Wait Until Spring, Bandini (1989) - full transcript

Rocklin Colorado, 1925. A hard cold winter. Young Arturo Bandini loves his father Svevo, his mother Maria and his brothers. Even though his bricklayer father wastes the little money he has in the Imperial Poolhall and his time with the rich American widow, Hildegarde. Even though his beautiful and pious mother lets his father get away with that, even if his little brother wets the bed. Arturo loves them all. He also loves to play baseball, even though he has to wait until spring. And he also loves the movies ... and Rosa. But she doesn't love him ...

Have mercy, father,
'cause I have sinned.

My last confession was…
four or five days ago.

I took the name of the Lord
in vain about… 68, 70 times.

I did a couple of bad things, like…

I listened to a bad joke
and I laughed.

A couple of kids
were watching a couple of dogs

and I said something kind of bad.

I tore a picture out of the magazine
and she was naked.

I hit Bobby Craik in the face
'cause he called me a dirty wop.

I took a dime from my mother's purse
to go to the show.

And, um…



I lied a couple of times.
Like… maybe ten or twelve.

Is that all, Arturo?

I probably forgot a few things, father,

but I'm sorry,
even for the things I forgot.

Okay.

Your penance will be three Hail Mary's
and two Our Father's.

Thanks, father.

Shit! Shit!

Damn it! How many times
I tell that little bastard!

Keep your sled
out of the front walk.

Oh, no!

Svevo?

Arturo broke the kitchen window.

Broke it? How?



He pushed Federico's head through it.

The son of a bitch!

He didn't mean it. He was only playing.

And what did you do? Nothing, I suppose.

It was an accident, Svevo.

The dirty little son of a bitch.

-You've spoiled him.
-He's like you.

You were a bad boy, too.

I was? Like hell!

You didn't catch me pushing
my brother's head through the window.

That's because
you didn't have any brothers.

Damned winter.

Christmas will soon be here.

Ask God to make it a happy Christmas.

Why should I ask him
for a happy Christmas?

He won't even give me luck
in a lousy… poker game.

How much did you lose?

More than five?

Ten.

Come here.

Snow!

Hello, sports fans.

We're here in the locker room
of the New York Yanks.

And look, there's Arturo Bandini,

preparing himself for the difficult task
that waits from on the field.

Arturo, how are you feeling?

Arturo? Hurry up,
you'll be late for school.

I'm coming.

Good luck, slugger.

Not eggs again!

It's always eggs.

Be grateful to God
that you have something to eat.

Shut your holy face, August.

So…

You pushed your brother's face
through the window.

Shut up.

Let someone push your face
through the window.

See if you don't cry!

Well?

Why did you push Federico's head
through the window?

I don't know! I just did it, that's all.

And how do you know I won't knock
your goddamn block off?

Svevo. Svevo, please.

What do you want?

He didn't mean it, Svevo.
It was an accident.

Boys will be boys.

Boys will be boys.

That little bastard pushes
his brother's head through the window

and boys will be boys.

Who is going to pay for the window, huh?

Who is going to pay the doctor bills
when he pushes his brother off a cliff?

Who is going to pay the lawyer
when they send him to jail

for murdering his brother?

A murderer in the family!
Dio mio! Heaven help us!

Look at him. The poor boy.

Who is going to pay
for his funeral?

You won't have to pay
for the funeral, Dad. I'll do the service.

Ah, you will?

And did you ever see a priest
who wets the bed?

Huh?

Do you think people want a priest
who wets the bed?

Svevo, what about the window?

How do I know?
I've got bills up to my neck.

Maybe I should write a letter to Mama.

Don't you dare!

I don't need help from nobody.
And certainly not your mother!

-That stupid...
-Please, Svevo.

Not with the children.

Eat. I'll get you a window.

I'd like to talk to Mr. Helmer, please?

Just a minute.

Mr. Bandini.

I just wanted to pay you a visit
and here you are.

What can I do for you?

Can we go into your office?

Why should we?

Well…
Mr. Helmer, it's like this.

As you know, it is winter.

And, as you know, there is not
a lot of work for a bricklayer

during the winter.

As I always say to my wife,
"No work, no money."

Hmm-mm.

So, I was wondering…

maybe I could borrow some money
from the bank.

Mr. Coxal, would you give me
Mr. Bandini's file, please?

Mr. Bandini, do you know why
I wanted to pay you a visit?

Hmm.

I wanted to pay you a visit
because the rent of the house we own,

and in which you and your family live,

hasn't been paid for…

for three months.

So, as you can see,
I can't give you any money, Mr. Bandini.

As a matter of fact…

I want you to give me some.

I suspect that you don't have it?

I'm a patient man, Mr. Bandini,
but don't push your luck.

This is a bank. Not the Salvation Army.

Well, um, we will, uh,
speak again in, in the spring.

♪ O come, all ye faithful ♪

♪ Joyful and triumphant ♪

♪ O come ye, o come ye ♪

♪ To Bethlehem ♪

♪ Come and behold Him… ♪

Svevo?

Svevo!

-Hey, Rocco!
-How are you?

I have a cold. In my soul.

I am broke, Rocco.

Oh, I got the same thing.
But look what I did.

"Rocco Saccone. All kinds of repair work.

Call Rocky Mountain Hotel."

-Me.
-Does it help?

I don't know. It's the first day it's in.

Well, at least
it gets you in the papers, hey?

Yeah. I get to be somebody.

Anything to get us
out of the shit, hey, Rocco?

Anything.

Wow! What a blow!

I think it's going straight over
the center field wall.

Ladies and gentlemen, holy cow!
What a great ballplayer.

Another win for the New York Yankees,
ladies and gentlemen.

Another win for Arturo Bandini,
the "battering bandit".

And there from the sidelines
comes his fantastic wife, Rose.

What a great girl
for a great guy, Arturo Bandini.

Arturo Bandini?

Bandini!

Bandini!

I heard you.

I heard you, Sister Celia.

I warned you
about not paying attention.

You're to stay after school
until six o'clock. Sit down!

Rose?

Would you please show Mr. Bandini
what we really expect of him?

"I want to give good measure,
running o'er,

And into angry hearts I want to pour.

The answer soft
that turneth wrath away,

for I am sure I shall not
pass again this way.

I want to give to others hope and faith.

I want to do all that the Master sayeth.

I want to live aright from day to day.

For I am sure I shall not pass
again this way."

That lousy German…

Telling me I owe him money.

What's the matter with him?
Sporcaccione, that's what that guy is.

That German bastard Helmer!

Who the hell does he think he is.

Just because we owe him
a few month's rent.

What's this?

Is the old bitch coming over again?

I don't know.
You told me not to open letters of Mama.

"To Maria Pascale."

Doesn't she know your name is Bandini?
Is there something wrong with my name?

Svevo, don't read it.
It will only upset you.

"My dear Maria.

Today is the glorious feast
of our Blessed Mother.

And I go to church
to pray for you in your misery."

My heart goes out to you
and the poor children,

cursed as they are by the tragic
conditions in which you live.

I have asked the Blessed Mother
to have mercy on you

and bring happiness
to those little ones

who do not deserve their fate.

I will come to visit you Sunday afternoon.

All love and sympathy
to you and the children.

Donna Toscana."

Svevo.

How's your mother?

Swell, I guess.

What do you mean?
Don't you know?

Your mother's a dear person.
A beautiful person!

Does your father go to Mass
on Sunday, Arturo?

Sure.

Don't you lie to me.
I never see him there!

It's a shame for a man to spend
his Holy Sunday's in a pool hall.

My father says that if God is everywhere,

then He's also in the Imperial Pool Hall.

He'd rather spend his Sunday's there.

Shame on him!

At five you may leave,
but on one condition.

I want you to go to the Blessed Sacrament

and ask the Virgin Mary
to bless your mother

and bring her all the happiness
she deserves.

The poor thing!

The poor thing…

I told you not to marry
a daughter of Donna Toscana.

I know.

Damn, I hate
that stupid Toscana bitch!

She blames me for everything.

Does she think I like it?

I-I can't even buy my own kids
a Christmas present.

She always does that.

Do you know what she gives them?

Pajamas.

Pajamas?

Who the hell needs pajamas?

Pajamas.

Listen, Rocco…

I'm not going home.

Can I stay here
a couple of nights?

Sure!

A man has got his pride.

Oh! Hello, Mrs. Johnson

Somebody called for you.
I wrote everything down.

Well thanks, Mrs. Johnson.

This is a hotel Mr. Saccone,
not a telephone service.

I know, Mrs. Johnson.

Oh, Svevo.

What's wrong?

Somebody read my advertisement.

Their fireplace is out of order.

They want me
to come and fix it right away.

Good for you!

I know. I got to go.

Why don't you go?

Maybe you could pick up, uh,
extra dollars for Christmas.

Oh no, I, I can't do that.
It is your work, Rocco.

It's a bricklayer job.
Besides, I have no family.

You go.

Mrs. Hildegarde.

- You know her?
- I have heard of her.

It's a widow. A rich bitch.

Rocco, I-I…
I don't know what to say.

Then don't say nothing.

I got the wood, Arturo,
you got to go get the coal.

- Where's Mama?
- In bed.

Grandma Donna's coming.

Is Papa drunk yet?

He ain't home.

Why the heck does Grandma
keep coming here?

Papa always gets drunk.

-Eh, the old bitch!
-That's a sin!

-That's two sins!
-What do you mean "two sins"?

One for using a bad word

and the other for not honoring
thy father and mother.

Grandma Donna is no mother of mine.

She's your grandmother!

-Damn her!
-That's a sin too!

Shut up, priest!

He's going to burn in hell.

You'll see.

Good evening. It is for the fireplace.

Come in, please.

So, you are Rocco Saccone?

How do you do?

I am Rocco's friend, Mrs. Hildegarde.
Rocco is ill.

I am Svevo Bandini.

-Can you fix a fireplace?
-Oh…

It's over here.

You see?

There's a lot of work
to be done, Mrs. Hildegarde

I'm afraid it's going to cost
a lot of money.

I'd say about, um, 15 bucks.

Including the price of materials.

Sit down, Mr. Bandini.

Please.

Bandini… you must be Italian.

Yes, Mrs. Hildegarde.

Only last summer I travelled to Italy.
It's a beautiful country.

You must be very proud
of your heritage.

Have you ever seen
the campo Santo,

the Cathedral of Saint Peter's?

The paintings of Michelangelo.

I'm afraid I haven't seen
any of them, Mrs. Hildegarde.

I am from Abruzzi.

Abruzzi. Now I know it well!

Then perhaps you've read
the works of D'Annunzio,

he too was Abruzzian.

I… have heard of him,
but I never read him.

You sure have a wonderful house,
Mrs. Hildegarde.

Oh, my late husband built it.

I think maybe
it's a little bit exaggerated.

Oh well, anyway, I'm not here very often.

I only come here
to take care of business.

Rocklin is such a small town, isn't it?

Oh, I want to live in California someday.

I hate this snow.

So do I.

Well… I think, um,
it's too late to start work now.

Yes, I think so too.

So, um… perhaps you'll come back
tomorrow morning?

- Ah!
- Yes?

Put your hat on, Mr. Bandini.

- You'll catch a cold.
- Hmm.

Goodbye, see you tomorrow.

Mama.

What is this smell?
Did you burn something?

No, Mama. I don't smell anything.

But it's an awful smell.

Is your father home?

No, Grandma, he isn't home.

Oh, he isn't, huh? Ah…

Now, who of my grandchildren
is the most honest?

The one who is
I will give this dieci soldi.

Tell me quickly.

-Is your father drunk?
-Mama, why ask that?

This is a game of the children.

Well?

Is he drunk?

Svevo's not drunk. He's away on business.

Listen to your mother.

Even when she was old enough
to know better,

she never flushed the toilet!

And now, she tries to tell me
that your father is not drunk.

But he is drunk, is he not? Huh, August?

For this dieci soldi .

They don't know, Grandma. Honest.

Stupid children of stupid parent.

-Where is he?
-Svevo is working.

He's figuring a new job.

On Sunday?

How do you know
he's not, uh, with a puttana ?

Svevo is not that kind of man.

- Go and play.
- Stupida!

All men are like that.
Especially the one you married.

You're doing a superb job
on the fireplace, Mr. Bandini.

I'm very pleased.

Thank you, Mrs. Hildegarde.

You know…

I hope you don't mind
my saying this, but…

you don't look like
a bricklayer.

No, I mean
you're a very good one, but…

well, your face is…

so…

sensitive.

I have always been a bricklayer.

Ever since I was 12.

Mr. Bandini, I won't be here

when you finish the job
this evening. Um…

I wonder, is it possible
to drop by tomorrow evening

to bring the bill?

Say…

about 8 p.m.?

Arturo?

Arturo?

Arturo?

What is it, Mama?

Come inside and I'll tell you.

What is it?
I'm in a hurry.

I want you to go to the store.

I know why you want me to go.

I ain't going.

Please go?

You know how Mr. Voss is.

Why can't August go?

But he's afraid.

What is there to be afraid of?

I ain't doing it.

Good evening.

It's cold weather we're having.

Um… uh, this.

California strawberries,
Mr. Voss.

Well?

Come on, Mrs. Bandini.

I, I was waiting for you.

What will it be, Mrs. Bandini?

-I think I want…
-Hurry up, Mrs. Bandini.

- I thought...
- Do you want potatoes?

-How much are they, Mr. Voss?
-Same price.

Ah, Mrs. Bandini,
you've been buying them for years.

Same price! Same price all the time!

Then I take five cents worth.

Say.
What's Svevo doing these days?

Oh, he's fine.

Seen Svevo last night.

Seen him up around
Effie Hildegarde's house.

Know her?

No. No, I don't know her.

Better watch that Svevo.
Better keep an eye on him.

Effie Hildegarde's got a lot of money.

She's a widow.

Fine looking woman, Mrs. Bandini.

Fine looking woman.

What else?

I would like some flour.

Some beans.

Some bread.

Some salt.

Good God!

This charging business
has got to stop, Mrs. Bandini.

It can't go on like this.

I'll tell him. I'll tell him.

A lot of good that does!

Good evening.

I am here with the bill.
Like you asked me to.

Yes.

Thank you.

Won't you come in for a moment?

Oh! I see all goes well.

Good fire. Good.

Here you are, Svevo.

Do you mind if I call you Svevo?

Oh, no, Mrs. Hildegarde.

You can call me whatever you like.

By God, that's good.

Would you like a cigar?

- No…
- No, please? Go ahead.

Best cigar I've ever smoked.

Svevo?

I have a surprise for you.

Oh, Mrs. Hildegarde.

I cannot take this.

You're being very silly, Svevo.

No.

No, Mrs. Hildegarde.

I buy my own shoes.

You give me work,
but I buy my own.

Oh, Svevo.

Please. Just try them on.

They're kangaroo, you know?

I'll pay you, Mrs. Hildegarde.

Whatever they cost you,
I'll take off the bill.

Best shoes I've ever had!

You… did a superb job, Svevo.

Thank you, Mrs. Hildegarde.

Well, I, uh…

I think I go now.

Of course…

Goodbye, Mrs. Hildegarde.

Oh!
How silly of me.

Um, I almost forgot.

Uh, there's a pile of stones
in the backyard,

left over from the house.

Um, would you look at them?
Before you go?

Perhaps you can tell me
what to do with them.

From up here
we'll get a better view.

See there? There they are.

Ah!

You can do a lot of things
with that stone.

- Hmm?
- Lay down a sidewalk.

Um, b-build a low wall around the garden.

I'm sorry.

There was, um…
something else that I…

wanted to talk to you about.
Uh…

What was it?

It was something, um…

Something...

This is my room.

It's…

It's a pleasant room, don't you think?

It's, um…

so pleasant here.

I think I better go now, Mrs. Hildegarde.

Have mercy, father,
'cause I have sinned.

My last confession was four days ago.

I've taken the name of the Lord in vain.

Sixty-eight or seventy times.

I had evil thoughts.

I thought about a girl in class
and it was evil.

I couldn't help it.

I tried to stop it,
but it wouldn't go away.

Evil thoughts
are like that, Arturo.

You have to be strong
to resist them.

I know, father,
I don't like them either.

Very good.

Your penance will be
three Hail Mary's

and two Our Father's.

Thank you, father.

You know what bothers me?

Everybody wants to go to heaven, right?

- Yeah.
- Then How come nobody wants to die?

-I don't know.
-It's 'cause they're afraid of hell.

And you have to go to hell
for almost everything you like.

Take you, for example.
What do you like most?

Well, girls, I guess.

They're all sins.

- All of them?
- All of them.

- But there's a way around it.
- Yeah?

Confession.

When you go to confession,
no matter what you did, you'll be saved.

-And that's why I have a girl.
-You have? Who?

-Promise not to tell anyone?
-I promise.

-Rose Helmer.
-I thought she didn't want you?

Oh, yeah, she does!
You just keep it a secret.

What's that?

Wow! What a dog!

No, dog, stay!

Come here, dog!

Stay, dog!

Come on, dog, stay!

Stay, dog!
Come here, dog! Come on, stay!

A bicycle.

That's quite a present
to ask for, Steven.

But I'm sure you'll get
what you want.

Rose? What would you like
to have for Christmas?

Well…

I wouldn't know.
I don't need much, really.

As long as I knew the present
was given with love,

no matter what it would be,

it would be very special to me.

What a beautiful thing to say.

Arturo?
What would you like to have?

A diamond ring.

Please be serious, Bandini.

Well…

I could sure use a bat
and some Spalding baseballs.

That's more reasonable,
maybe you'll get it.

Yeah, sure…

♪ O come, all ye faithful ♪

♪ Joyful and triumphant ♪

♪ O come ye, o come ye ♪

♪ To Bethlehem ♪

♪ Come and behold Him… ♪

♪ O come, let us adore Him ♪

♪ O come, let us adore Him ♪

♪ O come, let us adore… ♪

It's going to be
a lousy Christmas.

Maybe we'll get presents
from Grandma!

All she ever gives us
is pajamas.

Who the hell needs pajamas?

Look!

Did they see us?

-No.
-Are you sure?

He had his arm around her,
didn't he?

That's bad.

He's going out with
another woman.

-The ninth Commandment.
-Shut up!

-Poor Mama.
-Oh, shut up!

It's a sin!

What do you know about it?

I bet it's even a mortal sin!

You're dumb!

-You don't know anything!
-I know a sin!

Shut up, August!

Let's go!

I bet the whole town knows it!

Why should they?

You're just like everybody else.

Just because Papa's poor.
Just because he's Italian!

It's a sin!

I don't care what he is.
Or how poor either. It's a sin!

You're dumb! A sapè.

You're too little to know anything!

I'm going to tell her.

You keep still about this.

-I'll tell her. She'll fix him.
-You shut up about this!

It's against the ninth Commandment!
Mama's our mother and I'm going to tell.

You see this? You get it if you tell!

Go ahead and hit me! I'm telling.

Promise not to tell
or I'll knock your face in!

Ah, poo! Go ahead, I'm telling!

Damn, you're not telling!

Please! You can have anything I got!

Can have all my picture show money.

Can sleep on any side of the bed you want.

I'm still telling!

All right, August. Get up.

You all right now?

August!

If you tell Mama,
I'll tell everybody you pee the bed.

Oh no, Arturo!

Yes, sir. I'll tell the whole world!

I'll tell them
August Bandini pees the bed!

Everybody, listen to this!
August Bandini pees the bed!

He's ten years old
and he still pees the bed!

Please, Arturo, don't yell.
I won't tell, honest I won't, Arturo.

Only, just don't yell again, okay?

-Promise not to tell Mama?
-Cross my heart and hope to die!

Okay. Let's go home then.

What?

Why'd she leave
the back door open?

It's freezing out here.

Federico, where's Mama?

I don't know, I just came home.
I haven't seen her.

Mama?

Mama?

It's cold.
She let the stove go out.

And there's no more coal
or wood, either.

I'll get some.

Don't worry.

She probably
had to go somewhere.

She'll be back.

Why the heck
doesn't Dad come home?

Mama!

Mama,
what are you doing out here?

Mama, what are you doing?

Mama…

Please get inside,
it's cold out here.

You'll get sick.

Come on.

Damn you, Dad.

Do you like them?

It's the best cigar
I ever smoked.

Go ahead and smoke.

There's more
where this comes from.

She asked me to marry her.

No kidding?

She was on her knees,
begging me to divorce Maria.

What did you say?

-I am married, Rocco!
- Sì…

That is why I slept here
all these nights.

No. Come Christmas, I go home.

Are you going to tell Maria?

What's there to tell?

I am a victim, Rocco.

It is all the widow's doing.

-Oh.
-You know?

She promised
to settle a $100,000 on me,

if I would marry her.

What did you say?

I told you. I am married!

It is a question of honor here.

-You jackass!
-And what would you do?

You mean you would actually
sell your honor for money?

For a $100,000?

Look here,
not only would I sell my honor,

I would sell my body
and my soul.

Rocco, Rocco, Rocco.

I can only say,

Maria is a very lucky woman
not to be married to you.

She all right?

Yeah, she'll be fine.

You kids go to school,
all right?

I'm going stay here.

Are you all right, Mama?

Leave me alone.

Want me to go get
the hot water bottle?

No. Leave me alone.

Go to school, you'll be late.

Should I go find Papa?

Don't you dare.

I'm going to.

That's just what
I'm going to do!

Arturo!

Arturo, don't go to your father,
you hear me?

Don't you dare.

You've seen him, haven't you?

He's with that woman.

What woman?

Look at me, Arturo.

You saw him, didn't you?

No.

I see.

You don't see anything.
You're talking crazy.

-When did you see him?
-I tell you, I didn't.

Go to school.

I'm all right here. I don't need anybody.

- But Mama…
- Go away, I tell you!

Go away!

My friend, Rocco Saccone…
he's a good bricklayer too.

He's a good man, all right?

I understand.

I mustn't forget to pay you.

Goodbye, Svevo.

Goodbye.

And Merry Christmas.

The same to you.

- And this one? Okay.
- No.

What about... Oh, wait…

This one?

- Nope.
- Please?

Hello?

Where is Mama?

Ah, there she is.

Suppose… we all go downtown.
Before the stores close.

You and me… and Mama.
All of us.

And go down

and buy some Christmas presents
for everybody.

-I want a bicycle.
-Oh, sure, you'll get a bicycle.

It will be a big Christmas this year.
The biggest of all.

And what will we get Mama?

Oh! Look at all the money.

Better give it all to Mama, huh.

All the money…

Papa won playing cards.

Pretty good card player… Papa.

Oh! Oh my god!

My eyes! Oh, my eye!

Damn you!

Papa?

What do you want?

-Nothing.
-Then get it out.

Get in there
with that crazy mother of yours.

You kids have a happy Christmas.

You take that money,
you go downtown,

and buy what you want.

No!

Merry Christmas.

Who could have told her?

How do I know who told her?

It's for the side door.

I hope you will stay.

I don't want you to stay
with Rocco anymore.

I'll pay you room and board,
Mrs. Hildegarde.

Whatever it costs, I'll pay.

Svevo,
this is not a boarding house…

this is my home.

You're a good woman,
Mrs. Hildegarde.

Don't be ridiculous.

Bandini?

You've begun the new year
true to form.

An explanation please?

Well, I wanted to, uh…

go to the church
to say the Rosary.

I wanted to offer up
the new year

to the Blessed Virgin.

I want to believe you,
even though I can't.

Sit down!

Gertie! Hey, Gertie!
Where's Rose?

I don't know.

Is she sick?

I don't know.

-Is she going to another school?
-I. Don't. Know!

If something happens…

you can't…

I don't have… find a sitter.

Sí?

Rocco, where's my father?

How should I know?
He's your father, not mine.

I thought he was living
with you?

Your father lives by himself.

Where does he live?

I can't say, kid.

I don't see him no more.

Do you know a woman, um,
Mrs. Hildegarde?

Effie Hildegarde?

No! No.

No, who is this woman?

And why do you want to know?

It's nothing.

Hey, kid.

Kid, where do you go now?

Home.

Good. Home.

That's a good place for kids.

Mama?

I saw him.

He's at the Rocky Mountain Hotel,
just him and Rocco.

Mama?

- Arturo?
- Hmm?

Arturo?

What did he say?

Who?

Oh!

He said he wants to come home.

He said you won't let him.

He says you'll kick him out.

He's afraid to come home.

He deserves it.

He can't do that to me.

He looks awfully blue and sad.

He looks sick.

He wants to come home, Ma.

He feels lousy.

It's good for him.

Let him stay away
a few more days.

He'll come crawling
on his knees.

I know that man.

You're a good boy, Arturo.

I… think I'm going to bed.

Fine.

What do you want, young man?

I'd like to see Rose, Ma'am.

She's in my class.

She can't see anyone.

But I have to see her.
I've something to tell her.

I told you,
she can't see anyone.

Now you run along.

My God!

The class will rise and kneel.

We have just received
tragic news

from the University Hospital.

We must be brave

and we must pray.

Our beloved classmate,

beloved Rose Helmer,

died of pneumonia
at two o'clock this afternoon.

Silence please!

Let us pray.

Our Father, who art in heaven,

hallowed be thy name,
thy kingdom come,

thy will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive those
who trespass against us,

and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil. Amen.

Hey, Arturo. Your girl died.

We had to pray for her.

She wasn't my girl.

Rose Helmer, dead? When?

This afternoon. She died of penoli.

Pneumonia, stupid!

Arturo!

Arturo!

Arturo?

Here…

go to the shop.

And buy yourself some ice cream
with the rest.

Mmm.

Arturo?

Try to get home
before your father does.

Good evening, Mrs. Hildegarde.

I am…

-I am…
-You must be Arturo.

Yeah.

I thought so.

Come in, Arturo.

Come, come in by the fire
where's its warm.

It's a great car you've got,
Mrs. Hildegarde.

Yes.

They've got 65 horsepower.

I don't know.

They do. I read it somewhere.

Father would kill me
if he knew I was here.

Why are you here, Arturo?

Well… it's just that…

my father…

You see…

he hates Donna Toscana.

That's my grandmother…
and he's right about that.

I mean, I hate her too.

She says that my mother
shouldn't have married him.

That he's no good and…

That's the reason why he left.

It's not my mother.
Its Donna Toscana.

My mother… she misses him.

So I had to lie to her.

I, I told her…

I told her he lives with, Rocco.

She doesn't know he's here.

I told her…

I told her he wants to come home.

And now she expects him.

I had to lie.

She misses him.

She…

She loves him.

We all love him.

Arturo?

No, Arturo! Arturo?

Arturo?

Bambino mio…

"Arturo… breakfast is on the table.

You don't have to go
to school today."

Wow!

Come here!

Come here, doggy.

Come here, dog. Come, boy.

Come on. Shh, yeah.

Yeah, come on. Come on.

Come here!

Yeah! Go on, eat it! Good dog!

You stay here with me.

You're mine now
and your name is Jumbo.

Good old Jumbo.

Come on! Come on!
Get in there, you need a bath.

Don't you know you stink?

Come on! Come on!

Look, water! Mmm…
You stink, get in there!

What is this?

It's just my dog. His name is Jumbo.

Take him away.

- But, Mama…
- Get him out of here!

Come on! Let's go.

Come on! Come on! Come on, Jumbo.

You know your father
doesn't want dogs.

But he's friendly!

Can't we keep him?

Wow, Ma!

Where did you get the money
to buy all of this?

Mama sent me some.

It's a surprise for your father.

Is he coming home?

He'll be home today.

How do you know?
Did you see him?

No.

I just know he'll be home.

Can I keep it, Ma? Please?

We'll see what your father
has to say.

Good doggy.

Come here! Come here!

Why aren't you in school?

Mama let me stay home.

Somebody from class died.

Who?

Rose Helmer.

How's Federico?

He's okay.

How's August?

He's all right, I guess.

How about you?

Fine.

How is… Mama?

She wants you home, Dad. She told me!

She wants you to come home.

-She's not mad anymore?
-Nah!

She's got spaghetti cooking for dinner!
That isn't being mad.

I don't want no more trouble.

She don't even know you're here.
She thinks you live with Rocco.

But I do live with Rocco.

I've been there all the time.
Ever since she kicked me out.

I know. I told her.

You told her?

How do you know?

Rocco told me.

I see…

Papa, when are you coming home?

I may never come home.
What do you think of that?

But Mama wants you.

So, maybe I'll come…
and… maybe I won't.

Who's dog is that?

He's mine! His name is Jumbo.

Get him out of here.

Get that goddamn dog
out of here!

Is that your dog?

Yeah.

Who is this young man?

He's my oldest boy.

Well, boy, get that horrible thing
off my grounds.

It's not a horrible thing. He's half wolf.

I don't care what he is.

Will you take him away
or I'll call the police and have him shot?

Don't you dare, damn you!

Arturo! That's no way to talk
to Mrs. Hildegarde.

I'll handle this.

Arturo, do something.

Arturo!

Svevo Bandini, are you going to stand here
and let this boy behave in this way?

You are peasants, foreigners!
You're all alike!

You and your dog, and, and all of you!

Mrs. Hildegarde? That's my boy.

You cannot talk to him like that.

That boy… is an American.

I am talking to you too.

Come on! Let's go home.

Jumbo! Come here, Jumbo.

-What about your tools?
-They're not my tools. They're Rocco's.

Let him finish the job,
that's what he wanted anyway.

That damn dog!

He's a good dog, Papa.
He's part bird dog.

He is.

Can I keep him? Mom said I could
if it was all right with you.

If it's okay for Mama…
it's okay for me.

Gee, thanks, Dad.

So… pretty soon
we'll have spring, huh?

Sure will.

Smells good.

I prepared it
with rosemary this time.

Ah!

Just a little bit.

Because you have to be careful
with rosemary.

Sometimes, you put too much
and… it ruin's everything.

You're right.

Absolutely.

You know what I like?

I'll tell you.

I like… oregano.

Oh, uh… just a pinch of it.

Maybe… sometime you can try.

I will.

Now, all of you…

eat!

Have mercy, father…

My last confession
was four days ago.

I've taken the name
of the Lord in vain.

Sixty eight or seventy times.

I've lied to my mother.

I've made her believe things
that weren't true.

I mean,

I made her believe things
that didn't really happen…

and I also lied to my father.

Maybe the things I told them
were true,

but… I'm not really sure.

I'd like to say I'm sorry
about all of this, but…

I guess maybe
sometimes in life…

you have to lie a lot.

Arturo,

God can only forgive you
if you're really sorry.

Are you sorry?

Sure I'm sorry.

Good.

Your penance
will be three Hail Mary's

and two Our Father's.

Thanks, father.