Le Notti Bianche (1957) - full transcript

A love triangle, the past invades the present. Mario, a shy man new in Livorno, chats up a crying woman on a bridge. She's Natalia, waiting for a lover gone for a year who promised to return. For three nights, Mario accompanies Natalia, assists her, distracts her, dances with her. He falls in love with her. Can he pull Natalia into his arms, away from the past and from love for a man who will probably never return?

You've arrived!
Cross the canal and you'll be home.

Let's get the tram.
He's sleeping standing up.

Let's see if it's still running.
See you tomorrow!

Again, many thanks.

For what?
It's our pleasure, right, Maria?

- But of course!
- When we go back there,

on another nice day like
today, I'll let you know!

- Thanks.
- Wait till he settles in

...and you'll see he'll find better
ways of spending his Sundays!

Hurry! The night tram's coming!

Just a moment!



What are you doing here?
You're hungry, poor thing, huh?

Come here!

Oh, you've found something.

Come on, take it!

- Good evening.
- Good evening.

What a scare!

Get on! There's room for you too,
in the middle! Miss!

Get on, Blondie! There's room!
All three of us can squeeze up...

- Please leave her alone.
- Who are you?

Where did this idiot come from?

Blondie, come away with us!

What do you want from us?

I'll show you what I want!
The young lady's with me!

What are you talking about?!
Clear off!



You scoundrel! Come back!
Come back! You're running away?

- Very courageous!
- What's the matter?

Nothing, nothing...

Did you see what they're like?
They enjoy bothering people.

What idiots...

If you hadn't run off,
just then, on the bridge

you wouldn't have been
bothered like that.

Look, I don't know you.
Please leave me alone.

I don't know you, either.
Please let me walk you home.

Those two good-for-nothings
upset you just now

and they might...
I feel it's my duty.

Please don't put yourself out
for me. I live nearby.

- Can't I walk you home?
- No. It's better if you don't.

You surely don't think
I want to bother you too?

No, I don't.
But a while ago, you too...

Maybe... maybe... it...
it seemed like that to you, but...

Anyhow, I realized almost
immediately that you were crying...

...in a way that broke my heart.

And I thought, excuse me
for saying this, I thought...

Very well, I'll come clean.

I approached you then
because...

Well, I would have liked...

But then I realized you weren't...

It's all clear. Now, may I
walk you home?

You can trust me.

No, I won't leave you here alone.

Come on!

How often you hear people say
that because of some woe...

But you didn't have that
in mind, I hope.

A pretty young woman
like you...

You're foreign, aren't you?
Where are you from?

So, what are we going to do?

Won't you tell me what you're doing
here and why you were crying?

I live nearby. Over there.

Were you crying because of this?
I too live nearby. Down there.

But I'm not crying.

It's already midnight.
Today has just flown!

I spent the whole day
out of town.

With my boss and
and his family. Nice people!

Boring, but nice people.

It was the first time,
since I was transferred here,

that I had company...

...and it was very pleasant.

But I kept quiet
the whole time with them.

But now I'm alone again,
I feel like talking,

being in someone's company.
I was in a good mood.

I wanted to end my day
happily.

Then I saw you.

You can walk me
home now, if you like.

Why don't we go for a drink
first? In Piazza Grande...

...there's bound to be a bar open.
- It's too late.

I'm sorry
I ruined your evening.

What are you talking about?
I'm glad to have met you!

I was at a loose end.

I told you
I was looking for company...

...and I got lucky.

Excuse me, I'm
terribly shy.

With women, I mean.
I don't mix with them often.

I don't even know
how to talk to them.

The women I know...

Usually, women
are attracted to shy men.

- I, for one, am.
- Really?

Don't say that,

otherwise you'll make me
forget my shyness.

And my means
to success will be ruined.

What means?

You said women are
attracted to shy men,

- yourself included...
- Goodnight, everybody!

- We're here.
- What? Already?

I'm sorry.
Do I really have to go?

- Yes.
- Listen...

Tomorrow evening, I'll go
back to where we met tonight.

Maybe we'll meet if nothing's
happened in the meantime.

I'll wait for you.

I just wanted to tell you
I'll be there tomorrow at 10pm.

At 10pm, fine!

Still in bed!

Aren't you going to work
this morning?

Don't you know what time
it is? It's gone 8 o'clock.

What a tidy room!

I've brought you some coffee.

It must be good because
I've just made it fresh.

It's 8 o'clock!
Wake up! Wake up!

My goodness!

You look dog tired!

I heard you come in
last night, you know?

You started whistling
and then you sang, too!

You could have woken up
the whole guest-house.

The doctor isn't feeling well.
I'm off! There's hot water there.

Hurry or you'll be late!
One day, they'll fire you!

I don't have time
to waste with you, you know?

I'll be right there, doctor!
Yes, I'm coming!

Listen, Doctor, they brought
the result of your urine test.

I don't think you've anything
wrong with you.

Coming! Coming!

Hello? Guest-house Aurora.

No, I told you
there's no fault here!

I've no time to waste.
Maria, I want you

to do a thorough cleaning
this morning! Under the bed too.

Signor Mario? Are you up?
Are you washing?

Where did you go yesterday,
in these shoes? To the mountains?

It must have been a good trip!
Now I understand why you oversleep.

Colonel? Colonel!

Colonel!

Maria, come here
afterwards to air this room.

That's where that
smell was coming from!

From the Colonel's room! The bin
hasn't been emptied for three days!

It's absurd! I have to do
everything in this house!

Get a move on!

Hello? Guest-house Aurora.

Oh, Counselor! How are you?

Fine, fine...

Signora? Signora!

- Signora, I...
- Excuse me, Counselor,

but a client's calling me.
Goodness! You're not ready yet?

Please spot-clean
and iron this.

What? Don't you know I've
a lot to do? It's not possible.

But I need it this evening!
Please be so kind...!

- These jobs cost extra.
- Fine! I'll pay for it separately!

As soon as I come back
from the office, I'll change.

- The white shirt too!
- Have a shave!

- All right, I'll shave.
- No, not you, Counselor.

Maria, come and
get this suit!

What'll you have?

Who's scaring the chickens?
Go on, kids! Off to bed!

What are you doing in
the hen house?! Get out of there!

Can't you see you're scaring
the hens? They'll stop laying! Out!

- Excuse me, I was looking for...
- In the hen-house, at this hour?

No one, thanks.
I've an appointment here.

With someone from this house?
- No, not from this house.

Then you'd better leave
because I can't wait around.

- I have to close up.
- May I stay here a moment?

Outside, there's someone
who might bother me...

He follows me all the time
and I don't...

Thanks.

Please don't take offence.
There is a reason, I assure you.

Listen, maybe I'm indiscreet,
rude,

but if you didn't want to see me,
all you had to do was say so.

- What do you take me for? What...?
- Don't take offence.

Yesterday evening,
I made a mistake, that's all.

I behaved
like a little girl.

It's been on my mind all day.
I wonder what he thinks of me?

That I'm a girl who accepts a date
with the first guy she meets?

- You didn't think this, did you?
- I didn't think anything at all.

Oh, yes you did!
And you were right.

But since I'm not like that
the easiest way...

...to prove it to you
was not to show up.

Where? In the place
where we'd agreed to meet?

- At the very same time?
- But I just had to go there.

Really? But you obviously
didn't want my company.

So, I apologize
and wish you good night!

There wouldn't be anything wrong
in your keeping me company now.

Excuse me?

I mean, if we got to know
each other and became friends.

You're an odd sort, you know?

What can I do
if we met by chance...

...and there's no one around
even now to assure you...

...I'm not a rogue?
- I already realized that.

If I fix an appointment with you,
you're entitled to think...

That it was a date.
Okay, I don't think that.

- Are you cross with me.
- Me? Not a bit!

You really didn't think that?

Then everything's fine.

We can take care of the rest.

My name's Natalie.

Now, tell me everything
about yourself.

Who are you? What do you do?
Tell me your story.

It'll be as if we'd always
been friends!

My story?
But I don't have a story to tell.

How have you managed to live
up to now without a story?

- I lived normally.
- You must have someone, a family...

Even if very small, like mine.

I've only an elderly grandmother.
Elderly and almost blind.

All the others left.
The first to leave was my father.

It was so long ago
that I don't remember him.

Then my mother left...

...with someone who wasn't
my father.

So now, my grandmother,

for fear that I'd get
into trouble,

and seeing she's almost blind
and couldn't follow me,

sometimes took a pin...

...and attached my skirt to hers!

- She did what?
- It's true.

Go on... what are you saying?

It's true! Don't you believe me?
It's what happened.

But don't laugh at my grandmother.
I love her all the same.

But we weren't talking about
me... You were supposed

...to tell me who you are,
what you do, how you live...

- With whom you live...
- We'll have plenty of time for this

Why don't we decide, first,
where we'll go?

It's too late for the movies now
and anyhow, you can't talk there.

- Why don't we go...?
- I thought you'd understood.

I have to go back there.

I'm expecting someone.

Oh...

I thought you'd understood.

That's why I said
you mustn't worry about me,

but if you like,
you can keep me company.

With pleasure! It's an honour!

I couldn't ask for more.
Here we are!

May I ask who we're
waiting for?

At what time will this person
deign to show up?

It's not a question of
an exact time.

Ah, fine! Let's hope he takes
his time coming.

That way, we'll have the chance
to get wet. It'll rain soon.

No, it won't rain. It's just damp.
It's always like that at night.

Yesterday, for example.
I went back there,

after we said goodbye.

It was so damp, it really
seemed it was about to rain

but it didn't.

Careful...

Your grandmother doesn't
seem so strict,

if she lets you stay out
overnight on your own.

- But she doesn't know!
- Oh, that's better!

Poor Grandma! She'd be
very upset if she knew.

But I...

Don't want to cry any more
for other people's suffering.

I must watch out for myself.

Maybe cry for myself.

Do you think he won't come?

Look, Miss, I...

I'm not crazy.

Don't worry about that.

I can explain everything,
if you like.

My story is
very ordinary...

My grandmother's foreign.

You see, we...

Best say nothing about the rice!
It was terrible!

The meat was uneatable!

We're not from here.
We're Slavs.

I believe we were
rich once upon a time...

because my grandfather
was a carpet merchant.

When he died, the family started
mending carpets at home.

There's nothing much left
of our home.

But we've lots of carpets
that are no longer ours.

They bring us carpets
to mend.

It's a hard job...

we only do on the finest,
most valuable carpets.

At home, there's a room
upstairs that we rent out.

One day, a new tenant
moved in.

Was there a different
one before that?

Of course. As soon as he left.
We got another one.

Without tenants
we can't manage.

We met him through Giuliana,

an old employee of ours
who helps us with the housework.

Now, she's living...

...in the room upstairs.

The new tenant wasn't from here.

He came from another town.

This way, sir.
Do come in.

Since he didn't quibble
about the rent,

Grandma took him in
without checking on him.

Only when he turned up,

Grandma got suspicious
and said:

What's he like, Natalia?
Is he young?

Not to lie, I said:

He's not exactly young,

but he's not old either, Grandma.

Is he good looking?

My goodness!
Who'd have expected it?

A tenant who's also
good looking.

In my day, that never happened.

What are you doing? Hurry up!

Go and get the rent book
from my room.

- Right away!
- Go! Go! Go!

I'd forgotten about the pin.

I felt so ashamed
that as soon as I left the room.

I burst into tears
like an idiot.

From that day, as soon as
I heard a noise in the hall,

I felt I would die.

I always thought...
It's him!

One morning,

when I was sure he wasn't in,

with the excuse of tidying up,

I went into his room.

Good morning.

How's your grandmother?

I see you like my books.
If they interest you, take them.

I've already read them.

I read them to help me fall
asleep. It's become a habit.

Here! They're fun to read.

No, no, no... Take these too!

Especially as you certainly have
plenty of time for reading.

I don't know how you can
stay indoors all day long.

You're a good girl. It's a pity
to see you wasted like this.

It seems almost impossible
that today, a girl...

But don't you ever go anywhere?

To the movies, for a walk...

Shall we go out together,
some times?

This evening, for example? Agreed?

Yes?

Is it you who doesn't want to...

...or is it your grandmother who
won't give you her permission?

If that were the case, it would
be easy: Don't ask permission...

...and we'll go slip out unseen.

Well, I see...

Let's not talk about it any more.

If that's your attitude...

But I'd think it over
if I were you.

At first, Grandma wasn't keen
on my borrowing the books.

She's suspicious of everybody
and everything!

She wanted me to read them
out to her, one by one.

For days and days, I read her
stories about stranglers,

policemen and
international spies...

Grandma got very caught
up in those stories...

...that I could hardly
understand,

lost, as I was,
in my own thoughts.

How badly you're reading, Natalia!
I can't understand anything!

...and he tightened
the slip-knot...

- Go on!
- I was tired and on edge.

He hardly ever left
the house then,

but I rarely saw him.

I heard him pacing back
and forth in his room,

until one day...

Who is it?

It's me.

- I've brought you some more books.
- That's very kind. Thank you.

- What are you making?
- A carpet.

Now... I wanted to know
what you've decided.

Decided? Decided about what?

I invited the young lady
to ask you.

...if you'd like to go
out together one evening

What?!

I'd be delighted to invite
you and the young lady...

...to the opera, for example,
one evening.

- And Giuliana, of course.
- What fun!

- "The Barber of Seville" is on.
- Oh, how lovely!

The Barber of Seville?
Oh, that's my favourite!

If they touch me
where I am weak,

I'll turn into a viper!

And a hundred traps
before giving in,

I shall set, I shall set.

That evening was a turning
point in my life.

We said nothing,

but for me, it was as if
we'd said everything.

That we'd love each other
all our lives.

That we'd never leave
each other.

Not even for a day.

But the next day, I learned
from Grandma that the tenant

...had cancelled his contract...

...and was leaving.
- Natalia!

What could I do?

I was almost crazy
with despair...

I told him
I'd run away with him,

I wanted to live with him,

because without him,
life had no meaning.

I... I...

Try to understand me, Natalia.

It's precisely
because I love you...

...that I've done everything
I can not to see you any more.

Do you understand? I...

I'm not in a position
to marry you, now.

I've had some big problems
I can't explain to you.

That's why I've had to agree
to go away for a year.

But I do love you, Natalia.

I love you. I swear.

I love you, I love you, I love you.

When we left the house,
we walked for a long time.

We even came here.

Listen, Natalia.
I've already told you.

I have to stay away for a year

and I can't expect you
to wait for me.

I don't want you to be unhappy
because of me.

You must consider yourself free.

When I come back, in a year,

if you still love me,

I swear, we'll be happy.

A year from now, I'll be here,

waiting for you,
at exactly the same time

and you'll love me once again.

I'll be yours. Yours forever.

The following morning,
he left...

...and I'm here, waiting for him.

But this is an absurd story!

I may well be naiive,

but not that naiive.

You expect me to believe...

I don't expect you
to believe anything.

I just told you my story.
It's an ordinary story, I know.

- All girls have...
- "All girls" have what?

Do you mean
all girls are crazy?

What's so strange
about what I told you?

Excuse me, you told me
you're waiting here

for a many who left a year ago,
of whom you've had no news at all!

- Right. So what?
- Where did he go? To the moon?

- I don't know. What does it matter?
- What does it matter?!

Why didn't he contact you?

One can write from anywhere
in the world. Did you know that?

But we'd decided not to write to
each other. I already told you.

Oh, right!!
A great decision!

So you don't know
where he went.

- No.
- And not even what his job is.

- No.
- Naturally!

Are you sure he exists?

- You think...
- Let's get away from here

- that I'm mad!
- We'll end up sick!

I've no desire
to catch a cold!

- Please, let's go now.

You think I'm mad!

I don't know what to think!
How can you be...

...so naiive as not to understand?
- You're wrong!

I'm a man so I can judge:
He'll never come back!

You're wrong!

In fact
he's already back!

- He's in town!
- Where?

He returned and
I even know where he's living.

- I found out today from Giuliana.
- Then he's a scoundrel!

Maybe he's trying to find out
whether I'm...

...still...!
- Don't start again! I beg you.

Were you offended by
what I said? I was joking.

It's just that this story
is so alien to me,

to my way of thinking.

By this, I don't mean
that if I could help you...

I didn't think girls like you
existed in this world any more.

You see, for me, it's like asking
me to believe in fairy tales.

- It's raining!
- Yes, but it won't last long.

- Let's hope not.

When you fell in love,
you went to him and told him...

...and that was the right thing
to do but then...

What do you think
I should have done?

Stopped him from leaving.

Or forced him to take you
with him,

otherwise you'd know
it was over...

Even though people say
they'll wait...

- I'd have said the same thing.
- Without believing it?

I'm not buying it. You want to
appear worse than you are.

On the contrary, you're kind
and sincere.

I've very pleased that
we've become friends.

Me too.

- Give me some advice.
- Me?

What can I say?
I think you should...

...go and see him, talk to him.

Would you go for me?

Me? What's it got to do with me?

But even without actually going,
you could write him a letter.

No, no... impossible!

It would seem as if I wanted
to force myself on him.

What? Anyway,
there are letters and letters.

The main thing is to clear
the matter up instead of...

...crying and waiting.

You should fix
a formal appointment

saying you only want to...

I mean, you should take
the first step and see if he...

Really? Well, what would
you write to him?

It's not hard. It's very easy.
Dear...

- "...sir."
- Fine! "Dear sir".

Better still...

..."Kind sir".
- As you wish.

"Kind sir,

Then...

Excuse me for writing to you,

but you must forgive..."
A formal tone, right?

Yes, but not "Excuse me".

It would be better to write:
Forgive my impatience.

You're right. No apologies!

Forgive my impatience

but for a whole year...

...I have been waiting...

No. "I have lived...

...a pleasant expectation."

Right! That's also true.

Are you sure that's all right?

- You're the one who must decide.
- Yes, yes, it's fine.

Now you're back and...

...maybe you have changed
your mind...

...as far as I'm concerned.

Were that the case,

it would be much better to clarify
everything and find closure

with a formal appointment.

- Tomorrow, at the usual place?
- As you wish.

But now, pay a little attention
to me too.

You're not trying to court me,
are you?

You're looking at me
like a man in love

You can't! After everything
I've told you about myself

you can't fall in love with me.

Anyway,
you won't get the chance.

- We may not see each other again.
- Even if we're only friends

we don't have to talk exclusively
about your problems.

- Let's talk about mine, too.
- You have problems?

No.

But I could have some...

- Shall I send it?
- Yes, but not like that.

First, copy it out carefully
and then, you know what?

We'll meet tomorrow evening. Bring
it to me and I'll deliver it to him

- Really?
- A friend can do a favour can't he?

Thank you.

Here you are.

- What is it?
- The letter.

But this is written...
Did you already have it?

Yes, but it's exactly like
the one you wrote.

Oh, Natalia... Natalia...

- Will you really bring it to him?
- Yes, don't worry.

If for any reason I can't,
I'll let you know

When we first met,

you didn't expect to have to act
as a big brother to me.

Are you sorry?

Try to understand.

Good night.
Please don't walk me home.

Why? Wait!
When will we meet again?

Tomorrow. Tomorrow.

I'll be so happy
or so desperate,

that I wouldn't be good company
in either case.

- Good night.
- No, no, wait!

- Thank you for everything.
- Wait!

Thank you...

Thank you!

What a terrible day!

Do you have a cold??
Would you like an Aspirin?

- No, no.
- I feel most unwell too...!

Maybe it's the weather. Know what
to do? Soak your feet in hot water.

- I'll bring you the hot water now
- It doesn't matter. It's just...

You see?

- Shall I have these ironed
- No, I don't need them anyway.

- You see you're not well?
- No, I'm fine.

Here... Put down the coffee.

Pour the boiling water
in the basin and bring it here.

Do please have them ironed.

- This evening, I want to have fun.
- The other evenings, you didn't?

Not even I know what
I did the other evenings.

Take these and clean them. Spruce
them up properly. All of them.

Now, get up...

You've even caught a cold!

Wrap up, otherwise, it's no good!

That hurts!

- Goodness!
- Lf it's not boiling, it's useless!

A drop of coffee will do you good.

- The other evenings...
- Here!

...I must have been dreaming.

- Dreaming?
- Yes, dreaming.

Here, drink it while it's hot.

Did you know there are
strange people in this town?

- Of course I did!
- Lf they hadn't told me...

Don't be childish! Like that it's
good for you, otherwise is useless!

- Signora?
- I'm coming!

Carry on with your footbath.
I'll send up more hot water.

What's up?
What do you want from me?

You know I'm unwell, don't you?
Maria, what happened?

It's nothing to do with me.

What am I supposed to feel?
Remorseful?

Remorseful... This evening
I want to have a good time!

Remorse be damned!!

100 lire, sir!

Here you are, Arturo,

a toy with which to amuse
your children. Dance!

It's a toy allowed by law.

There's a policeman here
who can confirm that.

Stand up.
Do three jumps: One, two, three.

Take it home
to amuse your children.

If you have no children,
amuse your wife.

If you have no wife, thank God
and buy it all the same.

Only 100 lire and you can
amuse the whole family.

Buy the pale blue
butterfly!

It only costs 100 lire!

The butterfly costs 100 lire!

Buy the "dancing couple",

a toy that does all the modern
dances, even the difficult ones.

A toy allowed by law! There's
a policeman here who can confirm it

It's a toy that doesn't offend
morals. I've already sold two.

Stand up! Dance!

This evening,
it's you who's hiding!

- Me? No. Why?
- I saw you earlier.

Actually, I'm very pleased
to have run into you.

Today, I was afraid I'd see you.

Afraid you'd turn up
at home because...

In mean I was afraid you'd come
to tell me it didn't go well,

but now...

Are you cross with me?

- Is something wrong?
- No, why should it be?

I didn't see you, that's all.

Don't tell lies.

How I love this street!
Do you, too?

I like it because...

I don't know why...

- Which way are you going?
- Me?

That way.

If you like, this evening, I can
accompany you for a while.

I've time to kill.

Grandma sent me out
on an errand.

Giuliana's at home.
She'll be putting her to bed.

Anyway, time
hangs heavy at home.

If I told you everything I did
today to kill time...!

I washed
all the windows of the house...

...and when Grandma...
- Listen, I must leave you.

I have an appointment.

- Is that why you didn't want
to see me? - Yes, it is.

Actually, I'm already late.
I really must go. Good evening.

I don't want you to be late
on my account.

I've already bothered you
so much

When did you deliver the letter?
This morning?

- Do you know if he was in?
- I think he was.

- I'm so happy!
- Listen,

- come with me.
- Where?

Where we like! Didn't you say
you had lots of time to kill?

- Yes, till 10pm.
- Right!

- What about your appointment?
- I'll go to it later,

or maybe not at all.
You're not going to yours, so...

Oh, no! You...

I must tell you something.

No, please don't!

It's what I'm thinking, isn't it?

You want to tell me
not to get my hopes up.

Not exactly that.
In a certain way, maybe.

I've already told myself
that,

but I can't quite get it
into my head.

Anyway, I feel that this evening...

...everything will go fine.

I'm so sure of it...

...that I've even dressed up
for the occasion.

Look! Do you like it?

Well, all we can do now
is trust your instinct.

Maybe everything
will go just fine...

...but differently from
what you have in mind,

anyway, the main thing
is the result, isn't it?

So, where shall we go?

- What about your appointment?
- It doesn't matter.

- Oh, no!

You're so nice and kind

that I...

...I've grown fond of you.

Yes, almost as much as him.

What good dancers they are!

Can you dance that well?

- I can dance.
- I can't.

I used to come here often.

No, not here. I was transferred
to this town only recently.

Only two weeks ago.
I meant in places like this.

Your grandmother...

...keep you
pinned to her,

while my parents,
did the opposite...

Out! Off you go!
As a boy, in boarding school,

then, always at relatives'
here and there,

because at home, an extra
mouth to feed was a problem.

I did my national service,
then got a job.

A year in one town then in another.
You get to know lots of people.

You meet up, you break up
and then you start over.

I used to think
it was a life of Riley,

but I don't enjoy it any more,
maybe because I'm getting old.

I'd like to make some friends
and keep them. People...

When I leave the office, I no
longer come to places like this.

I like wandering around on my own,
thinking, daydreaming...

So, you're a dreamer too?

Well, you know what it's like...
The imagination boils like...

...water in a coffee-pot.

Yes, but it's a mistake.
You end up thinking there is...

...something living and
tangible even in your dreams

and you neglect life, do you see?
Reality. This reality.

- Let's dance!
- No, I've two left feet!

That doesn't matter! Let's try!
I'm no dancer either!

- I can't dance.
- Come on! Let's try!!

Let's try that now.
Yes, let's try it!

It's just like walking!

Now, I too can say
I've been dancing.

Now, I too can say
I've been happy.

Gina, call Daddy!
It's way past 10 o'clock!

No... Leave me alone! Let me go!

I'm sorry. Excuse me...

I... Excuse me.

How much?

Come on, Natalia. Get up!

Natalia, listen to me.

I must talk to you.
I absolutely must!

Did you say something?
I didn't catch it.

Listen, Natalia... I...

I'm very fond of you!
I love you, Natalia. I love you!

Go away! He won't come
if you're here. Please leave!

He's not coming back!
Don't you get it?

Forget the ghosts of the past!
What matters is that you and I...

Go away! Go away!

Go away! I don't want him
to find me here with you!

I haven't two-timed him.
I haven't! I haven't!

- You're crazy, that's what you are!
- Go away!

If I think of the time I wasted
listening to your nonsense,

I could slap myself!

If they're not whores,

they're crazy! Completely crazy!

That scoundrel
did the right thing!

First, he had some fun,
when he felt like it, and then...

Hey there, handsome!
Always in a hurry...

...and always alone.
- Leave me alone!

I wasn't going to eat you!

I was just making conversation.
If you've been left alone,

you can spend a little time
with me.

Why not! I'll be better off
with you than with... Let's go!

Let's go! Come on! Get a move on!

- Walk!
- Are you mad? Slowly!

- Where are we going?
- Wherever you like.

This way, then...

Come on!

Can't you walk
a little slower?

You see? You've made me
twist a heel.

But I'll make you pay for it,
you know? Scoundrel!

Did you know you're nice?
Handsome, too!

- I like you!
- Yes, but where are we going?

I always go there.

Careful, it's slippery!

What's the matter??
Don't you like it here?

No, it's not that.
It's just that...

I don't like it. Sorry!

Hey, you! Come back here!
What's gotten into you?

Stop it! I didn't lay a finger
on you! I don't feel like it!

You take advantage of a woman
like me because I'm alone!

- Stop that!
- Come here!

- Come here!
- What did you do to her?

- Nothing!
- He took advantage of me!

He's a coward! Just a coward!
He was supposed to come with me,

but he didn't because I'm alone!
That's why.

If she's yelling, that means
you've done something to her.

- I advise you to...
- I didn't do anything to her!

- What are you doing?
- Shut up! Stop yelling!

- Leave him alone!
- Stay here!

- Stop it!
- Leave me alone!

Leave him alone!
Leave him alone!

What did he do to you? What
did he do to you? What did he do?

- Leave him alone!
- You set me up...

Leave him alone!

Go, while you're still in time!

It's not my fault!

Don't show your face
around here again!

It's always me who loses out.

You were right.

He didn't turn up.

Excuse me
for offending you, earlier.

Neither of us
was lucky this evening.

You'd never have behaved
like that, would you?

Natalia...

I have a confession to make.

I threw that letter away.

Do you understand?
I didn't deliver it because...

...because I love you.

I fell in love with you
the minute I saw you

but I couldn't...

You...

- You...?
- Yes, I did just that.

So, nothing's changed.

Are you happy?
Now you can keep your hopes up.

You can write to him again
and it'll all work out, you'll see.

Try to forgive me.

Maybe you'll manage to
when you're happy, right?

What possessed you
to trust a man like me?

I did warn you:

Never trust anyone,
especially if they're in love.

Cheer up, now.

Natalie, what can I say?
I'm guilty.

I ask you to forgive me...
I'll try to make up for it, okay?

I'm so fond of you,
I just want you to be happy.

This time, I'll really go to him.
I'll explain...

- No.
- You don't want me to? Why? What...

...difference does it make if I do
now what I didn't do yesterday?

Exactly! What difference does
yesterday or tomorrow make?

The fact is that he didn't show up.

I'm glad you didn't
deliver that letter.

I thank you
for having saved me...

...this final humiliation.
- No, no, Natalia.

I told you not to trust
the judgment of a man in love.

You're such a child!

None of what I said counts
because...

...I was only thinking of myself.

I told you
not to believe in fairy tales,

then I myself began
to believe in mine.

I felt like you did

when you went to him
with your little suitcase.

I loved him for a whole year...

and was never unfaithful to him,

not even in my thoughts

and he despised all this.

May God take care of him.

- I just want to forget him.
- What?

I still love him, but I'll get over
it. I must get over it because...

...I've seen the truth,
I've seen how he cheated me,

- while you...
- Natalia...!

I'll get over it.
I must get over it!

I'm such an ordinary,
insignificant man.

But that's nothing to do with it.

I can't even express
what I want to say.

It's true, I thought that

in a way, you didn't love him
any more, so...

...so I'd have done anything
to make you...

...love me.

Why am I telling you this?

Natalia, if, one day,
even years from now...?

Yes, I'd like that

if, despite everything.,

- you felt your love...
- Yes, that's what I mean!

If you think you really
love me as you say you do,

I swear that
my gratitude...

Natalia!

It's isn'tjust that you feel
sorry for me, is it?

Do you love me back
a little?

- I don't know, right now.
- Later on, maybe?

Yes, one day...

You must be patient.

- Let's wait for a time.
- Of course! Of course!

I won't ask you about it any more
But if you feel you can love me,

I'll wait as long as you like!

I'm so happy, Natalia,
so happy!

Because I'm sure, Natalia!
I'm sure! Do you understand?

- Come with me, Natalia!
- Where are you going?

Let me go!

- Get into the boat.
- But it's not ours!

- Go on, get in!
- All right.

We really shouldn't, it's not ours!
- That doesn't matter.

You'll see where I'm taking you!

Where are you going?

Do you realize you're using
an informal tone with me?

- Why? Don't you like it?
- Sure I like it!

- Where are we going?
- I want to take you to a place,

where one day,
crossing a bridge,

I saw some couples in love
and thought:

When I have a fiancée,
we'll come here all alone.

Here we are!

All alone!!

Well, that's because
we're not engaged yet.

But when we are,
no one else will be around,

and no one will disturb us.

Okay, I won't mention it again
until you feel like it.

But I do feel duty-bound
to tell you at least this:

I'm poor, very poor.
I have a job.

Of course, I could always get
a better one, but I mean...

...with you by my side,
I'm bound to do well.

I'd like to send you to sleep

but like characters in fairy tales,

who sleep, only to wake up
on the day they'll be happy.

That's sure to happen
to you too.

One day you'll wake up...

...and see it's a lovely
day. It'll be sunny.

And everything will be new,
changed and bright.

And whatever seemed
impossible before,

will become simple, normal.

Don't you believe me?

I'm sure of it.
And it will happen soon.

Maybe tomorrow. Look!
Natalia, look at the sky.

It's magnificent.

But what's happening?
Is it snowing?!

Oh, it's snowing!

It's snowing! Hey, it's snowing!

What more could you ask for?
It's snowing!

It's snowing!

You must believe me!
I mean...

Look... Look!

I swear it's true!
A new man!

Believe me,
I'm a new man.

The secret is trust!

I understand everything,
even though I can't explain it.

Before, I found this town
gloomy and sad,

but it was my fault because
suddenly, it's all brightened up!

- No, no!
- We can have what we wish for.

Something inside me
just has to want it.

And the girl that I love
will become my wife.

All dressed in white.

Oh, it's already stopped!

- What a pity.
- No, it's still falling.

- No it isn't.
- Yes it is.

Imagine, all the people
here in town are asleep.

They know nothing of this.
Soon, they'll start waking up,

they'll open their windows
and say...

What a lovely day!

- Will you say that too?
- Yes.

Really, Natalia?

Yes... Yes!

Come on, let's go!

What's the matter?

Who's that, Natalia?

It's him. It's him!

I... I... deceived
you and myself too.

For a moment,
I thought you and I...

God knows what
I wouldn't do for you, now.

Try to forgive me.
I'll always be grateful to you!

Go to him.
You mustn't feel any remorse.

I was wrong to want
to fill you with doubt. Go to him.

God bless you for the little bit
of happiness you gave me.

It was not a mere detail
in the course of my lifetime.