Mussolini: The Untold Story (1985): Season 1, Episode 2 - Episode #1.2 - full transcript

[Reporter] 'When Italy seized
Rome from its Papal overlord

'in 1870,

'the temporal power of the Popes
was ended

'and 16,000 square miles
of papal territory

'was taken over
by the government.

'Until this historic day, each
successive Pope has refused

'to accept all compensation,

'refused to recognize
the Italian state,

'and have been voluntary
prisoners in the Vatican Palace.

'But now, that unhappy
state of affairs is over.

'Il Duce has restored the
crucifix to state schoolrooms



'and hospitals,

'made Roman Catholicism
Italy's official religion

'ordered Mass
to become an integral part

'of every public function,

'and in return, the Pope has
recognized the Italian state.

'Hereafter,
all newly appointed bishops

'will swear an oath of loyalty
to the king,

'and the Church has pledged

'to remain outside
all temporal disputes.

'The day millions of Italians
have prayed for,

'the day their government
made peace with the Holy Father

'has finally come.

'Throughout Italy,
a grateful people melt

'in prayers of thanksgiving
for Pious XI



'and for Benito Mussolini,

'the man who has given God
back to Italy

'and Italy back to God.'

[Cheers and whistles]

[Whispering]

[Door closes]

An achievement of such
dimension, a moment of history.

Look at you,
you're still mending my shirts.

[Chuckles] Who mends them
better than I?

My sons run off.

There are more important things
in life than dealing with Popes.

Bruno found a stray cat
under the stable

and she's about to have kittens.

How can I compete
with a litter of kittens?

Where is Edda?

Why ask me? You gave her back
the automobile.

As I have said repeatedly,
she is old enough to drive.

Right into the arms
of a new young man!

Hm.

I'm going to have
to deal with her.

Her choice of young men
is getting out of hand.

Who's the latest one?

He worked for you.

In Rio de Janeiro,
in Buenos Aires,

and now he's attached
to the embassy of the Holy See.

His name is Ciano.

Costanzo, he's one
of my oldest friends!

Uh... His son... Galeazzo!

Rachele, why didn't I think
of that? It's a miracle.

I couldn't have made
a better choice myself.

Costanzo marched with us
on Rome.

Galeazzo's been raised
as a loyal fascist.

He's a playboy. He has
all the morals of a rooster.

I don't like it.

Why don't you like it?
He's the right age.

He's in foreign affairs.
He has a brilliant future.

Especially if he marries
your daughter!

Oh, you don't trust anybody.

And, and...
It would be too expensive.

- What's expensive?
- The wedding!

If he came from a lower class,

there would be less done,
less spent.

Edda is our oldest daughter.

And not too many people here
ruining the rugs, spilling wine.

Only the most important ones,
I promise you.

- How many?
- [Chuckles]

Vittorio! [Honks horn]

This is my friend,
Galeazzo Ciano.

- Hello, Vittorio.
- How do you do?

We're going for a ride
out to a park. Come with us.

[Shutter clicks]

Now take one of us
over on the bench.

- What do you think of him?
- He's so old.

- He's only 27.
- Well, that's old.

- And I don't like his manners.
- His manners?

They're beautiful.

He acts like he thinks
he's somebody really important.

He is. Come on.

[Paper ripping]

[Whistles blowing]

Ugh!

Communist pig!

Aagh!

Why would anybody want
to tear Papa's picture down?

Was it necessary
to beat that man?

Examples must be made.

Enemies of the state
must be dealt with severely.

[♪ Music over dialogue]

[Edda laughs]

You can tell a lot about people
by the way they ride a bicycle.

- What can you tell?
- Whether they have style...

..balance...

..daring!

[Galeazzo cries out]

[Edda laughing]

And sympathy?

And most of all... sympathy.

[Galeazzo] You know the legend,
of course.

Can you imagine how
superstitious the Romans were?

Actually to believe that
if you lied and put your hand

between those stone lips, the
mouth would bite off your hand.

I believe it's got that power.

- Galeazzo, please?
- I'm going to prove it to you.

Go ahead, Edda.
Ask me anything.

Let's see
if I'm telling the truth.

All right.

If you want to play that game.

Why have you stopped
seeing other girls

and are only seeing me?

Because I love you.

You see?

The unvarnished truth.

Why do you love me?

Because you're unafraid.

Sensible.

Loyal, though headstrong.

Not because I'm the daughter
of Il Duce?

Would you believe I'm a man

who would tolerate for a single
second being with a woman

who doesn't set me on fire
the way you do?

Do you think I'd trade my
private life for public power?

- What is this?
- A simple request, Excellency,

that you sign a photograph
of yourself for Adolf Hitler,

the leader of the National
Socialist Party in Germany.

- Why should I?
- As you can see, Excellency,

the German leader deeply
admires your achievements

and would consider a signed
photograph a great honor.

How many followers does this
fellow Hitler have in his party?

25,000 or 30,000.

But apparently, he's attracting
more support every day.

Huh. Request refused.

The correspondent
from the London Herald

has been waiting, Excellency.

Oh, yes, show her in.

Well!

I've been looking forward
to meeting you, Mrs. Thompson.

I've enjoyed your dispatches
from other European capitals.

I'm pleased that you
at last find yourself in Rome.

Thank you, Your Excellency.

I feel privileged that
you've agreed to be interviewed.

It's the first you've given
to our paper

since that unfortunate incident

when our correspondent insulted
you in Locarno, wasn't it?

[Laughing] Yes. 1926, I think.

I'm here really to ask you
how that stunning accommodation

you made with
the Catholic Church came about.

Before we get into that,
there are one or two

small gossipy details
I'd like to discuss, if I may,

in the biographical area,
don't you know?

We all enjoy a bit of gossip,
Mrs. Thompson.

Unless it's at our expense.

Well, I'm afraid this is
rather at your expense.

The story goes
that back in 1924,

when Italy got definite title
to the Dodecanese Islands

and you were informed
of the fact,

you ordered a naval squadron
to take formal possession.

Only to be advised
by an embarrassed aide,

thank heavens before
the squadron steamed out,

that Italy had been holding the
islands for more than a decade.

Now really, Your Excellency...
is that true?

If it's gossip you came after,
Mrs. Thompson,

let's give your readers
something to gossip about.

You know, I've found that
people like to be commanded,

especially women.

Women prefer brutality
in their men.

What excites them
is not courtesy...

..but force.

[She cries out]

[Screaming]

No! No! No! No!

[Muffled screams]

[Edda] Papa!

Papa!

I just got engaged! Uh...

Galeazzo and I were at
the movies and he asked me.

To marry him. That's all.

I'm engaged. Ha-ha!

Rachele! Edda's engaged!

Rachele!

Rachele!

- Agh!
- Oh, Papa.

Romano!
You almost killed your father.

Rachele.

Galeazzo has proposed.

You make your father very proud,
carissima.

Oh, thank you, Papa.

And you, Mama? Do you approve?

Would it matter if I said
he would not be my choice?

Of course it does.
I want your approval.

My love, I want you to be happy.

If this marriage
will make you happy,

then what I feel
truly doesn't matter.

When does he intend
to call upon me

and ask officially
for your hand?

As soon as you'll receive him.

Such matters one does not delay.

Have him here
first thing in the morning.

[Vehicle approaching]

[Clears throat]

I wish to let you know,
Excellency,

that I have told your daughter
that I love you...

that I love her and that
I wish to make her my wife.

A-ha.

Galeazzo, good morning. I trust
I haven't kept you waiting.

No, Your Excellency.

I wish you to know,
Your Excellency,

that I have told your w...
your daughter that I love her

and that I wish
to make her my wife.

I ask your permission and
your blessing upon this union.

I truly love her, sir.

Very, very much.

I shall try always to be
a loving and devoted husband,

and to bring as much happiness
to her as I am able.

Your father has been
a dear friend since the war.

I can conceive
of no other family

I would rather
have joined with ours.

Indeed, you have my permission
and my blessing.

But I warn you, my daughter is
not a girl to go out of her way

to avoid telling everybody
exactly what she thinks!

I cannot recall winning
an argument with her

since she was seven
when she got too big to spank

and too fast to catch.

It... It changes nothing,
Your Excellency.

Then it's done.

Edda? Rachele!

This young man has asked
for your hand in marriage.

And I have granted his request.

You may... kiss her,
if you wish.

[Edda laughing]

- Who told you that?
- [Laughing] Your sister.

I'll kill her!

I was looking through her album
and there you were, aged 15,

wearing this ridiculous
sailor suit!

Can you believe
it was cut down

from one of my father's
old uniforms?

[Laughing] So I asked her,

"When did Galeazzo wear
this silly outfit?"

She said that your father used
to make you go to school in it.

And then...
And then she told me why.

- No? She told you?
- Yes!

Oh, no!

Your father said
to the headmaster,

"My son will be wearing this
to school

"to make it impossible for him
to accompany

"the rest of your students
to the local whorehouse!"

It's true.

[Car door shuts]

Can I possibly expect more
from a man who marries me...

..than from my own father?

- Why are these shoes so narrow?
- That is the fashion.

I will not have my daughter's
feet hurting her

on what is supposed to be
the happiest day of her life!

Get her new shoes!
To hell with the fashion.

Who's going to be
lifting up her dress

to see what shoes she's wearing?

What are you smearing
on her face?

We're just trying
some new color tones.

She's 20 years old.
She has her own color tones.

[Edda] Come in
and watch the circus!

Mama's a fearsome ringmaster.

We need to talk to you.

At dinner, all right?

No, now, while it's still fresh
in our minds.

All right, outside, ten minutes.

[Edda] You're wondering who
you'll share your secrets with

when I'm gone.

True? Isn't that what
you want to talk about?

Well, that's part of it.

Mama doesn't always listen.
You do.

I worry about that, too.

It's going to be harder
for both of you with me gone.

You never learned
to stand up against her.

- Well, how come you did?
- It was easier in those days.

Because we didn't have anything.

I can't remember a time
until I was seven years old

that I didn't go to bed hungry.

Lots of times
I didn't have shoes.

That brought Mom and me close.

Because I never complained.

I knew she wanted me
to have them.

Felt badly I couldn't.

Now look at me.
I'm about to marry a count.

And Papa world famous!

I'll always love you,

and I'll always,
always keep in touch with you.

From China?

How did you know
that's where I was going?

We heard Papa calling somebody

about making Galeazzo
Consulate General in Shanghai.

Why did he have to send you
so far away?

It's a promotion for Galeazzo.
You know how I love to travel.

At least Edda's going
to be eating well in China.

- Chop suey?
- No, spaghetti!

After all,
it's where it comes from.

Marco Polo brought it
back to us.

I love him.

The first one...

to the top of the pine tree
gets all the dessert tonight!

[Laughter]

[Bells ringing]

[Applause]

[♪ Band play a waltz]

[♪ Music over dialogue]

- Ah!
- Hello, my friend!

Ah, will you excuse me?

Hm-hm!

Excellent.

What is the reaction
of the Libyan rebels

to this public execution
of their leader?

As you can see, Excellency,
the revolt is crushed.

Hm.

In fact, Duce,
the resistance is strong.

As you well know, we have
systematically eliminated

great masses of Arabs.

Won't you stay
and enjoy the reception?

[♪ Music over dialogue]

Is that what we have
for a brother-in-law?

I bet he can't even
climb a tree.

Hm, what difference does it make
if he makes our sister happy?

- [Applause]
- [Camera shutter clicks]

[Honks horn]

Bye!

Rachele, children.
Come on. Everybody.

Where do you intend going, Papa?
On our honeymoon with us?

I simply thought I'd accompany
you some of the way.

Please go home
and stop worrying.

I assure Your Excellency
we can find Naples.

We'll call you
when we arrive in Capri.

Here.

Just in case you need
to buy anything.

Thank you, Mama,

but Galeazzo will have to
worry about those things now.

Keep it. You never know.

Thank you.

I love you.

I love you all!

[Engine starts]

May I walk with you, Papa?

Thank you, Bruno.

Edda told us that
while you were growing up,

you used to fight
a lot of duels.

- Is that true?
- It is, indeed.

Oh, but you never
killed anybody, did you?

Well, these were affairs
of honor, Bruno.

They were not
the matters of revenge.

I'd get nicked or cut.

I drew my share of blood,
I like to think.

She said that Mama had
to hide your dueling jacket

to make you stop.

Did you really have a special
jacket just for dueling?

I had. It had a large opening
here under the right arm

to give me freedom
with the sabre.

Who did you duel with?

Anybody who asked me
too many questions!

[Laughter]

I surrender!

I give up!

Stand up.

Help me up.

Now, do you remember
that duet I taught you?

- Yes, Papa.
- All right. Let's sing it.

[Benito, Bruno singing]
♪ Secondate

♪ Aurette amiche... ♪

[♪ Continue singing]

[Benito] It is not only
the right of Italians

to extend themselves,

and to seek new lands,
it is their duty.

It is also our duty as well as
our right to bring civilization

to the backward nations
of Asia and Africa,

and let the French
and the English

try to stop us if they can!

[Cheers of agreement]

I stand before you today
on this special occasion

of the rally of war volunteers,
and I pledge to you...

..the glory of Rome
will be ours again.

Italy will have
her second empire!

[Cheering]

Without question, Excellency,
these men are guilty.

Clearly treason.

Shall it be exile or execution?

Hm.

You're the head of my secret
police, the decision is yours.

Excellency.

- Stop it.
- Stop what, Excellency?

Disrobing.

You pre-empt my pleasure.

Forgive me, Excellency.

Oh, no, I'll decide what,
if anything, I take off.

[Giggles]

[Knock on door]

- What is it?
- [Man] Your sons have arrived.

Send them to my office,
ten minutes!

Yes, Excellency.

You may walk to me, not run.

Sebastiani told us that
all visitors were now required

to run to your desk, Papa.

That's only for pompous
officials and fat generals,

not my sons.

- Well, how was the voyage?
- We liked Egypt best of all.

- Except for the flies.
- Sit.

Well, we'll have
a big family reunion.

You both look splendid.

All right, what is it?

We've come to seek
your permission to learn to fly.

Hm. Well, all Italians
should learn to be pilots.

The future is in the skies.

We don't wish to learn, sir,
simply to learn.

But to learn so that
we can join the Air Force.

When did you make this decision?

When we were in North Africa.
It's so close to Italy by plane.

And so distant by sea.

Well, you make me very proud.

I can see you both
at the head of your squadrons.

In due time, Papa.

We don't expect any favors,
Papa.

You're my sons.

We've come to ask you
to let us make our own way.

Yes, we don't want your help,
Papa.

We intend to do this
by ourselves.

When I create a minister
or promote a general,

it is I who decides.

I hand out the rank
and the honor.

- Only if we've earned them.
- Don't defy me!

We're not defying you, Papa.

We're asking you to pray for us.

Wish us well.

Hm.

No need to pray.

But I do wish you well.

[Horn honking]

Il Duce! Mama, did you see?

[♪ Choir sings: "Giovinezza"]

[Crowd cheering, applauding]

Saluto Il Duce!

Duce!

[Chanting] Duce! Duce! Duce!

Duce! Duce! Duce!

Duce! Duce! Duce...
[Chanting subsides]

These flowers are for you, Duce.

- What is your name?
- Marco, Duce.

Hereafter,
all kindergarten children

will be known
as Sons of the Wolf.

It's inspired, Excellency.

[Applause]

[♪ Band strikes up]

[Woman] Stop!

Pull in here.

I'll never have another
opportunity like this.

There he is, so close.

May I go introduce myself,
please?

Of course you have my consent,

but I'd suggest you ask
your fiancé.

I want to tell him
how much I admire him.

I've been wanting to for years,

and he's done so much
for all of us.

Go, my love. Tell him.
But hurry back.

Let her pass.

Forgive the intrusion,
Excellency.

Intrusion? Hm.

I can think of other,
better words, signorina.

Shall I venture to suggest one?

I'd be honored, Excellency.

- Exhilaration.
- Such a lovely word.

As in "the exhilaration
of doves."

Warplanes take off.
Doves exhilarate.

Seeing you causes the heart
to exhilarate.

I have worshipped you from afar,
Excellency, since I was six.

For years, I slept with
your picture beneath my pillow.

I even sent you poems
to the Palazzo Venezia.

But of course, I never expected
that you would see them

or even know I'd sent them.

How old are you?

20.

Your name?

Claretta Petacci.

- Petacci?
- My father's a physician.

He's one of the doctors
at the Vatican.

- Are you cold?
- No, Excellency.

- Then why you tremble?
- It is...

..the emotion.

Stop!

One, two, three, four.

One, two, three, four.

One, two, three...

[Mechanical whirring]

[♪ Military band plays:
"Giant Killers"]

[♪ Piano plays up-beat jazz]

[Hum of conversation]

[Conversation and laughter]

- We're leaving.
- Where are we going?

You're the one who loves
American jazz.

These girls have a dozen of
the newest records from America.

- What girls?
- They're waiting outside.

One of them has the keys to her
parents' villa on the beach.

It's an all-night party.

- An all-night party?
- Yeah.

- If we're lucky, all weekend.
- We can't go, Bruno.

- What are you saying?
- We are Mussolinis.

We have to set an example.

An all-night party
without chaperones?

You stay and set the example.
I'm going.

- You think I don't want to go?
- If you want to come, come.

Listen, Bruno, you know,
I know, we can't.

- Maybe you can't. I can.
- Bruno!

Bye.

[♪ Big band playing jazz]

[Distant conversations]

I've never let any man touch me

the way I'm letting you
touch me.

I don't even know you.

I'm not like this.

Do you believe
in love at first sight?

My heart jumped
the very first second I saw you.

But that's not love, is it?

My heart jumped, too.

How do you know
that's not what love is?

Hm?

Why did you stop?

I don't want to make
any mistakes with you.

Ever.

[♪ Rousing march]

[♪ Music over dialogue]

Well, you look like
the daughter of an emperor.

Well, I am, Papa.

You made me so.

I missed you.

You'll never know how much.

I missed you, too.

Edda...

I need a woman beside me.

I wish it could be your mother,

but you know how she hates
affairs of the state.

Be the First Lady of Italy
for me.

Stand beside me from now on.

Thank you, Papa.

Oh!

That girl, who is she?

- Do you know her family?
- Shall I find out who they are?

No, I'll find out myself.

[Birdsong, horse whinnies]

[Weeps]

It's not what you expected.

What did you expect?

[Sighs] I don't know.

Not tears.

Does he hit you?

No. No.

Is he...

..a poor lover?

No.

No, he's a wonderful lover.

Unfortunately, not only for me.

How do you handle that, Mama?

Hand me that spool
of white thread.