Hardboiled Egg (1997) - full transcript

You've reached 687-0953

Don't bother leaving a message,
I don't listen to them anyway.

Please don't leave
any message. Bye.

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 Livorno

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

Mara'll go with you.
Go!

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? want to play?

I have to finish my homework

The doctors would shake their heads
when visiting him

They said he wouldn't live very long

But Big Ivano 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 Ivano
have another fight?

He hurt me

He loves you, you know

He could have "braked" my arm

You should say "broken".

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, they were 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 boys

We can talk straight, clear the air, right?

I've been told about a nice girl.

A hard worker.

You guys are grownups now.

We need someone at home
who can cook and clean.

So I thought I'd have her come
live with us.

She can also use a hand.

And we need to help each other out.
Right, boys?

Listen, mom was mom, no doubt about it.

What's her name?

Mara. She's really a good girl

A hard worker.

During the darkest moments
of mom's illness...

...she was always there for me.
She was 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 Ivano

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 myna bird, I'll get rid of it.

I want to 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 an 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 knows 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 gets ready
to take the penalty kick

German goalie Schumacher is ready
to make the save!

Whoever kicks it out, gets it

Whoever smelt it, dealt 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 it exactly three in the afternoon
of July 11, 1982

A fateful day

In a few hours, Italy will win
its third World Cup.

That night, while everyone was proud
to be Italian, (and to be from Livorno)

I was feeling very, very confused.

From then on, the world seemed to me
to be a place

Where divergent creatures
were drawn together to mate

That idiot spends all day
in the bathroom.

Some day I'll leave the gas on
and blow us all up.

What have I done wrong? Tell me, Ivano

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

A nice guy who loves me

Who takes me out to dinner

Who gives me lots of gifts

I would love coral earrings

Shut up

It's unfair, Ivano!

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, you handsome.

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 matter

was becoming 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
was indecipherable to me.

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 her best friend Katia
told me she liked me a lot.

In fact, one day she called me

Susy wants you to know she's into you...

...but Toto, Sergino and Juri
also like her a lot...

...they even told her that.

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 love 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

Bye.

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 I call Sergino?

No

Come on

I said no

My girlfriend left me

Where did I go wrong?

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 though some displays of machismo
bemused me more.

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...

That's all it took to get you labeled
'queer' for life.

Dad

No, we were all sleeping

I'm okay. I'm studying

I have exams in June

Not my driver's license,
my middle school diploma.

When are you coming home?

Nedo? My love, honey..

You were a bastard leaving like that.
I miss you so much.

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

There are plenty of witnesses
to prove I'm innocent.

People love Nedo, you know

Come on, Mansani

Just 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

I even wrote an essay in school,

about the misadventures
of an innocent man

Who got caught up in things
much bigger than him.

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 also rhymes.

Piero

Your essay is great.

I 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

Just like Dickens, Mark Twain
and Salinger

You got an A but I could've
given you A+

What is it, Battoni?

Sorry ma'm but this isn't creativity.

Everyone can do that.

What do you mean?

Ovosodo really has a father in jail.

Battoni, you get out.

Why me?

You cast the stone
and hide your hand.

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...

...by our shameless friend there

Assignment: "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 for real."

"Everybody would have thought that"

"I made it up all by myself to look cool"

Now, my question is,
Did we just witness the work...

of a daring and reckless
experimenter of language...

Like that Gadda passage
we read the other day?

Or ist it just 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'm

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 some said she was crazy, because
her husband died just after marrying her,

and that her grief mader ask for
reassignment to another city.

What a surprise

I brought these back to you

You already read them? Good!

That means you liked them.

Pasolini 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. Marmugi?

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 if 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

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 mothers?

Whores

What do I do to your mother?

Fuck her up the ass

And to yours?

What he said

Good. Good boys.

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 him "Wyoming"

for his special talent

He could also say Hawaii
Iowa 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 that.

50 (NON-NEGOTIABLE)

I'm done. Can I go now?

Yes, go ahead.

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 going to 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

Up until that fateful
September 4th, 1991

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

Want to 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 going to 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 Ivano.

Delicious, really, out of the world.

Even the pasta was exquisite.

I'd like to come and live here

with Piero, Diana and Ivano.

Can I call you mom?

That's all I need!

- Big Ivano, 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

Malcom X, Mandela and
the Panther movement

Zhang Ymou, Peter Jackson, Tondelli

getting high, Kurt Cobain
kissing and being kissed

New posses,
smelly feet

Coming home at dawn
with my head spinning

What time is it?

It's late

You know he won't go to sleep
if you don't say good night.

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 her.

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 stopped keeping 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 didn't know 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".
And also "no problem".

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 "transgressive".

What are you doing?

We spent the rest of dinner practically
in complete silence.

Something inside me did not want to
think of something.

I felt like I was floating.
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, it's a bit gross. Here.

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 Industries
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 good
friend Piero", 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
for that 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 do what?

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!

Just 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's 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, Mirko. Think about it.

Piero, my friend, I have
thought about it.

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 stars in her life"

If only Katia was here to see
all this beauty...

Meanwhile I was thinking

"When I get there, I'll be cool."

"I'll ask for an explanation
with no anger"

"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?

Will you 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?

Maybe 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.

Maybe 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 want to 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.

Wanna eat something?

Finally, you made it

Are you Swedish?

You look 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, just 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.
Alex, Max.

Alex? 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.

Yeah, right.

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. Just talking.

Talk with me.

About what?

Who are you?

Piero Mansani.

We talked earlier, remember?

I'm your cousin's classmate.

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 folks sent me to Chateaubriand.

Which is an awful place full of
spoiled brats

Suicide attempt?

I tried twice.

How many times have you tried?

Just 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

Obviously you're unhappy.

Happiness is the disease of imbeciles.

Who said that?

Rimbaud, Celine.

I made it up.

You're just a small town kid

who believes everything he's told
Right?

Say yes.

- That's right.
- You're adorable.

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 months 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 today,
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
while us seniors worried about our diploma.

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.

Fill up the tank.

Paolo, how are you?

Tommaso couldn't make it
so I came to get you.

I'm not too bad. How are you?
Have you eaten?

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

"Call me Paolo, Giovanni,
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 white beach.

The sand there, it's like being
in the Caribbean.

Thanks 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 loves, 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 touched 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
and they're always late.

Sometimes they even sink.

It's too hot 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 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?

Just kidding.
I joke too much, don't I?

Then here's something serious.

Go ahead.

I love you.

Yet, 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 with him.

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 and
Manzoni was paternalistic.

Tell us which author you like

This year I read some great stuff

Ian 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...

...by Vittorio Amedeo 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, German reunification,

and what the fuck we're going to do
in the European Union!

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

Krushchev did it at the UN too!

Yeah, but his feet didn't stink.

Who gives 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.

Here she is. Please 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,
nothing serious.

I would've already gone home,
but the doctor here is so arrogant.

He said I had to take all the tests
and 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.

See? 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!

How nice.

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.

9,200 - 250...

He broke the piggy bank.

That's all I have.

You're in bad shape.

Take this, smoke to Sergino's health.

Thanks!

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 if we don't seem
too boring to you...

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 July.

A total idiot. His life was the gym

soccer and the stadium.

I saw all the Livorno games

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
tried to gess what you were wearing.

If I guessed right, it meant
you were in love with me

It couldn't have been hard.

I always wore the same stuff.

That's how I fooled myself!

Thank for the pizza, goodnight.

No problem.

Wait!

Sorry, but I thought
"who knows 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

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

lives 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 hicks.
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?

I've been transferred.
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.

Despite my big shot uncle,
I was sent to the extreme north.

to guard the inviolable border.

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?

-Wine?
-Thanks.

Want something else?

I don't know what we can do now

This place only has an arcade
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.

Sure. Let's go.

What's wrong?

I feel a bit...

I have to be back in barracks
in twenty minutes

Or I'll be in trouble.

Sorry

Tomorrow I'll get a pass
and I'll come get you.

We can 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 likes 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,
a few months later.

She swallowed all the medicine
she has refused to take.

She took them all in one gulp.

So you're looking for work?

I've applied everywhere. Even at your
father's factory. Are they hiring?

I hope they bomb the place.
It's polluting half the city.

Well, 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.

Seems 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.

Pleased to hear it.

She's cute. Congratulations.

I didn't know you had a girlfriend.

If you want to take advantage,
go ahead.

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
depresses me.

I just want to live
alone 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 rallying big time.

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 funds.

Capital Credit, for example
has been performing well.

There's no question if you ask me:
Either 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 frees herself from the old woman
and goes with Pip.

And then they fuck

It doesn't say in the story.

This Dickens guy really made us suffer
though a bunch of shit.

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...

...who takes her out on Sundays.

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 promoting him.

I think they're going to fuck.

This way.

Who wants to see me?

Mr.Paladini, in the conference room.

Mr. Mansani, sir.

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. Head of HR,
Lucarelli, my son-in-law.

The commercial director, Mr. Bruni

All set? We have the candles.

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 palm trees.

But maybe 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?

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?

Just 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.

Want to 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.

I can come now, if you want.
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,
but check out the terrace.

Buricchio!

Who's this?

Never met him before.

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
how to call it...

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.

Great.

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.

Now some dates.

-Unification of Italy?
-61

-Porta Pia?
-70

- Crispi government?
- 1885, 1886

Colonial policy.

-That's enough.
-What?

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.

Of course.

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
Giovanna.

Like Joan of Arc? I was thinking
Valentina, Martina...

No, Giovanna 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 and all.

It doesn't go up or down.

In July, 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, of course.

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 Ivano 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 figured, maybe he's not retarded.

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 in Sales.

I use the Internet
from time to time.

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 going to send him an e-mail.

Every morning, before bringing
Giovanna to daycare

and going to work
in the hospital,

Susy drives 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.