!
A nice kiss. I wanna feel it!
- Have you eaten yet?
- Yes.
- And you've even drunk.
- Yes.
You smell it.
What do you intend doing?
- You bring it out at last? - What do you
intend doing? - What do you care?
What do you mean
what do I care?!
I've been working until half an hour ago.
But I still can't afford to rest.
Maybe in a few years time... I don't
know, but at first I must settle down.
Allow me to get started
and then we'll see...
I get it. You want to
retire me... naturally.
When I'll be stenching, no?
Papa, don't be childish!
No need to call me 'papa'. If you're
tired rest for a while.
You're thinking about how much wouId
supporting me cost. True?
Come here, you! Let's not allow the
child to hear us this way. Take him home.
Good bye, Robertino. Kiss grandpa.
Come on.
Take him... Come on, go.
Go!
- Isn't Graziella eating tonight?
- She's working very late, poor soul
Oh, yes?!
I don't even know where
to go this evening.
I really haven't decided.
- Try seeing the Coliseum lit.
- Oh, yes...
What are you talking about...
It's only a big scam!
Then go at the station... see
all those people
I've really thought about that.
- But... same thing as going to bed, no?
- Sleeping?! Go in a night club.
What should I do in a night club?
Watch the others having fun?
I'm not even hungry tonight!
Sometimes, I think I don't care about
anything anymore.
Will this story go on long, Ce'?
Or will it end with you telling me one
evening you don't have the board money?
Here's Jupiter! Average
distance, 777 million km.
And Saturn? - 50 lire
- 50 lire. Here's 50 lire
- Please.
- Thank you. - Don't touch it, yes?
1,400, 000, 000 km. Watch it.
Admire those rings!
They look like a priest's hat!
What are you looking at?
Have you told my mother anything?
No.
Mr. Cesare, I wanted to tell
you one thing.
I don't want to hear anything
you've got to say.
But don't you want to help me?
I just did what you did.
I've stopped workin'.
But what are you saying?
In fact, I've had the idea
before you did.
I've quit my job two months ago!
- Does your mother know it?
- No.
At the end of the month
I givve her my pay, like before.
What do you imagine?
I've worked all my life.
I.
Since I was 12 years old. I'm oIld.
I'm 54. Do you get it?
And I'm 17.
You get money from those
with cars? Eh?
It's someone I've known
for a long time.
He's nice to me.
But he's old!
He's your age!
And you're not at all old.
- I... I'm ashamed.
- What for?
'What for'?
To hear you talking like this.
I wanted to have fun.
Mr. Cesare.
Do you think I didn't look
for other jobs?
I had even found one.
But it was a cashier's job.
They asked for a deposit. 50,000 lire.
Who was going to give it to me?
How could I find 50,000 lire?
I don't care anymore.
30...
40...
and with these ones, 50. Here's your
50,000 lire.
But start working again! Got it?
Go immediateIy back to work!
Go! Or I'll let your mother know.
And when must I give it back to you?
100 llire per month.
Are you ready, Amilcare?
Let's go, Spartacus!
I'm not bathing, the water's cold.
So many people!
I often feel like stopping them,
one after the other.
Who?
All these ones.
They always are the same ones.
And why wouId you want to stop them?
To speak to one another, to find out what
they do, where they go, what they think.
But what do you care about it?
What do you care?
You walk amidst strangers, get it?
How many human beings
have I known in my life?
One hundred?
Two hundred?
What?! Three hundred, tops! Isn't it?
You don't care you don't
know your fellow men.
The most one does is read
in the papers:
cuts open his wife, six children,
then kills himself.
Or:
cuts his father's head, then
runs away, and so on.
I see to my business.
After all I know nothing
about anything.
I don't even know a Russian!
Got it?
What do you want to be
when you grow up?
- I? Nothing.
- How's that 'nothing'?
- You'll have to do something, isn't it?
- I... astronaul.
Astronaut!
- And you, what's your trade?
- I'm a solderer.
I'm a solderer, my friend...
A good trade! What do you think!
You play around with the blowtorch!
Pipes break down in houses, and then
everyone's calling for you:
rich, poor, film stars, Ministers,
Cardinals, you go in everyone's home!
- Got it?!
- Which houses?
- What's happened?
- Someone has drowned!
- Has one of us drowned?
- What am I to do with you?!
- Why? - Where have you been? We've been
looking for you for an hour!
- But I was here, on the beach!
- The hell of a fright you've given us!
- You though it was him that had drownwed?
- Yes, him!
There's nothing! Nothing! It's a scam!
The one that should have died is alive!
Imagine!... Had I really drowned...
More, imagine the three of us...
we are dead!
We are three... ghosts!
LOOk.!
LOOk.! LOOk.!
You see?
You see the people?
The people have fun.
All of them.
They all have fun.
We are dead and all goes on as before,
without us.
You're a fun-killer!
I... I try to understand.
I'm tearing myself apart to understand!
That's what it is!
Hi!
I've aIready bought tickets.
Look at her! You've bought new shoes!
Oh, Ce', what a fun-killer you are!
Why fun-killer?
What did you want to tell me?
Nothing. You know...
I wanted to be with you a little,
I wanted your advice, because...
I don't know, strange things have been
happening to me for these last days,
I feel I'm getting a little crazy...
Nothing bad...
I don't know, maybe I've decided
to return to my home village
but here it's not the place to speak about
this kind of things. Let's see the movie!
- Where's your hand?
- No...
- I don't even have my glasses...
- God how they're shooting!
Thank you.
- What are you doing? I'm no seat!
- I'm sorry, I'm sorry
- There's no excuse!
- Please, don't get angry.
- What happened?
- Oh, nothing, I've only sat on someone.
It's so dark...
I'm sorry. I'm deeply sorry.
- Do you want... my glasses?
- No, thank you.
I'll do without.
- What are you looking at?
- Eh? Nothing.
What did you want to tell me?
What are you doing here?
Haven't you gone to work?
How was it? They wouldn't
give you the job?
I didn't even go.
And what have you done with
the money I've given you?
I've bought a periwig.
A... what?
A periwig.
What's this?
You've bought yourself a wig?
A wig?!
That's madness!
I shouldn't have spent that money, no?
I took 50,000 lire from my pocket and
gave it to you so you could pay the... the
the deposit.
And you go buy yourself a... a periwig!
But that's laughabel upon my word!
Don't worry about the money.
Somehow...
I'll pay it back.
You'll pay it back... how will
you pay it back?
I don't like being in debt.
Please...
Lucky you!
Life, you understand,...
Years go by.
They go by.
They go by, they go by...
And how they do go by!
Do as you like!
Are you alone?
This is called The Drops Mountain...
Nobody ever comes here...
who knows why...
They say that in Antiquity here was
the Roman Customs.
They broke all the jars... Oil jars...
All in pieces.
It must be because of the climb.
It has even worn me down.
Do you want to make
a drama out of it?
Stop it!
- Who are they mad on?
- With the wholesalers, who else!
- But why? - 'cause they buy the fruits
cheap and sell them pricily.
- Damn bastards.
- That's how it goes.
What do you want?
I appologize, ma'am, I only wanted
to take a look.
Come in.
Thank you.
- These are americans, no?
- Yes.
- Well?
- There, inside...
- that's where I was born.
- Have you finished?
Oh, yes.
Good bye, then.
Good bye... and thank you.
- I sell it 'cause I need the
money for my family!
- If you want, give it to them! I won't!
If I have to take from the tree, I won't!
I need the money! I ned the money!
- And what about your rights?
- What rights! The money!
Then wholesale dealers
Will always win!
I can't recognize noone here anymore.
Some went to Rome, some to America...
some are dead...
- Who has died?- For instance,
SempIlice Santurri, the postman
- The one a with a little hunchback.
- Ah, Semplice Santurri, I think I remember
- What did he die of?
- DruNnkard.
That's why I only drink when eating.
You should know that around here,
wine is for killing time.
By the way, how much does
land cost around here?
They shove earth in your face. They give
it away, 'cause nobody works it anymore!
- If you don't mind...
- Please do.
- Oh my God you don't recognise me!
- Who are you?
How come who am I?
I'm Cesare!
Constantino! Know what I've decided?
I've decided to return here, home.
We are good here. I'm pleased.
Little work and can sleep a Iot.
Here's real wine.
Bread from flower.
Let's go!
What is it? Come on! Come on!
We have arrived.
- Thank you. Good bye.
- Good bye.
'FORWARD'
I'm coming. I'm coming.
But can an existence made of thousand
identical moments be called a life?
A chain of imposed moves and steps?
Without a holiday or a getaway!
A job he didn't like,
and a family...
that didn't love him!
365 days a year, for more than 40 years...
You are the ones...
That should send this maN into prison.
- No!
But what else has his life been
until this very day?
If not darkness, prison! Penitenciary!
Forced labour!
Forced residence!
It's true.
Silence! Or I'll evacuate
the court room!
- What has she done?
- Her son got 15 years.
15 years!
- And he's innocent!
- Categoricaly not! Rape...
attempted murder, caught in the act...
Categoricaly not!
- Congratulations. - Congratulations.
- Thank you. Good afternoon.
- A cappuccino.
- Immediately, your excellency.
- Good afternoon, your excellency.
- Good afternoon.
- A magnificent speech!
- Congratulations.
- It was the perfect closing argument!
- Please! A brioche!
- Excuse me, sir, but who is that one?
- It's Sigurette, the Prosecutor.
he has just made one of those closing
arguments... Two life imprisonments.
- Two life imprisonments?
- Yes, two.
Ce'!
- Hi!
- What are you doing here?
- GIad to meet you.
- GIad to meet you.
Oh, nothing. I've got nothing to do.
So I come here to kill time.
At the bad Palace.
To see what's happening. What are
you doing here?
There's a little thing... I'm a witness.
- Witness at what?
- A law-suit, a friend...
Do you who know he is? He taught me
being a solderer. I worked in his shop.
The only thing I know how to do.
- Listen, Ce'... - What?
Listen...
- Is it true you don't want to work anymore?
- Yes.
I mean... what will you do
when money runs out?
It has already run out.
- What will you do, steal?
- Come on...
I'll teach you a scam
Nice, quick, three big ones!
- They'd all do it!
- Sure, all... There's the fright.
You have to make a sacrifice.
The judge won't wait for us!
Let's move it!
Ciao, Ce'!
Hurry up! Are you coming? Move it!
We already are half an hour late!
Move it!
- Everything's ready. Come back the day
after tomorrow. Don't forget, please!
If you please, where should I go for
craftmen's pensions?
If you please, here's for pensions?
- What's your trade?
Plumber.
- For how long?
- Almost 30.
- What's your name?
- Conversi Cesare.
- How oId are you?
- 53.
- 60 are needed.
- Oh, yes?
How much do I get at 60?
From 12,000 to...
- 12,500.
- How much?
Around 12, 000. And a little more.
I'm no Bank of Italy!
Enough it's enough!
And with those I gave you yesterday,
it makes 7,000.
You do as you want...
but if you wanna eat, you must toil!
It's easy doing nothing,
and making us work!
Go at your son, at least!
What am I to do?
What do you want?
Listen!
You must tell me something.
You must tell me how much can a man
like you make in one day?
I don't speak with you.
I don't speak with anyone.
What do you care?
The check.
- Alright. 2,007. Keep the change.
- Thank you.
- 2,007? - Sure. We've eaten fish, chicken
and the wine...
- And you even gave her a 300 tip!
- Sure. Of course.
- Have you gone mad?
- Why?
I don't know, you probabIy eat like this,
only once a week, or even a month.
Hey, I eat everyday, you know. I don't
care a damn about anyone.
I do anything. I steal, I only think about
myself, I think about protecting myself!
Have you ever helped anyone?
No one.
Must hold tight! You must defend
yourself! You must steal!
Got it? Hold tight!
For instance:
I'll give you a very simple one.
Watch the bus.
Keep watching it!
When it leaves, there's always a... jump.
watch it.
I'm impressed.
- Exactly.
- Yes.
It's legal.
So, when the bus starts, you fall
and pretend you hit your head.
And if you know how to do it,
the transport company...
pays.
- Got it? It's a very simple trick.
Yes.
It's simple.
You can even do it without
any organization.
It's a loner's job!...
You don't make much!
- Counselor, he is Ce'. - Glad to
meet you. - Glad to meet you.
You must subtract 30% from the
insurance money.
Let's say you get 3,000,000.
The net sum you get is 2,100,000.
That's how it is.
Yes, that's how it is!
First of all, there is my cut. I don't
want any percentage, but a fixed cut!
Then there's us.
You must give us two 5%.
- And there's the executioner.
- Who?
The executioner is extremely important.
He's a technician.
It's in your best interes for him to be
chosen with the utmost care.
Executioner...
Hello?! Yes, speaking. One second.
Please go in the garden.
Come on, let's go!
- What executioner?
- He must be very precise, like a surgeon.
I know one better than Valdoni.
It's nothing, I've done it three times.
You'll see.
- Yeah, sure.
Only one hit. The arm breaks
exactly at the right place.
Yeah, yeah... who knows how
strong the pain will be!
Excuse me, besides this...
technician, is there anyone
else to be paid?
Well, the driver... -Eh? - The one who is
supposed to have run you down.
- Pardon?
- He'll take 100,000.
And the witness.
I can't go to the courthouse
without a witness!
Think about it!
It seems simple to me!
Do you know I like you?
You remind me of my father.
For him I started doing 'accidents'.
I organized it.
The flakes 'accident'.
You want an ice-cream?
- No.
Cream, chocolate and caramel.
Take the peanuts.
- What did you break him, your father?
- A leg.
This one.
Who could say the pain
the poor old man felt?
He didn't feel anything.
He got scared. Courage!
- But then...
- Then?
What was the scam?
I broke him a finger. This one.
30,000. Peanuts!
What do you advise me?
An arm or aleg?
A leg. It pays more.
But it's more difficult.
Better an arm.
Maybe.
But it pays less.
A leg...
or an arm.
Mr. Ce'.!
- Who is it? - Vinicio, on the phone,
says he wants to talk to you.
Nothing, nothing, tell him that...
that I'm not here. I'm not here!
It only takes an instant, you'll see.
Once it's done, we'll take you outside, on
the street, where we've set everything up.
You'll see they'll gather round, one will
notice you have a broken arm
they'll say you must be taken
to a hospital. Let them take care of it.
- Got it?
- Vinicio!
- All set?
- All set.
The car's here. Waits the signal.
The witness also, he's in the bar.
- This is...
- Cesare. - Glad to meet you.
You must take off your jacket.
- Alright.
- Got it?
You must roll the sleeve
of your shirt, got it? - Yes.
- You must roll... - Stay calm, don't
butt in - Courage!
Yes, courage. Courage.
- I've already done it three times.
- Yes? Then show me! Courage.
Don't you question my courage, I've
got it, just hurry up.
Let's do it!
- What am I to do?
- Nothing.
- I...
- Get down.
- Come on!
- Eh? What? - Nothing.
Sit. Like this.
- Like this?
- Like this.
- You've got guts, I won't harm you.
- What? What?...
Very well. I won't harm you.
Very well.
I won't harm you. When the arm will be
numb, you'll tell me. Got it?
It'll be numb?
- Yes.
- Vinicio!
- I'm here.
Tell me...
Listen... are we sure that they're paying
more for the right one?
Yes, of course. You're right-handed,
they pay more for the right arm.
I understand.
Talk to me!
Talk! Talk!
Say anything..
say all that you want. Talk! Talk!
- Talk, talk... - The money, Cesare,
think at the money.
- Think at the money, Cesare!
- The money
You'll take a nice trip!
You'll take a woman! Two!
- Three!
- Four.
- Think! You won't work anymore!
- Hope so!
You'll never work again in your life!
You'll buy a piece of land!
In your county!
Where has he gone?
At Maiacane.
At Taormina. Cesare!
I think it's numb.
I don't feel anything anymore.
Fuck it!
Hey, I could have busted his arm!
I'm sorry! I'm sorry!
Come on! Come on!
Come on, try again!
I swear, this time... this time
I won't move!
Cesare! What happened?
I'm sorry! It was a...
moment...
Come on!
Cesare! You must stay calm...
- Yes. Of course.
- If not, it's worse, he could hurt you.
- Yes, yes... where has he gone?
- Don't think about it.
Look at me. If you do such things,
everything is much more complicated.
Don't look, it's worse! One second, and
everything's over!
I don't want to watch!
But you shouldn't hold me!
I'm scared! I'm scared! I'm scared,
I'll never be able to do it!
I'm not used with such things, be patient,
excuse me, but it's not my fault!
- But now, we'll do it, yes?
- No!
Come here!
- Let me go! Let me go!
- Come here!
You won't get out of here without
a broken arm, got it?
- But why? What did I do to you?
- Think about it, 2 million!
I don't want them! I don't want them,
you understand?
I prefer to beg!
Coward!
I'll break your arm!
Scram!
SCram.!
Beggar!
You're a beggar!
What? Is it my fault?
He's afraid.
He's old.
Oh, my God!
It's too much...
- Hi.
- Hi.
From tomorrow...
I'll go back to work.
I'm tired, Ce'.
This evening...
I'd give anything
to be somewhere else.
Even there,look...
There...
Anywhere...
But not here.
Says work is a necessity...
says that without work gets bored...
What can you do?
Perfect!
We are finished.
Anyway, I did it! Now it's your turn, no?
If you wanna give it a flush...
And says there's also something to gain...
Work, says, doesn't let you think,
it drives thoughts away.
- Where did you spend the holidays this
year, Cavaliere? - In Rome.
- Rome. How come you didn't go to Palermo?
- Soon we'll be spending them on the Moon!
You're right. And this is my space ship!
- What happened?
- Oh, Ce', thanks God!
- Ce', come see what happened. - What did
you do,ma'am? Build a swimming pool?
- Eh, no... - Don't you have a tap?
- No, it broke down.
More, more!
''TITOV IS BACK ON EARTH''
Sir. Sir! We have arrived.
THE END