A Chance Encounter (2022) - full transcript

♪ I wasn't looking for
any answers ♪

♪ To the questions in my mind ♪

♪ I wasn't looking for
any answers ♪

♪ To the questions in my mind ♪

♪ I wasn't looking for
any answers ♪

♪ To the questions in my mind ♪

♪ He made his fortune
of being idle ♪

♪ Catching fish until the dusk ♪

♪ I couldn't live outside
of city walls ♪

♪ So scared of
getting in alone ♪

♪ And oh, oh, oh ♪



♪ If I could go back in time ♪

♪ I know that I will try
and change his mind ♪

I know most people
go to Rome or Venice,

I am not those people.

I'm just saying,
you can't go

all the way to Italy
and not see the Colosseum.

Any place that was good enough
for Oscar Wilde or D.H. Lawrence

is good enough for me.

Yeah, I don't know who
any of those people are.

Never mind.

Wait, Oscar Wilde,
didn't he write that book?

- Famous playwright.
- Anyway,

just promise me you'll at least
check out Venice.

I think it will be
really good for you.



Well, I just, I just wanted
to let you know

- that I made it.
- Hurry back,

I'm pulling double duty
at the shop.

Ooh, yeah, about that, I think

I might just stay here forever.

So plan accordingly.

Yeah. Yeah.

Hey, Hal?

I'm really proud of you
for what you wrote.

-People are still
talking about it.
-Hey, we're pulling in now.

Uh, give Stella a kiss.
I'll talk to you, all right?

All right, man. Well, be good
or be good at it.

Will do. Later.

♪ ...change his mind ♪

♪ I know this time ♪

♪ This time I won't be mad ♪

Okay, Mr. Flynn,

uh, single room?

Uh, do you have, uh,
a double or something?

-But you are single.
-Yeah,

but I mean,
you don't have anything bigger?

Like piu grande, or?

You are two person?

No, I am-- It's just me, but...

Then the single room is good.

Okay. Great. Single room it is.
Thank you.

Perfecto.

Perfecto.

You're welcome.

Huh.

♪ The leaves are changing
now that summer's gone ♪

♪ And all the city folks rush ♪

♪ Sometimes I wonder why
he's doing that ♪

♪ If you see him say hello ♪

♪ And oh, oh, oh ♪

♪ If I could go back in time ♪

♪ I know that I will try
change his mind ♪

♪ I know this time ♪

♪ I know this time ♪

♪ I know ♪

♪ Oh, this time I'll love you ♪

Oh, I'm not playing
for tips.

It's just for fun.

That's a great cover.
It sound eerily close
to the original song.

I'd hope so.

You take any requests?

Nope, I only play originals.

Well, yeah, but...

Oh, wow.

Okay, yeah,
I feel like an idiot.

Here I am offering five euros
to famous musician.

Oh, that's a bit of a stretch.
I'm not famous.

Oh, wow. You're Josie Day.

I think so.

Wow. I am Hal. Hal--
Hal Flynn. Just wow.

Stop saying wow.
Wait, you're not one of those
cruise ship people, are you?

-I'm sorry?
-How'd you get here?

Planes, trains and automobiles,
in that order, actually.

You know, you missed
tourist season.

It, like, just ended.

No. I'm not a tourist.

You're definitely not a local.

Well, I'm not here
to do touristy things.

Then what are you here for?

Hmm.

Hate to interrupt your playing,
but would you do me a courtesy

and take my photo,
just like this?

Courtesy? Why, yes, sir.

Oh. Beautiful. Who is she?

There you go.

Well, let me do you one better.

This was definitely not
shot on an iPhone,

and I happen to know a cute,
little Mom and Pop shop

down the road that
still develops. Can I?

Uh, yeah, sure.
But if you can still

get one on the phone too,
if you don't mind?

Yeah. Of course.

-I think she stood there.
-Okay.

Okay.

So I take it
you've been here before,

uh, Taormina?

Once or twice.

Well, I've been in Sicily
for a couple of hours

and I haven't eaten
which is a cardinal sin

if I am not mistaken.
Uh, any recommendations?

-You wanna know a secret?
-Of course.

Wander into any one
of these places

and you will have
the best pasta and wine

you've had in
you're entire life.

Hmm.

And there we go.

Think I got a few good ones.

-Great.
-Your stuff.

Thanks. Um...

thank you for the...
the photo and the song. I'm...

-I'm a fan.
-Of course.

Uh...

Hey, Hal?

This place is pretty dead.

Yeah, people don't go out
till late here.

Restaurants don't even
open until 7:00.

Ugh, I'd wither away.

Where are you staying?

Uh, Hotel Victoria.

Mm, Oscar Wilde.

Precisely, how'd you know?

Oh, they put signs around
for the tourists.

Mm. This is seriously amazing.

Oh!

-So you're a writer?
-Uh...

That's a pretty big leap.

You're not here
for touristy things,

you're staying at
the Hotel Victoria,

-you carry around this notebook.
-Okay, okay. Sure.

Not a writer, but more,
um, aspiring.

So you're modest.

No, realistic. I enjoy it,

but there are just
so many out there that--

Mm. This is seriously
life-changing. It's-- it's--

-What you got?
-I think it was a Tagliatelle.

No, I mean your notebook.
Read me something.

What, now?

No, in 15 minutes.
I'll set a timer.

Yes, now.

No way,
you're a famous musician.

Oh, my gosh.
I am not a famous musician.

I have one semi well-known song,

and nothing since.

And nobody even knows
who I am

except for you, apparently.

Okay. People know who you are.

Hal, I'm getting impatient.

Okay, fine. I have this...
this poem of the day.

It's stupid short stuff, but--

Sounds perfect.

Normally, I wouldn't
share these with anyone.

Well, normally,
you wouldn't be in Taormina.

Okay. But you have to
promise me something.

Okay. You can't do that thing
where you pretend to like it

even if you don't, okay?
I'll know.

Why are you not talking?
It's just making me
even more nervous.

Hal, you're stalling.

Oh, gosh, okay.

Um...

"I waltz through this wave
of strangers.

Their conversations,

they topple over each other
and it sounds somewhat like,

well, like rain.

For now, I'm lost
and well, that's okay.

See, I'm happiest when I'm lost

because I learn to be
happy with myself.

I'm reminded
of a thought though,

of the time
my parents were children too.

On the topic of children,
there they are over there,

a few playing soccer
on the piazza,

two restaurant chairs
as their goal

and that's enough for now.

The town is big
while they're small,

it will grow small
as they grow taller.

And, hey, it really does.
You're right.

The sun shines differently here

effervescent bright."

-Hal, I need you to look at me.
-Nope.

Right this instant.

-You're good.
-You promise you wouldn't--

You're good.

-You're just being nice.
-No.

But I am a little buzzed.

And that jet lag
is not gonna cure itself.

You should get some sleep.

Of course. Right.

Do you want me to walk you?

Yeah, I'd like that.

Could I have your coaster?

Sure.

Grazie.

Oscar Wilde arrived
in Taormina in 1898.

Well, there you have it.

Uh, I'll get these photos
to you tomorrow?

Who needs the time, thank you.

Should we meet at the fountain
at four?

Uh, yeah, I think I should be
awake by then.

Okay. Here.

Hmm.

All right. Think I have
a little something here.

There you go.

"To now,
the memory of tomorrow."

Hey, so, should we exchange
numbers or something?

Just in case, you know,
anything comes up or--

Let's do this
the old fashioned way,
Mr. Oscar Wilde.

We have a time and a place
and I'll be there.

-Buona sera.
-Buona sera.

-Anche tu.
-Gesundheit.

Hey, you better show up.

Oh, I'll show up.

♪ To now ♪

♪ To now ♪

♪ It's the memory ♪

♪ Of tomorrow ♪

You're early.

You're early.

Well, I wanted to get here
before you got here.

Me, too, I guess.

Okay. So, don't be mad,

but the photos
aren't quite ready yet.

-Oh, that's fine.
-But they said
they can get them done

in like, two or three days.
When do you leave again?

Uh, I'm here for a week.

Quick question. What are these,
like extra, extra small or--

That's how they do it here.
It's an Americano.

This is as big as it comes.

Quality over quantity.

Yeah.

Okay. Let's go.
I wanna show you something.

Is it the Greek theater?
I wanna see it so bad.

I though you said
you weren't a tourist, Hal.

-What do you mean?
-Okay. Well, yeah,

we could go wait in line

and we can listen
to tour guides ramble on and on,

but I really wanted to show you
one of the best views
in Taormina.

-Okay, fine.
-Okay.

Let's go.

Hey, uh, quick question.

Are you taking me
to Narnia or what?

Okay. It is right up here.

You told me it is
the best view of Taormina

and I'm training
for a triathlon, Josie.

Oh, you are fine.

This is-- this is
just incredible.

Told you.

Hey, what's that?

It's a little turn of phrase.

-Poem of the day?
-Maybe.

Okay, well, share.

-No, no way you're putting me
through that again.
-Come on.

Well--
I just started. All right?

Maybe a little bit later.

-Okay, I'll hold you to that.
-Yeah.

If you won't share, I will.

-Really?
-Mm-hmm.

I cooked up this little melody
last night.

Might sound familiar.

Okay. I much prefer to be
on this side of things,
by the way.

Shut up.

-Uh, there's no chorus.
-Okay.

No chorus yet.
Just the verse.

♪ To now ♪

♪ To now ♪

♪ It's the memory of tomorrow ♪

♪ The memory of tomorrow ♪

-Why'd you stop?
-I don't know,

hearing it again,
it's no good.

Are you kidding me?

No, it's no good.

Josie, look at me.

You're good.

-No. Back to the drawing board.
-Ugh, you're out of your mind.

It was really good though.

I mean, I wrote it, so...

I want 50 percent.

You'll get 49.

How'd it go?

♪ To now ♪

- ♪ The memory of tomorrow ♪
- Okay.

Is that how it went?

-It's close. It's close.
-It was good. I liked it.

-I thought it was pretty good.
-Lived it better

Well, I'm this way.

I'm that.

Look, Hal, I know you didn't
come all the way to Sicily

-to hang out with me.
-I didn't?

But if you're free tomorrow,

I do happen to know
a cool spot.

And I still have to
get you those photos.

Let's see, tomorrow,
I'm doing a lot of
wandering around,

um, just staring off
into the distance aimlessly.

Yeah. I think tomorrow
could work.

Should we finally exchange info?

Um, no. Old-fashioned.

Then we need a time and place.

Let's do... noon at my hotel.

You better show up.

Well, yeah, I'll show up.

-Buona sera.
-Anche tu.

-Very good.
-Thank you.

Oh, hey, I finished it,
by the way.

The poem, it's called "Luca."
You want to...

"From here, I saw hundreds
of honey-gold street lamps.

They were tripled
along the stones,

hundreds, but I only
thought of one.

A trail of blue
fogged by the smoke
of Signore Lucas Monticarlo.

He smirked as two young lovers
shared their first kiss.

A first, he knew,

for both said 'Whew'
right after.

He lowered his eyes
to his wing tip
olive-green shoes,

and blinked.

That blink was a minute
and that minute turned two.

Tomorrow turned yesterday
and time already flew.

The boy was him and this day
when they first met,

he recalled how he missed her

and she wasn't even gone yet."

Such a cool guy, huh?

If you say so.

Come on, keep up.

Come-- Oh, yeah.

Where the hell
did you come from?

So this is one of
my favorite spots to write,
in all of Taormina.

Anyone can come here,
free of charge,

and just enjoy the scenery
and ruins.

And there is the amphitheater,
it's right up there.

Oh, my goodness. This is crazy.

I mean, I never read anything
about this place.

Sounds like you need
a good tour guide.

Well, it looks like
I found one.

Mm-mm-mm.

Another ten out of ten
on the cuisine.

I mean, do they have
bad food around here?

If there is, I haven't found it.

Oh, my gosh.
And the architecture.

I mean, you have this--

this ancient Roman sculpture

right next to a building
with all these new additions.

-I mean, it's nuts.
-Greek.

-I'm sorry?
-Well,

it was Greek for five centuries

before the Romans came over.

So you know a lot
about this stuff.

-I've overheard a lot of
tour guides.
-Well...

I mean, you go to a place
like Boston

and they're just so reverent
with the history.

But here, it's sort of like
they can pay respects

without being too precious.

I never thought about it
like that.

It's just like you said.
Perfect blend of old and new.

Ah. All right.

Oh, before I forget.

Oh, my gosh.

All right. Inspection time.

Wow. You weren't lying.

These do beat the hell
out of a...
out of a phone picture.

-I told you.
-Thank you.

You're welcome.

So, Hal, I've been thinking.

Uh-oh.

-We both are here to write.
-Well, I don't know
if that's exactly--

And I find you interesting.

So I was thinking that...

You know what?

It'd be easier
if I just showed you.

Come on. Let's go.

What-- What?
There's so much good food left.

There's plenty more
where that came from.

All right.

What's with the coaster thing?

By themselves,
just flimsy cardboard,

but a little chicken scratch,
they become mementos.

You know it's weird, right?

It's normal, right?

-This is where you're staying?
-Yep.

Oh, my God!

I am sorry.

I did not know you were
roughing it like this.

-You're hilarious.
-No, I mean,

I seriously would have offered
any assistance.

I mean, are you okay?
Do you need me to call someone?

-I'm laughing on the inside.
-Oh, here's actually--

here are those euros
I offered you before.

Just take them all.
I mean, you need them

more than I do. You know? I--

Wow.

Uh...

I'm speechless.

How much does a place
like this go for?

Sorry, inappropriate question.
None of my business.

No, honestly, I have no idea.
My boyfriend's parents
bought it a few years back.

Oh.

I guess I forgot
to mention that.

That's a pretty big thing
to forget.

Look, I think
you should stay here
for the rest of your trip.

Wait. What? Okay, back it up.

I know it's not exactly
in Taormina,

but there's so much
cool stuff here.

The real non-touristy
kind of stuff.

And plus, you could save money
on your hotel.

There's so many things
wrong with this idea.

-I don't see any problem.
-Okay.

Uh, let's see. Uh,

What about the boyfriend
I just found out about?

-What about him?
-I don't think

he'd like the idea

of a strange man with you

in his parents' villa.

He doesn't have to know.

I need to process this.

Look, Hal, I don't even know
what's going on.

We were supposed to go
to Switzerland together,

and then we got in
this big fight,

and he left and we had
a falling out.

He left you quite the bail here.

There's so much space here
to spread out and write,

we might not even
see each other.

I don't know. It doesn't seem--

Can it just be what it is?

Depends on exactly what it is.

A writers retreat.

A perfectly innocent
writers retreat.

Two friends hanging out,

looking for inspiration
and writing.

Sounds more like you are
convincing yourself here.

I like spending time with you.

Do you like spending time
with me?

-Yes.
-Then it's settled.

Writers retreat.

-You're very bossy.
-Thank you.

Why do I feel like
we're gonna regret this?

Ah. Grazie, Signori.

-Beautiful.
-Arrivederci, signor Flynn.

Grazie.

Comfortable?

Uh, are you kidding?

I, I feel like a king.

Good.

Um, I'll have to show you
how to make the coffee.

Here, they do it differently.
Moka pot.

But other than that,
make yourself at home.

Okay. Um, well, this is nuts.

-Uh, but thank you.
-Of course.

Wait till you see the view
we have for sunset.

-It gets better than this?
-Yes.

Okay.

Oh, wow!

Well?

Uh...

unbridled awe doesn't seem
to do justice.

But it is the best I've got.

I told you.

I mean, come on, it's not real.
I mean...

I expect a really good
"Poem of the day" out of this.

Consider it done.

So when's the last time
you talked? You and your--

Capture it quick
before it disappears.

Come on. Chop, chop.

♪ A young, single guy
comes to Sicily ♪

Who said I was single?

♪ Black and white photo
in hand ♪

You know, it's really hard
for me to write
with all this musical--

♪ A beautiful,
mysterious woman ♪

♪ Is painted against the lamp ♪

Wow, you are nosy.

Nosy Josie,
that's what they call me.

All right, well, Nosy Josie,
I think it looks like

we both have things we'd prefer
not to talk about.

To magical sunsets!

Thank you for sharing it
with me.

Cheers.

Hal?

Hal?

Hal!

Hal!

-Hal!
-Oh, jeez.

- Oh.
- Oh, my God!

Oh, I am so sorry.

Oh, my God.

I think you just gave me
a heart attack.

Um, okay.

How about a little tutorial?

Okay, so don't tamp the grounds.
Let them settle.

Okay. Got it.

Couldn't sleep?

Literally the most
comfortable bed ever

and I couldn't stay still.
My mind was just racing.

-Uh, anyway, so just
screw this on here?
-Mm-hmm.

- Okay.
- Okay

Yeah, I know the feeling.

Plus, I never heard
your sunset poem.

So it didn't feel
quite right to go to sleep.

Uh-huh. Sure.

There we go.

Okay. Good.

Now you're gonna let
the water gurgle.

It's gonna push--
steam's gonna push the water

through the grounds to the top.

And voila!

-Science.
-Mm-hmm.

The last time we spoke
was right before he left.

No calls or texts since.

Nothing.

Are you okay?

I mean--

It's a two-way street.

I haven't exactly
reached out either.

What did you guys fight about?

Uh, well,
he brought up marriage,

which to his credit,
we've been together for a years

and that's something couples
should talk about, but...

But?

But every time he brings it up,

I get so uncomfortable
and squirmy, and

then he gets mad
and here we are.

To cap it off,
his last gesture before he left.

He slipped this on the counter
and went to Switzerland.

Oh, wow.

Yeah.

-Do you love him?
-Of course I love him.

Okay, then why did you
get uncomfortable?

If I knew the answer
to that, I...

-I don't think that--
-Sorry, sorry, sorry.

No, it's fine.

It's none of my business.

There's something about
2:00 a.m. that makes

the hard conversations easier.

What about you?

-Uh--
-You know, sometimes,

it's good to get everything
off your chest.

Uh, I put it on paper.

-But if no one ever reads it?
-Stop...

...making sense. Okay?

Okay. Here we go.

How did we do?

-Okay.
-Okay?

-You know...
-Beautiful.

This makes about
a quarter of the portion

of the average size
in the United States.

Remember,

quality over quantity.

Okay, I think it's about time
for that sunset poem.

Nope. That's not any good.

Oh, my gosh. Quit apologizing.
Just read it.

Okay,
Ms. Back to the drawing board.

That's different.

-How's that different?
-It's different.

Following up expectations,

trying to write something
that people like.

Seems like a great poem to have.

You know what else
is a great poem to have?

Being a talented writer.

Okay, let's pump the brakes
on the whole writer thing.

Being a talented writer
who just has to take a leap.

Okay, so we both think
the other's talented.

-Now what?
-Sunset poem.

You're relentless.

"Perhaps it's that
twisted lemon,

slice of heaven,
meringue fluff,

with golden crusted
constellation crumbs

or sherbet rays,

the twilight souffle, who knows?

Or perhaps the sigh
of the breeze

pickpockets secrets
and tucks them in the clouds

on their fly-by.

Perhaps it's the hoodwinked
clairvoyant horizon

that knows when one day comes
and another one goes.

And perhaps the sun blows
kisses to the moon
as it departs,

they work two separate shifts
with one beating heart.

Perhaps.

Perhaps the snoring mountain
turns in her sleep

to dream in peace
or wish upon a star

by the hecks of your hum
and the strum of your guitar.

Perhaps."

Ow!

What do you mean "ow?"
It's a pillow!

I feel like
that's the general reaction

when someone throws
something at you.

Get up, sleepyhead.

-What time is it?
-Just after 11:00.

Well, good news is I had
a perfectly comfortable bed

about 20 feet away,
and didn't use it.

Did you sleep out here too?

Nope.

Hey, you ever see
The Godfather?

Have I seen The Godfather?

What do I look like? An idiot?

Okay, put some clothes on.

Quit hitting me.

What are you--

Ah. I see chivalry is not dead.

What are you--

Oh, come on!

So a few miles up the coast,

there is this little town
called Savoca.

It's where they filmed
some scenes from The Godfather.

Oh, my brother's
gonna love that.

He thinks I should be
seeing the Colosseum

or touring some winery
and testing them.

I mean, this place
has so many gems.

So you have a brother?

Yeah. Older.

He has a family
and all that,

my little niece, Stella.

We actually run
the family print shop together.

Look at you opening up.
We should road trip more often.

Oh, hush, don't get used to it.

Hey, you know it's rumored

that Shakespeare
is from Messina.

Oh, I know. It's part of
the reason I'm here.

I think every writer knows that.

Hal, I'd like to
point something out.

You just called yourself
a writer.

Mm.

I present to you the location
of Michael Corleone's wedding.

Oh, a little slice of history.

To go with our pizza.

-Works by the way.
-I know.

Amazing.

Hey, you know,
I got to tell ya, uh,

I feel like this writer's
retreat is off to a great start.

We're getting tons
of writing done.

Inspiration is a part
of the process.

-It's always good
to change up the scenery.
-Okay. Let me ask you this.

-Mm-hmm.
-Since we aren't doing
much actual writing today.

I beg to differ.

-You're a folk singer.
-Mm-hmm.

What exactly makes
a folk song a folk song?

I mean, folk is kind of
a broad term, but

folk songs are
songs of the people.

You can debate genre,

or even instrumentation,

but I think a good folk song
tells a story.

-Hmm. I like that.
-Mm-hmm.

My turn.

-For what?
-To ask a question.

Oh, boy.

The relationship is so upsetted.

I don't know anything about you.

That's not a question.

Hal, I'm just-- I'm curious.

Hey, listen, I told you
my whole life story
on the drive up here.

You told me that
you had a brother.

That barely scratches
the surface.

-You are so demanding.
-Why are you in Taormina?

Well, uh, we're not actually
in Taormina right now, so--

- Why do you have to be
so difficult?

Okay, you're right. But...

-two stipulations. Okay?
-Okay.

One.

If I tell you, you have to
promise me something.

-Okay.
-No, like promise.

Okay, I promise. No

sympathy at all. None.
Got it?

-Okay.
-Okay.

And two, since
we are in front of

The Godfather landmark,
it only makes sense...

that I get to do it
in my perfect Brando impression

-that I know you
just love so much.
-No.

-Nope. Absolutely not.
-Yep. It's the only way.

No.

Okay, fine.

Well, that's--

So...

you may remember the woman
in the photograph.

Right? The one you
helped me recreate?

Well, you probably guessed it.
I mean, that's my mother.

Right? And, uh...

about two weeks ago,

she died of cancer.

And everybody who knew her said

she was just made
of light, you know?

I mean, she always had
the smile a mile wide

and she was known
to just live for her children.

She was the only one...

that really gave me confidence,
especially in this stuff.

Right? And, um...

Anyway, so, she left us all
a bit of money, and...

for me, she told me to do
something special,

you know?
Something real meaningful.

And that's a big pill
to swallow.

So I...

decided to come to her
favorite place in the world

to figure out how best
to honor her legacy.

And it's the first time
I've ever had any money.

I didn't know what to do
with it, so...

I figured I'd try to find
the answer here, you know?

Sorry.

-I am so sorry.
-No. No sympathy,

-you promised.
-How will I not--

I think my Brando
slipped into Mike Tyson
at the beginning there.

How's your dad handling it?

Well, depending on
what you believe,

they've been reunited
as it were.

So my brother and I,
we're orphans now.

Wow. That's my first time
saying that out loud.

♪ Let us pause
in life's pleasures ♪

♪ And count it's many tears ♪

♪ While we all sup sorrow
with the poor ♪

♪ There's a song
that will linger ♪

♪ Forever in our ears ♪

♪ Oh, hard times,
come again no more ♪

♪ 'Tis the song,
the sigh of the weary ♪

♪ Oh, hard times ♪

♪ Hard times,
come again no more ♪

♪ Many days you have lingered
around my cabin door ♪

♪ Oh, hard times,
come again no more ♪

♪ While we seek mirth
and beauty ♪

♪ And music, light and gay ♪

♪ There are frail forms
waiting at the door ♪

♪ Though their voices
are silent ♪

♪ Their pleading looks
will say ♪

♪ Oh, hard times,
come again no more ♪

♪ 'Tis the song,
the sigh of the weary ♪

♪ Oh, hard times ♪

♪ Hard times,
come again no more ♪

♪ Many days you have lingered
around my cabin door ♪

♪ Oh, hard times
come again no more ♪

♪ Oh, hard times
come again no more ♪

♪ Oh, hard times
come again no more ♪

I like that.

That's an old one.
That's not one of mine.

But... it kinda
reminds me of you.

I have successfully

used the moka pot.

You should be proud.

-Okay.
-Nice.

I think I've got something.

What? No way.

Oh, my gosh, you are not gonna
bail on me this time, are you?

-Bail on you? Okay.
-Okay.

Okay.

Think of like a--

-a train in the background.
-Okay.

-Just do that the whole time.
-Okay.

All right. Okay, I'm done.

♪ I can almost
hear them calling ♪

♪ Out across the blue ♪

♪ Three of them smiling
harbor views ♪

♪ If I touch my skin
so lightly ♪

♪ He is warm against me still ♪

♪ Oh, it's long forgotten ♪

♪ I've had my fill ♪

♪ We learn about
a lot of things ♪

♪ No one to pull me down ♪

♪ All of my memories
How they haunt me ♪

♪ Haunt me now, oh ♪

Have you had their pizzas
here yet?

Mm-hmm.

-Hello.
-Hello.

-Molto grazie.
-Prego.

Look at you speaking
in Italian in style.

Oh, yeah, very impressive.
Practically fluent.

- Mm-hmm. Yes.
- Both of you?

Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.

Uh, sorry. You make
a beautiful couple.

Grazie. We're actually
on our honeymoon.

What? No?

No, no, no. No.

No, no. Uh, friends.

-Uh, Amici.
-Yeah, amici.

-What no say--
-Yeah, she actually,

uh, she kidnapped me
and took me to her villa.

It's kind of like
Sunset Boulevard.

I did not. He is crazy.

Guys, there is such a,
you know,

peace between you.

You seem like friends to have
spent many years together.

-We actually just met.
-Just a few days ago.

No. First time here in Sicily?

Uh, first time
leaving the States.

Hal here, he's a pretty
impressive guy.

He came all the way from-- Wait.

-Where are you from?
-Okay, Iowa.

Look at that.
Practically neighbors.

Um, he came all the way
to Sicily

from Iowa for inspiration.

Um, inspiracion?

Well, you seem
to have found it.

Oh.

Tony, here.

We have a phrase for this.

What you are doing.

A leap of faith,
salto mortale.

A leap of faith,
so they're artists.

Ah, okay, I don't know if
that's the case with me.

But she's the one.

I mean, she's the one
who writes songs

and then shares them
with the world.

If anyone's brave,
it's definitely her.

Mm. I think I am just lucky.

Oh, let me go
to cook something

for this nice couple.
They look hungry.

-Grazie.
-Thank you.

Uh, my father. Sorry.

It's okay.

How about this? Simple.

There is much beauty
in what you do.

Both of you.

Molto Bella.

Grazie.

Oh, hon, don't forget.
We need to get one of those

bottles of wine for your mom
before we go back.

- Shut up.
- It's your favorite.

-We both know that.
-Stop.

♪ We learn about
a lot of things ♪

♪ And no one
to pull me down ♪

♪ And all of my memories
How they haunt me ♪

♪ Haunt me now ♪

♪ They all got so sick of me ♪

♪ Wouldn't look at me
in the eye ♪

♪ And all of my memories
How they haunt me ♪

♪ Haunt me now ♪

Okay.

If you don't think that's good,

-you're officially insane.
-I don't know.

No, come on.

No, I don't know.
I don't know if it's like...

fully honest or-- that might
not even be the right word.

Wow, wow, look. I am an idiot

when it comes to music,
but I know what I like.

-You're biased.
-Who cares?

I care. Do you know
how hard it is

for musicians to write
a second record?

Uh, no idea.

But I'd, I'd like to think that,

you know, maybe it has
something to do with them

being too scared to follow up

with something successful.

Well, maybe it's
because they forgot

why they even
started in the first place.

Or what people connect with.

I don't know. That just--

that seems like
a recipe for misery.

I'm gallivanting around Sicily,

staying in this luxurious villa
and wasting time,

who can relate to that?

Hey, don't knock this villa.

Someone once told me it's a
perfect place

for a writer's retreat.

Shut up.

No, but I mean, come on,
all right. Let's--

Let's go back a little bit.

There's a--
there's a great quote, okay?

Um, "Comparison is
the death of joy."

-Mm-hmm.
-Right?

So you gotta stop being so hard

on yourself and comparing

everything you do
to loving right.

I mean, it's legitimately
a tiny fraction

of what's going to be
a gargantuan career.

-I don't know.
-I do.

It's easy for you to say, Hal.

Everything is so effortless
in that notebook.

And then you're totally fine
with just keeping it
all to yourself.

There's nothing wrong
with being unknown.

But there is something wrong
with not trying.

Writing makes me happy.

If nobody reads it...

Uh...

Who said that?
Comparison is the death of joy.

Probably Abe Lincoln
or Mark Twain.

Did you fact-check that?

I don't know.

According to the internet,
they said everything.

Ever stood on an active volcano?

Nope. This would be
a first for me.

Are you scared? Oh.

No, more impressed.

I mean, isn't it crazy
to imagine the amount

of destruction that thing
can cause?

But it's just
sitting there, peacefully,

biding its time
and growing wine.

You know, if you look
over there,

you can see the spot where
we had the perfect view

of Etna. And now we're here.

-It's weird how that works.
-Yeah.

It's also weird that--
I keep thinking,

weren't we supposed
to get bored today

to get some
actual writing done?

Mm. It's what I'm doing.

How can you get bored
with all this around?

I mean, you shout have
stayed in Minnesota

or come visited me in Iowa.

You'd definitely get bore there.

-Did your parents
live there too? In Iowa?
-Mm.

Did you get to spend time
with your mom

before she passed?

Whoa, look at that.
You see that?

-What?
-That's the mood.

It just died
'cause you killed it.

Okay, Mr. Destructive Volcano.

Yeah, I sat with her every day.

Good talks?

Sometimes.
Sometimes we'd just...

sit in silence and...

actually, I read her
a poem every day.

We never had that
all revealing talk

where she imparts
her wisdom on how to carry on
without her, but

I will never forget the way
her hands looked.

Mm.

I can't imagine losing a parent.

-Let alone both.
-Yeah.

That's what I thought too,
but if there is any

glimmer of positive thing,

it's actually when I walked
into the funeral hall

when I realized that...

it brings us together as people.

You know, all the petty stuff
goes out the window because

we all lose loved ones. Um...

we all face our own mortality.

It kind of snapped life
into focus for a second.

I just wish they...

could've seen
their grandchildren
grow up, you know.

We all want more time.
We don't appreciate
what we get, so it's...

Wow, I'm so sorry
I dragged on there.

Um, I'm sorry.

You lose someone
close to you?

Yeah. My grandpa.

He was pretty magical.

World traveler,
always curious and...

he had this spark that, like,
not most people have.

You kinda have it.

Oh, I have a spark?
What does it look like?

Shut up. It was a compliment.

Jerk.

No, seriously, though,

he sounds like an amazing man.

He was. Definitely something

to aspire to, for sure.

Hey, Josie. Um...

Can you come out here,
I have an important question

for you, please?

About something I found.

Yeah. I need you
to clear something up
for me really quick.

What exactly makes
a love song...

-obscure?
-No, no, no, no.

-Put that down.
-Mm-hmm, mm-hmm.

Oh, no, no, no.
We're definitely playing it.

Oh, my gosh. It was
confusing times in college.

Don't you play that.

You know, this is amazing.

Don't you dare
apologize for this.

-My gosh.
-Uh-huh.

And by the way, you look--

What's the occasion?

No, I just felt

like dressing up.

-Is that okay with you?
-Yeah.

It's definitely okay.

But I feel like
a lonely peasant.

Well, it's our last night
to go out.

I thought we had
tomorrow night.

You have an early flight
the next morning.

Well, I'll go get ready then.

Until then, exclusive.

♪ Good night, my ladies ♪

Ooh, I like it.

♪ Good night, my ladies ♪

♪ I am so sad
to see you go ♪

♪ Merrily we roll along ♪

You clean up nice.

Why, thank you.

We're gonna dance to it.
Absolutely.

There you go. There you go.

-That right.
-Uh-huh.

Very nice.

Not too shabby.

You do look beautiful.

You also look beautiful.

I do