Two Bits (1995) - full transcript

[ Man ] I once

asked my grandfather if dust

is what makes people sneeze,

and he said, "Yes, but it's also

what makes us see a sunset."

I don't think a day went by

that my grandfather...

didn't say something I knew

would stick in my head forever.

On this day,

I woke up thinking...

about the day of the La Paloma,

as I later named it.

But I could have given that day

any number of names.

So many things happened...

all in one single day.

[ Man On Speaker ]

Get out of the heat.

Get out of the Depression.

Visit the La Paloma,

South Philly's first

brand-new theater...

since before the Crash.

All newly renovated.

New seats.

New carpets.

New ushers, ha-ha-ha.

All air cooled.

Twenty-five cents

all day 'til 6:00.

Special midnight show

tonight only.

Forget the heat.

Forget the Depression.

I was almost a teenager.

Now I'm almost middle-aged.

Aah !

The day of the La Paloma

was actually...

Saturday,

August 26, 1933.

I got this habit of remembering

exact dates from my grandfather.

There's no milk !

I picked up

a lot of his habits.

"Only the bad ones,"

my mother used to say.

But he didn't have

any bad habits.

Those days, nobody did.

Gennaro's up yet ?

Hell...

there was a depression on.

Tell him

I want to see him.

[ Gennaro ]

There's no milk.

Here.

And Grandpa wants you.

The icebox overflowed.

Didn't I tell you to

empty it last night ?

Drink your milk.

And don't gulp. Chew.

Ma, how come you

never sweep the dust

from under my bed ?

Would you go see what

your grandfather wants

and stop criticizing ?

I'm having change of life.

She's always having

change of life, but I never

see any difference in her.

You wanna see

your quarter ?

I saw it yesterday.

Look. So what ?

I've been seeing it

every day since the Crash.

Well, I think today

you're finally gonna get it.

You've been thinking today

for the last two weeks.

Huh. I come close

Sunday night, huh ?

You forget already ?

How Father Edmund come here

and put me through the

last rites Sunday night ?

I gotta go someplace.

Where are you going ?

How do I know

'til I get there ?

Make no mistake,

today is gonna be the day.

So, you better think today.

Prove it.

Ah ! How am I gonna

prove such a thing ?

Easy. Just give me

the quarter.

Well, if I give you

the quarter now,

what am I gonna leave you

when I really go ?

Huh ? I got nothing

to leave you, my only grandson.

- Look, you said it's mine

the day you die, right ?

- Yeah.

So if today's the day you're

gonna die, leave it to me today.

I ain't sure

what time today.

Ah ! You're not sure at all, or

else you'd give me the quarter.

What's all this talk

about quarters ?

Ma, if Grandpa's gonna die

today, shouldn't he give me--

God forbid !

What a thing to say !

He said it.

[ Mutters ]

Well, if he dies,

send someone to find me.

Pa, why do you

talk about such things

with the kid, huh ?

Who else can I talk

about dying with ?

[ Gennaro ]

When I think about it now,

I realize that only a dumb kid

can make a deal...

to get a guy's quarter when

he dies and get away with it.

As far as I was concerned

back then,

there was no way I was

getting that quarter anyway,

because there was

no way my grandfather

was ever gonna leave us.

We gonna do

anything today ?

I gotta take my mother

to the clinic.

She's gettin' all her teeth

pulled out 'cause she's got

"pioneer" of the gums.

Geez.

[ Laughs ]

My father says she's gonna

look like a potato...

'cause we can't afford

false teeth this year.

You have to take her

right now ?

This afternoon.

So we still got

the whole morning.

Wanna go down to church ?

A wedding ?

A funeral.

We might have our own funeral

in a couple of days.

-My grandfather says it's today.

-He gave you the quarter ?

If I had the quarter,

would I have to go watch

your dumb funerals ?

Wanna go play

down the lots, then ?

It's too hot.

I wish I could go to the movies.

The church is cool.

[ Church Bell Ringing ]

[ Chattering ]

This looks more

like a wedding.

No, my mother said

next-door neighbor's niece

is having a funeral here today.

Thanks.

[ Girl ]

Over here !

** [ "Funeral March" ]

See !

[ Gennaro ]

In a way, just being on

the streets of South Philly...

was like watching a movie.

Right outside the church,

a double feature:

the wedding and the funeral.

But even before it showed up,

I could hear that truck

in my mind.

"Get out of the heat.

Get out of the Depression.

Visit the La Paloma."

But hey, who needed it ?

I had a real live movie

right there before my eyes.

** [ "Funeral March" Continues ]

**

No offense meant, Vottima,

but you got the wrong church.

My next-door neighbor,

Victor Sculucci, is getting

married here today.

[ Woman Screaming, Wailing ]

[ Man ]

Step aside, please.

Kindly allow family

of deceased...

to suffer their loss

in private.

** [ "Funeral March" ]

**

[ Sobbing ]

[ Screaming ]

[ Screaming, Shouting ]

[ Car Horn Honking ]

[ Honking Continues ]

[ Giggling ]

[ Giggling, Chattering ]

Papa, they got a coffin !

[ Gasps, Muttering ]

What the hell

kind of a joke is this ?

Get that thing out of the way.

There must be some mistake.

There must be !

Make them take it away.

It's a bad sign.

It's the evil eye.

Vottima, how could you

do this to my daughter...

on the happiest day

of my life ?

There must be

a confusion of dates.

We booked this church

and Father Rubolina...

for 10:00 sharp today !

So did we.

Only we got stuck

with Father Edmund.

Oh, the evil eye !

I'm gonna be a widow

before I'm a wife !

Victor ?

Where is my Victor ?

Shut up, Lena !

Ain't you got no respect

for the dead ?

Get that damn thing

out of here !

[ Horn Honking ]

[ Quiet Chattering ]

What the hell is this ?

Victor, it's a sign !

You're gonna die !

Oh, why me ?

It's your weddin' too !

Hey, don't you know coffins

is bad luck at weddings ?

It's not my coffin.

All right.

Somebody better start

moving it fast !

[ Crowd Murmuring ]

Come on, we'll take it

down to the alley over there.

[ Grunts ]

[ Crowd Screaming ]

[ Screaming,

Shouting Continue ]

[ Man On Speaker ]

Get out of the heat.

Get out of the Depression.

Visit the La Paloma,

South Philly's first...

brand-new movie theater

since before the Crash.

All newly renovated.

New seats.

New carpets.

New ushers.

All air cooled.

Twenty-five cents

all day 'til 6:00.

Special midnight show

tonight only.

Forget the heat.

Forget the Depression.

Come to the La Paloma.

Grand opening today.

[ Dog Barking ]

- Wey, Gennar !

- Hi, Uncle Joe.

Hey, how's Grandpa ?

Take that thing to the glue

factory where it belongs.

Hey, you want a banana ?

Hey, hey, hey !

Hey, hey !

Get a horse !

Hey, come here.

Have a drink.

[ Whinnying ]

Hey, you stupid

macaroni head.

[ Children Chattering,

Laughing ]

[ Chattering ]

[ Dog Barking ]

What time does it open ?

Twelve o'clock.

Oh. Noon ?

Noon !

[ Gennaro ]

It must have been the cool water

hitting my face,

but I got an idea--

or maybe it was a dream--

but I'd go home and Grandpa

would be up walking around,

watering the plants,

and my mom would have

those two bits for me.

But when I got there, of course,

everything was the same.

[ Dog Barking ]

I wish I'd spent more time

with him. I don't know.

I was always running around,

wasting time.

[ Snoring ]

I wish once in a while...

I'd taken the time to say,

"I love you, Grandpa,"

because... I sure did.

[ Sighs ]

[ Clears Throat ]

No.

No what, Ma ?

No, I don't have any money.

Oh.

Didn't you hear there's

a depression on ?

Well, where else

could I get a quarter ?

I had to trust

the bread and milk

again this morning.

It was so embarrassing.

That welfare lady came by

last week, and I asked her,

"Is there any way we can get

a few more dollars every week,

just so that the check lasts

from one week to the next ?"

And she looked at me in the way

that she does, and she said,

"Mrs. Spirito,

a lot of people are using their

checks to play the numbers,

"and a lot of people are taking

trains to the shore...

or they're going

to the movies."

She said the Board is so upset

that they're actually thinking

of giving us less money.

I said, "Well, that's terrific;

that's just what we need

around here: less money.

That way we can all

starve to death at once,

rather than one at a time."

She laughed.

She wasn't a bad lady.

We got anything

I could sell ?

Stop scooching me, okay ?

Those old newspapers

still down in the cellar ?

I sold 'em.

You think I can get a job ?

How much you think

you're gonna get

for that much wax ?

I thought you were sleeping.

On the edge

of a clothesline.

Grandpa ?

Now what ?

How am I gonna tell you

what I did with the quarter

you left me...

unless you're still alive when

I do what I'm gonna do with it ?

When I'm gone, I don't care

how you throw your money around.

I don't know, Grandpa.

It don't seem right.

What don't ?

That you should die just

so I can go to the movies.

[ Coughs ]

Who said I was dyin' just

so you could to the movies ?

Nobody said it.

Nobody even thought of it.

[ Mutters, Coughs ]

So, even to go

to some big grand opening,

you don't want me

to die, huh ?

What's the matter ?

You afraid that when I'm gone,

you're not gonna have anybody...

to take the knots

out of your shoelaces ?

If I die today,

you go to the movies,

you hear ?

No matter what.

That's an order.

- My father died.

- I heard.

I was two years,

four months, one week,

three days,

six hours, 12 minutes

and seven seconds old

when he died.

I made my mom help me

figure it out once.

Please, when I'm gone,

don't put her to all that

trouble again, will ya ?

- Does it hurt ?

- What ?

Dying. Ma said

some people don't suffer.

I think she meant old people.

Do you think you'll suffer ?

Ohhh. I suffered enough

without dyin',

maybe I'm gonna die

without suffering.

If you don't suffer, can you

still go to heaven anyway ?

If there's a heaven,

I'm gonna go.

I wonder what it's like.

Hey, whatever you picture

it's like is what it's like.

So far, nobody knows...

more than that.

I can't picture it.

Well, tonight

I send you a postcard.

Hey ! Just now I got

a picture of what it's like.

Yeah ? Well,

God bless you.

It's beautiful.

Don't worry, Grandpa.

You're gonna love it up there.

- Can you see my house ?

- Huh ?

The house God

is building for me.

Is it finished yet ?

You can't really

call it a house, Grandpa.

It's more like a palace.

Ahh, really ?

Wh-What's it made of ?

It's made of gold.

Nah, it's made of bricks.

You see,

when you're born...

God starts building

a house for you in heaven.

And every time

you do a good deed,

He puts a brick on your house.

And when you do a bad deed,

He takes a brick off.

So, since I did more good

in my life than bad,

I think maybe my house

is almost finished.

It is.

I see it real good now.

Don't worry, Grandpa.

You're gonna love it up there.

Wait. I ain't worried.

I think you're worried.

What's the matter ? You're

trying to push me in a grave

for a lousy quarter, huh ?

No ! No, that's not

what I meant.

Honest, Grandpa.

Honest to God !

Okay. I know.

Ooh, while you're there,

give it a scratcher.

[ Groans ]

I'm gonna find a way

to make a quarter.

[ Mutters ]

[ Door Closes, Dog Barking ]

[ Gennaro ]

Grandpa knew that once I got

something in my mind,

I wasn't gonna let it go,

and he was right.

But I don't think there was

another kid in town...

who knew less

about making money than me.

**

* You took the heart

I gave you *

* And broke it

right in half *

* Now someone's done

the same to you *

* Ain't that a laugh

* Well, you're

the little devil *

* Who finally got his due

* Brokenhearted heartbreaker

* You had it coming to

* Yeah, yeah, yeah

yeah, yeah, yeah *

* You had it coming to you *

[ Gennaro ]

* You took the heart

I gave you *

* And broke it

right in half *

* Now someone did

the same to you *

* Ain't that a laugh

Ha-ha.

* Well, you little devil

who finally got his due *

* Brokenhearted heart-- *

Hi, Aunt Carmella.

You going to my house ?

What are you doing,

singing with your hand out ?

That's what I'm doing.

God forgive him,

he's begging.

I am not !

I'm entertaining.

Entertaining, begging,

it's all the same. You're

disgracing your mother's name.

I didn't tell no one

my mother's name.

In our whole family

there was never a beggar.

- How much you make ?

- Three cents.

- Give.

- No !

- Give !

I have a whole quarter

to make before 6:00.

Aunt Carmella, gee.

Maybe God'll forgive

you if I go light three

penny candles for you.

The other ?

[ Sighs ]

[ Coins Rattling,

Purse Closes ]

God bless you.

You're getting so big.

How's your mother ?

The same.

Tell your grandfather--

I know he won't eat it--

but I'm bringing him some

homemade macaroni salad

tonight after novena.

[ Sighs ]

[ Gennaro ]

In a depression,

my grandfather used to say,

strong people

just lose their jobs.

The others

lose their minds.

The day of the La Paloma

I found out just how right

he was.

[ Bells Jingling ]

No trust today.

I want a job.

[ Groans ]

I don't want trust.

I want a job.

You know,

there are guys...

trying to get themselves

arrested...

'cause it's better to sleep

in jail than in a tin house

on some empty lot.

There are kids your age--

your age--

being thrown out by

their own mothers and fathers...

and roaming the roads

like Typhoid Mary.

I'll work all day for two bits.

All day 'til quarter to 6:00.

- In my day, all day meant

'til closing time.

- What time do you close ?

Stop talking like

it's already settled.

Get outta here.

Cash it.

Uh, we don't carry

this kind of soap.

It's my welfare check.

[ Laughs ]

The heat's got you.

Cash it !

Want to listen to her ?

She's got a certificate here.

Says, um, "this certificate

and ten cents entitles you...

to a bar of soap and a picture

of a movie star, your favorite."

She thinks I'm gonna cash it

for a welfare check.

It's my welfare check.

I cashed your welfare check

last Saturday.

Cash it, please.

It ain't a welfare check !

My kids are starin' out

the window from not eating

since night before last.

Honest to God,

now she's makin' me

feel like a bastard...

'cause my kids ate

since night before last.

But how am I supposed to cash

a movie star soap certificate...

when I can't even

give trust ?

Maybe, maybe we can

figure something out.

Have your husband

come over and talk to me.

- He went for a walk.

- When he comes back.

He left four days ago.

You want a job ?

Take her home. Make sure

she don't go for a walk.

- How's she gonna pay me ?

- I'll pay you.

- A quarter ?

- A nickel.

- A dime.

- A nickel.

Where do you live ?

They're staring

out the window.

Yeah, but which street's

the window on ?

Hey, hey !

Let her go !

Let her go.

She'll go home now.

[ Sighs ]

And some night

she'll wake up crying...

'cause she stole ten cents

worth of potatoes.

Just this morning this--

this fat lady in a--

in a red dress come by,

stole a bag of rice.

I let her get away with it.

I can't stand to see

the fat ladies go hungry.

[ Sighs ]

Keep it, you dumb bastard.

[ Bells Jingling ]

Could've been a lot worse,

Mr. Zavattoni. A lot worse.

Let me see. Raise your head

a little bit there.

Okay, that's nice.

[ Groans ]

You know,

it's one thing...

you tell your daughter

you fell over from the heat.

But you and I,

we know differently, huh ?

Yeah. Let me get up.

Why ? Huh ?

Why ?

Because I don't like

lying on the ground here...

where God knows

what cats did what.

I should've put you

in the hospital a week ago.

Let me get in my chair.

Come on.

Just stay still.

I'm not finished with you

yet, Mr. Zavattoni.

[ Muttering In Italian ]

I'm not finished !

[ Groans ]

Take a deep breath

and don't talk.

What happened to you ?

You've become such

a pain in the ass.

Take a deep breath.

Another one. That's it.

[ Door Opens, Closes ]

Now he comes

when nobody needs him.

Grandpa.

Gennarino.

I almost made it this time.

Come on, help me--

help me in my chair.

Let him stay there.

We're gonna send a stretcher.

Take him upstairs to bed.

No. No.

Mr. Zavattoni,

you're like a mule.

There ain't nothin'

in bed for me.

Just like a mule, huh ?

You don't wanna listen.

[ Grunting ]

All right. Okay.

There. Sit.

I'm gonna die outside

where God can see me.

Don't talk to me

about hospitals.

What hospital ?

Me, who come over

on the same boat

with your uncle.

Oh, don't start.

You know the kind

of man he was.

You think I'm nuts ?

Go get my hat.

[ Sighs ]

Gennar, Gennar.

Gennarino.

You know what I saw

when I was laying there ?

You know what I saw ?

I saw heaven.

Honest ?

Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah.

I was no more

than half a block away.

And you know

what it looked like ?

It looked...

just like...

the new...

La Paloma.

[ Laughing ]

[ Chuckles ]

Hear him laughing out there ?

A man in his condition.

How could a man like that

obey a man like me ?

Maybe you could make him listen.

I can't make him do anything.

What do you mean by

"a man in his condition" ?

He's gonna be all right,

isn't he ?

Just keep him in bed.

And that's all ?

That's all.

Oh, so we gotta pay

doctors nowadays...

to tell us to put

each other in bed ?

Can't you give him some

medicine just for show ?

[ Sighs ]

You know, Dr. Bruna,

you could give him medicine,

and I would make sure

that he took it.

I would. And then maybe

it would do some good.

But it never does.

No, but maybe

it would do some good.

[ Chuckles ]

The main thing is, make sure

he stays in bed, hmm ?

Oh, but you know,

it has to be pills...

'cause he won't take

the syrup.

[ Door Opens, Closes ]

I just don't know.

He said he saw heaven.

I was kidding when I

said it this morning.

But I think

he really saw it.

Why he isn't in it

is what I don't understand.

Put these where your mother

will find them, okay ?

You want me to try ?

No, I can do it.

There.

You got a lot of other

houses to go after here ?

A lot of people

are dying.

Suppose from now

'til a quarter to 6:00...

I can carry your bag for you

wherever you go ?

Will you give me

20 cents for it ?

[ Chuckles ]

I can carry my own bag.

In this heat ?

I need 20 cents, that's all.

With a face like that,

so full of the world,

you don't need anything.

But I do.

Honest to God !

Please !

Don't !

[ Sighs ]

Shhh.

Luisa, he has

the pillow here.

Ma ! Ma !

Hey, what is that ?

Hey, what, are you crazy ?

There are people sitting here.

My grandson is so rich

that he throw away nickels.

That kid needs a physic.

He's all right.

[ Dog Barking ]

Oh, Gennaro.

I'm so sorry, Gennaro.

For what ?

Well, I can't afford a helper.

None of my patients hit

the numbers lately.

Ahh.

Well, maybe I can

afford a dime, though,

if you're willing to do

a little dirty work to earn it.

I'll do anything.

Oh, don't say that.

Not to anyone. Not for

any amount of money.

Then tell me

what you want me to do.

The heater in my cellar

is full of last winter's ashes.

You know where my house is ?

- The same as your office.

- The door's open.

But climb

through the cellar window

so you don't bother my wife.

You'll see the baskets.

Line the baskets with newspapers

before you put the ashes in.

Then leave them under the window

so I can put them out

for the trash man on Wednesday.

Huh ? You understand ?

[ Laughs, Mutters ]

Oh. You want your dime.

There it is.

[ Gennaro ]

Some of the boys

didn't like Dr. Bruna.

They said he was strange.

Until that day, I didn't know

what they meant by that.

[ Squeaking ]

Mrs. Bruna ?

[ Footsteps ]

Dr. Bruna gave me a dime

to come empty the ashes.

- Who are you ?

- Gennaro.

Gennaro.

That's a strong name.

Is it your first

or your last ?

- First.

My last name's Spirito.

- Spirit !

- Huh ?

- Don't you speak Italian ?

Only with my grandfather

when he's drunk.

[ Laughing ]

You are a spirit.

Yeah, well...

I gotta hurry.

You better go upstairs.

These ashes make dust.

It gets up your nose,

and when you blow, the

handkerchief gets black.

He used to hire them

a little older...

to do these little

things for him.

I'm old enough.

I'm 12.

Is 12 old enough ?

Look, uh...

I really gotta hurry.

So, if it's all right

with you--

Aren't you afraid of getting

blisters on your hands ?

I got strong hands.

Strong, yes,

but not beautiful.

I'm a boy.

What do you expect ?

Have you ever noticed

Dr. Bruna's hands ?

He has the most beautiful

hands in the world.

Yeah. I heard

he's a good doctor.

They've never touched me,

those beautiful hands.

Not once.

Not anywhere.

Maybe you oughta get

pneumonia or something.

Then he'd have to.

[ Laughing ]

I better get started

if I want to make

the money on time.

Six o'clock

the price goes up.

Not touching me, that wasn't

the cruelest part, Spirit.

The cruelest part

was telling me why.

He never should have confessed

a thing like that.

A sickness like that.

And after I empty the ashes,

I still need another dime.

His dime makes 15 cents.

You need a dime ?

I have a dime

upstairs on my bureau.

Would you like me

to give it to you ?

For doing what ?

Get out of here.

Get out of here, please.

I can't. I gotta

empty the ashes.

He already paid me.

No !

Don't go.

Come upstairs with me.

Please.

[ Children Laughing,

Chattering ]

Geez, Tullio,

you burn me up.

Have you ever

played with girls ?

They're too bossy.

No, I mean play.

Oh.

Well, did you ?

Yeah.

More than just

looking ?

No. Just looking.

Why is this on your mind

all of a sudden ?

[ Gennaro ] I was wondering

what you'd do if somebody

said she'd give you a dime.

[ Tullio ]

For what ?

You know.

She said she'd

give you a dime ?

Look, a sin's a sin

whether you get paid

for it or not.

Who's gonna know ?

Yeah. How 'bout when I go

to confession on Saturday ?

So let her make

the confession.

I'm sure the same sin

don't have to be

confessed twice.

Geez, Tullio.

I don't even know what

I'd be supposed to do.

You want me to come

with you, right ?

Will you ?

A lady ?

Yeah.

Like how old ?

A lady, that's how old.

Somebody's mother ?

She ain't got any kids.

Her husband didn't want

to hurt his hands.

What you wanna keep

talking about this for ?

She was just teasing me

to see how bad I wanted

that other dime.

If I did go with you--

Yeah ?

Wouldn't we have to go

yerkies on the dime ?

I need a dime, not a nickel.

I go yerkies on the sin,

I go yerkies on the dime.

What was that for ?

I don't know.

Something left over

from last summer.

I'll go yerkies !

Gennaro, wait !

Come on !

Why can't we just--

Come on !

Come on !

Call her.

We'll empty

the ashes first.

I didn't say I'd--

Only so we'll make some noise,

so she'll hear and come down.

You really want to make sure God

sees it's her sin, don't you ?

I'm starting to feel sorry

I let you come, Tullio.

Let me come ?

Go put the light on

on the wall at the bottom

of the stairs.

Come with me.

Oh, fa !

Ohhhhh !

[ Both Screaming ]

Hush up.

I'll be right with you.

[ Dog Barking ]

[ Man ]

Hey ! Hey !

[ Gennaro ]

I didn't want to tell

my grandfather...

because of his weak heart,

but my mother was out.

He never blinked.

He made me feel safe, like

I was in the confessional box.

Come here.

When I was finished,

he said that what had happened

was not my fault.

He said it over

and over and over.

[ Panting ]

You heard what

I told Grandpa ?

Yeah.

Honest, Mom, I was only

gonna empty the ashes.

No, I wasn't.

You go back to sleep.

I'll go downstairs and tell

Grandpa you're all right.

[ Sighs ]

[ Door Closes ]

Ma, has Grandpa got

my sneakers again ?

What's the matter, Ma ?

All morning he sits

in that sun, every day.

You'd think his face

would get a little sunburn,

a little color.

When you see him in the shade,

you see his face is even whiter

than it was yesterday.

It's like the sun passed by

without even noticing him.

What kind of world is it

when someone you love...

can sit in the sun and not get

a little color in his cheeks ?

Ma ?

God, I cashed his

insurance policy last month.

Yeah ?

No.

What's that supposed

to mean, Ma ?

It means I don't have

a quarter left to give you.

I don't want a quarter.

Yes, you do.

Yeah, yeah.

For once you're wrong.

I'm not wrong.

You want to go to the movies,

and you don't care

how you get there.

And you don't care about

being broke and crazy ladies

scaring a couple of babies.

You just get it in your head

you want something,

and if the world's

having a nervous breakdown,

you don't even know about it.

All you know is,

I want, I want, I want.

It ain't your heartache,

and nobody's got it to give you.

[ Crying ]

Hand me a dish rag.

Can't you get mad

without crying ?

You're the one

who should be crying !

What do you mean,

you don't want a quarter ?

Why ? Because

you can't have it ?

I could cry the rest of my life

over something like that.

I've never heard

my mother talk like this.

Now I believe you're

having change of life.

[ Laughing ]

Get over here.

Do you know what

I'm saying to you ?

No.

I'm saying, I don't have

a quarter, you know ?

So I can't give it to you.

But you, honey, you want it.

Says who ?

Says your mother,

that's who.

Hah ! That's where

you're so smart !

Now get !

[ Laughing ]

And I'm not smart.

Even your father

never said I was smart.

And if I was, he would've

said it, because--

because he never

missed a thing.

[ Sighs ]

Honey, will you get me

a glass of water, please ?

You know,

after we buried him,

for weeks

I used to sit and cry.

Not making any noise.

I would just sit and cry

like a deaf and dumb girl.

No noise.

And they'd say...

"You got a kid to raise;

you snap out of it."

And I'd say,

"I can't help it.

I want my husband."

Whoo, I want him to walk in

that door, and, you know--

And I used to have

this dream.

And in the dream,

he'd walk in the house...

and he'd see me

sitting there all in black,

crying like an idiot.

And he'd say, "Hey, what

are you crying about ?

I'm not dead.

It was all a big joke.

I was down in Atlantic City

visiting my rich paisans."

And we'd laugh, we'd laugh

and... God.

I wanted that dream

to be true.

God, how I wanted.

But little by little,

you know, piano piano,

they got me sensible again

and they showed me...

that it's a waste of time

to want what's impossible.

Maybe that was all

for the best, I don't know.

But when I finally said,

"Right, it's impossible,"

do you know what happened ?

I stopped having

that wonderful dream.

And from that day to this...

no matter how I beg God

before I go to sleep at night,

I can't dream of him.

[ Sighs ]

I can't dream of him.

If once in a while

you'd let me finish something

before you start yelling at me,

you'd figure out it ain't

that I don't want the quarter,

it's that I don't need it.

I only need a dime now.

So you got 15 cents.

You go buy me a can

of tomatoes.

Aw, Ma ! I know you got

a dime hid someplace.

They should make kids

go to school in the summertime

and stay home in the winter,

because in the summertime

they drive their parents nuts !

What am I ? I can't even

get a glass of water ?

Huh ? Somebody to talk to.

Okay, Pa, you been asleep.

Watch out.

This ain't the last

glass of water anybody

ever has to bring me.

Bring him the water

and sit and talk to him.

Aw, Ma, it's already 5:00,

and I got a whole dime to make !

You sit and you talk

with your grandfather,

nice and nice,

and then I'll give you

the dime I got hid.

I promise.

Oh, sure.

Hey, look at me. Did I

ever break a promise ?

Yes.

Yeah, well, all mothers do.

Go on. Go on.

It's coming, Pa !

[ Door Closes ]

Put it there.

Are you gonna talk ?

Only 'til I get

my sneakers on, okay ?

No, no.

Your mother said to talk

for a little while,

not 'til you get

your sneakers on.

Your ears don't miss

nothin', huh ?

All I know is, if I die

five minutes from now,

you won't get

your quarter after all.

Huh ? Why ?

Because you won't do me

one little dime favor.

- Says who ?

- You gonna do it ?

What ? I mean,

sure, but what ?

All day I'm sitting here

and I'm thinking--

especially since

it's my last day--

I'm thinking,

I need a favor.

I can't ask your mother,

because she'd die of shock.

So I gotta ask you,

a 12-year-old boy.

So... ask me.

Don't kid yourself.

It ain't easy.

How do I know

'til you ask me ?

That-- That's

what ain't easy.

[ Panting ]

Okay, come here.

Sit here.

[ Sighs ]

When I was just a young man,

17 years old, I come

to this country with my wife.

I know.

Yeah, okay.

She wasn't my wife at the time.

She was some girl I met

on the boat.

But once you marry a girl,

you call her your wife...

even if you're talking about

before you were married.

So ?

So, in the town

I come from in Abruzzi,

the men had a saying.

It goes...

[ Speaking Italian ]

which means...

"If a man is a virgin

on his wedding night,

he's gonna be a virgin

the rest of his life."

I didn't know

men can be virgins.

Wha-- You gonna stop

interrupting me or what ?

Go ahead.

So... as it gets closer

and closer to my wedding night,

I keep thinking about

this saying, over and over.

Now I know I can't touch

your grandmother because...

I want your grandmother to be

a good girl when she comes

down the aisle to marry me.

But I'm a virgin,

so I gotta do something.

I start looking around,

you know,

for your grandmother's sake.

And... I spy this girl...

Guendolina.

Guendolina is--

is pretty older than me,

but tiny, tiny, tiny,

like a little doll in a window.

Anyway...

I make a long story short.

I don't tell her I'm engaged

to your grandmother.

I make her believe that...

if she's good to me,

you know,

maybe I marry her.

So she gave herself to me.

You understand ?

Then, I turn around

and marry your grandmother.

This is a bad thing.

It's the one sin

I committed in my life

I couldn't forget the next day.

Didn't you confess it

to some priest ?

Priest ?

What am I gonna confess ?

I commit the sin

against Guendolina,

not some priest.

The priest gonna

forgive me no matter what.

That's his job.

But Guendolina--

I get it in my head...

that she never forgave me.

Didn't you ever

ask her to ?

That's what

I want you to do.

For me, before I die.

That's the favor I want.

Me ?

She lives...

643 Norwood Street...

with her two sons.

Maybe she moved by now.

I know she didn't move.

Many times, you know,

I used to think about

going myself,

but I never

got around to it.

Now I can't do it,

I can't. I can't even

make it to the alley.

I need you to do it.

What do you think ?

You don't wanna do it ?

Heck, no !

Gennaro, come on, please.

Don't let me die

with this on my soul.

Gennaro, listen to me.

It's easy.

All you gotta do,

you go in, you tell her,

"I'm Gaetano's grandson...

"and he sent me to tell you...

he's sorry for what he did."

She-- She probably won't

even remember you by now.

No, she'll remember me,

believe me.

After what happened to her

because of me.

What happened ?

Oh, none of your business

at your age. Wait--

Where you going ?

I'm not going

to Guendolina's house.

Oh, come on !

Gennar, Gennar, please !

Then tell me what happened.

My God. All right,

come here, come here.

A couple of years after...

what I told you...

Guendolina...

she got over

her disappointment...

and she got married.

Now, naturally,

the man she married...

you know, he thought

he was marrying a good girl.

So... on their

wedding night...

he found out different.

Who told him ?

What's the matter with you ?

Nobody has to tell a man

a thing like that.

He beat her bad.

He broke all her teeth.

Knocked 'em all out,

the front teeth.

I hear she never

got false ones.

She must look

like a potato.

Yeah. Okay, go ahead.

It's getting late.

Okay, just--

I'm Gaetano's grandson,

and he sent me

to tell you he's sorry.

Yeah, "for what he did."

For what he did.

"Please forgive him."

Wait, wait, wait a minute.

You're right.

You're right.

I should go myself.

I didn't say you

should go yourself.

No, I should.

All the way

to Sixth and Norwood ?

You'll never make it.

Come on. I'll lean

on your shoulders...

up to the door.

I'm not going in

with you, though.

Yeah, just to the door.

You better forget

about this, Grandpa.

At least sit down a minute

and catch your breath.

For a minute, that's it.

[ Panting ]

Maybe God'll put

another brick on my house.

Luisa ?

What, Pa ?

Stop singing that song.

What song, Pa ?

I'm not singing any song.

"La Golondrina."

Pa, I don't even know

"La Golondrina."

Ah, it hurts my heart.

[ Gennaro ]

That was the secret

Grandpa always had on his mind.

It was past 5:00, but the

La Paloma would have to wait.

It didn't seem

like any big deal.

All I had to do

was say that he was sorry.

[ Door Closes ]

Does Guendolina

still live here ?

[ Laughs ]

For one reason only:

to make life miserable

for whoever lives next door.

You ring that bell,

you better have

a damn good reason.

- My grandfather sent me.

- Oh, that's all right, then.

So long as your

grandfather's the Pope.

[ Doorbell Ringing ]

[ Doorbell Ringing ]

I have to see Guendolina.

I got something for her.

What ?

I'll give it to her.

No, I have to give it myself.

It's a message.

My mother doesn't

like to be bothered.

Please, it'll make

my grandfather die happy,

and me and him

always got along good.

Hey !

He ran in.

I didn't let him.

Sit down.

Give Mom to eat.

What do you want ?

Who are you ?

I'm Gaetano's grandson.

He sent me to tell you

he's sorry for what he did--

oh, and please forgive him.

Come over here.

Gaetano's grandson.

Eat.

He's gonna feed me.

Me ?

Gaetano Zavattoni's

grandson.

I gotta go.

I'm late now.

Please ?

You fill it half.

You fill it more than half,

I spit it out.

[ Slurping ]

What did he tell you

to tell me ?

He's sorry for what he did

and please forgive him.

Honest, it's almost 6:00,

and the price changes.

And I still gotta

stop home and get the dime

and tell him you said okay.

He told you

what he did ?

You'll do it too someday.

Boys are born

knowing how to ruin.

Mom, let him go.

Oh, you put too much on !

Now, not enough.

[ Slurping ]

- Boys are born dirty, huh ?

- I don't know.

You're dirty, huh ?

- Mom, for God's sake !

- Louis, don't start anything.

[ Laughing ]

Give Gaetano's grandson

a dish. Give him to eat.

No ! I said

I ain't got time.

Just tell me

if you'll forgive him.

"Yes" or "no"

before it's too late.

He's dying.

I meant for me.

Kiss me.

And I'll forgive him.

[ Door Closes ]

[ Gennaro ]

Ma, come on !

Give me my dime.

[ Luisa ]

No, I want you to

tell me where you went.

I can't.

All right. It's

between you and Grandpa.

Here's your dime.

[ Door Opening ]

She forgave you, Grandpa.

[ Dog Barking ]

Hey ! Hey !

[ Gennaro ]

All I could hear now

was the voice from that truck:

"Get out of the heat.

Get out of the Depression.

South Philly's

brand-new movie theater."

And I was gonna get there

as fast as I could,

and I wouldn't let

nothing stop me !

There it was.

[ Bells Chiming ]

[ Gennaro ]

After everything

that happened that day,

I didn't feel much

like doing anything.

Maybe my mother was right.

If I didn't get what I want,

then to hell with everybody.

But there was

something about that place

that wouldn't let me go.

I snuck back

and just stared at it.

But now it seemed

so far away.

Grandpa.

[ Woman Crying ]

[ Quiet Crying ]

Grandpa ?

Grandma.

[ Aunt Carmella ]

Is that you in there ?

What are you doing when

everybody's heart is breaking ?

I don't know.

That American doctor

wants another pillow

for your grandfather.

Huh ?

Grandpa's all right ?

[ Door Closes ]

That a boy.

Gennarino.

[ Groaning ]

I thought you went

to the La Paloma.

The price went up already.

Fifty cents.

I only got two bits.

Well, if there's

a midnight show...

I'm sure you're

gonna make it.

Grandpa, I looked

at everything on your mantle.

And stole what ?

[ Both Chuckling ]

I love you, Grandpa.

Then take

this damn blanket off.

I'm roasting to death.

Can't you do

what the doctor says ?

I don't listen

to my real doctor.

I'm gonna listen to him ?

Who's only here because

the other one's wife--

Where's your ma ?

In the parlor, crying.

Go ask her if she can

stop crying long enough...

to make me a coffee.

He's one of the kids...

who saw that woman

hanging there.

He found her.

He so scared, he don't even

know how scared he is.

Someday...

he's gonna see a lamb

hanging in a butcher's window.

He's gonna throw up.

Everybody around's gonna say,

"What the hell's

the matter with that guy ?

He's throwin' up."

[ Muttering ]

Hey, Pa ?

Hey, Pa,

you want coffee ?

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

You sure now, huh ?

Okay.

If he's well enough for coffee,

he's well enough to be in bed.

No bed, no bed !

We can't let you lie

out here all night.

The hell you say.

Please, no.

Suppose it rains ?

That he'd love.

We'd all have to stand

holding umbrellas over him.

Carm !

Joe, you there ?

Yeah, Pa, right here.

Come here.

I want to apologize

for whatever it was I did...

that turned your wife

into such a sour lemon.

That's a funny thing

for a father to say

on his deathbed.

I'm sorry. Come here.

Give me a kiss.

[ Coughing ]

All right.

Sit him up. Where's

the nearest telephone ?

[ Grandpa ]

No ambulance.

[ Doctor ]

Just to carry you

up to your room.

[ Luisa ]

Pa, please. The doctor

knows what's best for you.

Make him go away, please !

Okay, okay.

Show yourself

right out of here !

What my father wants

we give him !

You put a few more

pillows under him,

and we'll take turns

sitting out here...

in case he wants somebody

to talk to in the night.

Put a big pot of coffee on.

Go bring us a chair it won't

break our asses to sit on.

You, go home !

And you, go over to my house

and tell your cousins...

their father and me

are sticking over here tonight,

so don't wait up for us.

** [ Accordion ]

[ Horn Honks ]

**

[ Chattering, Laughter ]

Hey, Gennaro.

Hey.

Want some ?

I guess not.

[ Laughing ]

Hang on.

[ Clattering ]

[ Door Closes ]

Our Father,

Who art in heaven,

hallowed be Thy name.

Thy will be done--

I mean, Thy Kingdom come...

Thy will be done

on earth as it is in heaven.

[ Dog Barking ]

Grandpa ?

[ Groaning ]

They promised they wouldn't

let me close my eyes.

You see ?

You can't trust them

once they grow up.

You gonna stay here,

Gennaro, huh ?

Make sure I don't

close my eyes.

You promise ?

Sure, Grandpa.

If I close them, hit me.

Okay.

Only don't hit me too hard,

because, you know,

I ain't a well man.

- Grandpa ?

- Now what ?

Can only people die ?

Hey, dogs and cats die.

I don't mean

things like that.

Light bulbs die.

I mean other things,

the things inside us.

You mean the feelings

we have inside ?

Yeah, they die too.

No, they don't.

Only people can die !

[ Mutters In Italian ]

You start out

by asking me a question because

you don't know the answer,

and you always wind up

telling me the answer...

like it was me who asked you

the question in the first place.

I'm sorry, Grandpa.

Things inside us, they die too.

How do you know ?

Why, you think

just because I'm dying,

everything I say

has gotta be the truth ?

No, I knew from before.

Please, don't

make me die crying.

Could I sleep

out here tonight...

next to you ?

What's the matter,

you afraid you won't

get your quarter ?

I stopped needing it,

Grandpa.

No. What

are you saying ?

I did. I stopped.

Why ?

Huh ?

Why did you stop

needing it ?

Because I stopped wanting

to go to the movies.

Oh... you

stopped wanting.

Ah, not needing.

What's the difference ?

Hey, it's

all the difference

in the world.

Your belly needs.

Your heart wants.

That's the difference.

What's the matter

with you, Gennaro ?

You under the same cloud

everybody else is ?

You're 12 years old, boy.

You can run faster

than any cloud.

Didn't I ?

I was your age.

Heh.

I wanted to come here

more than anything

in the world.

Everybody said,

"No, you can't.

It's impossible.

No."

But here I am.

What a world.

I mean, today...

all anybody has to do

is hint something

is impossible,

and then nobody

wants it.

As though wanting

something impossible...

was impossible.

Why are you talking

with your eyes closed ?

Huh ?

You made me promise.

Yeah.

You gotta promise me

one last thing.

Will you do that ?

I might as well.

Want.

Huh ?

Want.

Want what, Grandpa ?

Open your eyes, Grandpa.

I'll hit you hard.

Grandpa ?

I'll hit you hard.

Grandpa ?

Oh, my God.

What is it ?

[ Dog Barking ]

Hey, Pa ?

What did he mean, Ma ?

I promised him one last thing,

but I don't know what it was.

Come on, Pa.

Come on ! Pa !

[ Crying ]

[ Speaking Italian ]

[ Crying Continues ]

[ Uncle Joe ]

You don't wanna hang around

here, Gennaro.

You're too young to start

getting these scenes

stuck in your head.

Go stay at my house, huh ?

Thanks, Grandpa.

[ Grandpa's Voice ]

Hey, Gennaro, you know what

it looks like up here ?

It looks just like La Paloma.