Like I said: You always have an answer.
Just for you, Toto, I'll tell you a story.
Let's sit down a minute.
These old bones of mine--
Once upon a time...
a king gave a feast...
for the loveliest princesses in the realm.
Now, a soldier who was standing guard...
saw the king's daughter go by.
She was the most beautiful of all...
and he instantly fell in love.
But what is a simple soldier...
next to the daughter of a king?
Well, at last he succeeded in meeting her...
and told her he could no longer live without her.
The princess was so taken by the depth of his feeling...
that she said to the soldier...
""If you can wait...
for 1 00 days and 1 00 nights under my balcony...
at the end I shall be yours.''
With that, the soldier went and waited one day...
two days, then ten, then twenty.
Each evening the princess looked out...
and he never moved!
In rain, in wind, in snow, he was always there.
Birds shit on his head, bees stung him...
but he didn't budge.
At the end...
of 90 nights...
he had become...
all dry, all white.
Tears streamed from his eyes.
He couldn't hold them back.
He didn't even have the strength to sleep.
All that time, the princess watched him.
At long last it was the 99th night...
and the soldier stood up...
took his chair...
and left.
What? After all that?
After all that.
And don't ask what it means. I don't know.
If you understand it, you tell me.
Alfredo, what is it?
I can't. It's time for Mass.
Father, I need you urgently...
because I have doubts...
terrible doubts tormenting my soul.
Your soul!
Father, I've sinned.
- We can discuss that later. - But who--
Stay there. Don't move.
Just act normal. It's Salvatore.
How'd you get in there?
Alfredo, that's a terrible thing to say.
I know.
But take the miracle of the loaves and fishes.
What about it?
I always wonder: How is it possible?
All hell broke loose.
My mother told my father. How could you mistake her for me?
Forgive me, Elena. I was a real fool.
I had to talk to you.
You're so beautiful, Elena.
That's what I wanted to tell you.
When we meet, I can't say anything right...
because you make me tremble.
I don't know what others do in a case like this.
It's my first time.
But I'm in love with you.
Father, I have sinned.
I absolve you in the name of the Father...
the Son and the Holy Ghost.
Go in peace.
When you smile, you're even prettier.
Salvatore, you're very sweet, and I like you very much...
but I don't love you.
I don't care. I'll wait.
What?
Until you fall in love with me.
Now listen.
Every night after work, I'll come stand outside your house.
And I'll wait. Every night.
When you change your mind, open your window.
That's all. I'll understand.
You understand now?
Yes, I finally see the light.
Next time, don't talk heresy.
You survived the fire in the theater...
but no one can save you from eternal fire!
What's keeping Toto?
The theater's closed by now.
Fifteen seconds to the New Year.!
1 4, 1 3, 1 2--
I wouldn't worry. He must be with his friends.
- Let's have a toast. - Happy New Year!
Happy New Year!
- To Toto as well. - To Toto!
The movie's over! Turn the lights on!
This is just the test drive.
How'll we get home?
Oh, God, it's my father!
Good evening, Mr. Mendola.
Ladies and gentlemen, good evening.
The :Teatro della Fiera'"in Milan presents Double Your Money...
hosted by Mike Bongiorno.
What do you know? I forgot my lines.
You're kidding me, right?
How can you see this ""television'' without any film?
- That's the way it works. - With no film?
And if you buy a television set, you can watch it at home.
That may be, but I don't like it.
There's something fishy about it.
- Massa--? - Macinaia.
Massa Macinaia.
It must be close to Massa Carrara.
No. It's near Lucca.
Isn't this a marvelous invention?
But how was I supposed to buy the equipment without a mortgage?
In this day and age, one has to keep up with the times.
It's a new machine called a teleprojector.
What are you going to perform this evening?
The Divine Comedy.
Maybe your father looks down on my job.
Or the fact my family is poor. Is that it?
As soon as school is out, we're going to Tuscany.
If you come up there, we can meet secretly.
I have to work all summer. What am I going to do without you?
Don't worry. I'll write you every day.
I love you. The summer will end, and I'll come back.
""Summer Screenings Will Be Held at the Arena Imperia''
Standing room only!
Get in for free, but pay to get out!
Come on in. The show just started.
Have your tickets ready.
Salvatore, my love...
the days here drag on forever.
I see your name everywhere." in a book, a crossword puzzle...
a newspaper.
You're always before my eyes.
Today, alas, I have bad news.
In October we're moving to Palermo, where I'll go to the university.
So we won't see each other every day.
But don't worry. Whenever I can get away...
I'll come to you at the Paradiso.
I caught an octopus!
There's a letter for you!
One a day. Here you go.
- You making fun of me? - Of course!
I'm blind.!
By God's might, by man's actions.! Rise up.!
When will this rotten summer end?
In a film, it'd already be over.
Fade-out, cut to storm. Wouldn't that be great?
Tell them I am Ulysses.!
Elena! But when--
I got back today.
You can't imagine the excuses I made up to come here.
You still can't beat Sophia Loren...
with those long legs and ample breasts.
- Kind of like Lana Turner? - Don Ciccio?
This is for Toto.
- You give it to him. - What is it?
Oh, my God! What am I going to do now?
What did they say?
As a war orphan, I don't fall under the mandatory draft.
But there's nothing to be done. They've made a clerical error.
I leave for Rome on Friday.
They said they'd discharge me after ten days.
- Come. - No, Salvatore. You'd better go.
My father's here.
Good. Finally we can talk. This time I'll make him see reason.
I'm afraid not, Salvatore. He has other plans for me.
Who?
The son of one of his business partners.
Don't look so sad. We'll talk about it later.
Wait for me Thursday at the Paradiso.
I'll be on the 5:00 bus. I love you.
""Thursday''
""Today''
This film is too highbrow for us. One day is more than enough.
Load the reels for tomorrow, ready for the new guy.
All right.
Hey, cheer up!
I'll wait for you. Don't worry.
The job'll still be here.
I'll wait, you hear?
Don't look so gloomy.
Come on, now!
You weren't expecting me, were you?
No, Alfredo. I was coming to help you.
No, you were expecting her.
It's no fun to wait alone.
It's easier if you have company, right?
Would you rather I left?
No, don't go. Listen, I need your help.
How did he talk me into this?
Open up!
Open the door!
I don't like it!
- I'm back. - What took you so long?
- I'm here now. - Where did you go?
Calm down. It's all right. Sit down.
Did she come?
No, no one came.
Radioman Di Vita, 3rd Battalion, 9th Company, sir!
Colonel, I'd like to know when I'll be discharged.
As yet we have received no such order. You may go.
They transferred her father? It can't be!
And no one knows where?
Screw you if you won't tell me! Asshole son of a bitch!
Colonel, I was only supposed to be here for ten days.
It's been almost a year and I haven't been home once.
I demand to be sent home on leave!
Di Vita, get ready. Your discharge came through.
You're thinner.
I can tell you've been unhappy.
They tell me you never go out...
and you never talk to anybody.
Why?
You know how it is.
Sooner or later a time comes...
when it's all the same whether you talk or not.
So you might as well shut up.
It's hot in here.
Take me to the sea.
At a party, a lieutenant pinches this girl's ass.
She turns around. It's the colonel's daughter.
Terrified, the lieutenant says...
""If your heart is as hard as what I just felt, I'm a dead man.''
You haven't seen her?
And no one knows where she is.
That's probably how it was meant to be.
Each of us has his own destiny.
What do you plan to do now?
I've got another one.
The captain says to the sergeant...
""Do you remember...
when there was a windmill there?''
""Yes, Captain, I remember it well.''
The windmill is gone now...
but the wind is still there.''
Do you remember the story about the soldier and the princess?
Now I know why the soldier left after all that time.
One more night and the princess would be his.
But she might have broken her promise...
and that would have been terrible.
It would have killed him.
This way, at least, for 99 nights...
he had lived with the illusion that she was waiting for him.
Do as the soldier did, Toto.
Get out of here.
This land is cursed.
Living here day after day...
you think it's the center of the world.
You believe nothing will ever change.
Then you leave for a year or two.
When you come back, everything's changed.
The thread's broken.
What you came to find isn't there.
What was yours is gone.
You have to go away for a long time...
many years...
before you can come back and find your people.
The land where you were born.
But not now. It's not possible.
Right now, you're more blind than I am.
Who said that? Gary Cooper? James Stewart? Henry Fonda?
No, Toto.
Nobody said it.
This time it's all me.
Life isn't like in the movies.
Life...
is much harder.
Get out of here!
Go back to Rome.
You're young, and the world is yours.
And I'm old.
I don't want to hear you talk anymore.
I want to hear others talking about you.
Don't come back.
Don't think about us.
Don't look back. Don't write.
Don't give in to nostalgia. Forget us all.
If you do and you come back, don't come see me.
I won't let you in my house. Understand?
Thank you.
For everything you've done for me.
Whatever you end up doing, love it.
The way you loved the projection booth...
when you were a little squirt.
He's gone. Toto! Good-bye!
I got here too late. What a shame!
It's Toto. I knew it.
- Toto. - How are you?
Your sister will be so glad to see you. And the children--
You won't recognize them, they've grown so much.
They always write to say they want to come and visit.
See how nice the house is?
We had the whole thing redone, all thanks to you.
I have a surprise for you. Come.
Are you tired?
You have time to rest before the funeral.
No, Mama, it's only an hour by plane.
You shouldn't have said that after all these years.
Come. I put all your things in here.
He must be glad you came, Toto.
He always talked about you. Always.
Right up to the end.
He really loved you.
He left something for you.
Before you leave...
come see me.
When did you close it down?
Six years ago in May. Nobody came anymore.
You know better than I, Mr. Di Vita-- the economy, TV, videos.
The old movie business is just a memory.
The city bought the site for a parking lot.
They're demolishing it Saturday. It's too bad.
What's this ""Mr. Di Vita''?
You used to order me around.
Now that you're a big shot, it's a little different.
But if you insist, Toto.
Excuse me.
Who would've believed it? Little Toto.
Uncle, next time Grandma goes to Rome, I want to go too.
I want to see what you do when you work.
Fine, but I have to tell you, there's not much to see.
I sell a lot of smoke and very little substance.
Watch out, Salvatore.
Don't let them take advantage of you.
These two will eat you alive.
Uncle, are you leaving tomorrow?
I don't know. I don't know, Filippo.
I really don't know.
It must be for you.
They've been calling all afternoon.
They want to know whether you're leaving tonight...
or tomorrow.
Go on in.
A double whiskey, please.
Do you think that's him?
Excuse me, are you Dr. Lenera?
I'm a big fan.
Thank you.
- Miss? - Yes?
I'm sorry. I mistook you for someone else.
I always have to call you.
Why right now?
You were supposed to pick me up at noon.
Forget it. I'm not coming.
You know what? I'll go by myself.
What are you thinking?
I was thinking that you and I have never spoken, Mama.
When I was little, I saw you...
as an old woman already.
Maybe it's the same for all children. Who knows?
Only now do I realize...
that you were young...
and beautiful.
You had your whole life ahead of you.
How have you managed to live alone all this time...
with no one to think of you?
You could have remarried.
Why not?
It's possible that back then I wouldn't have understood.
But eventually I would have.
I never had anyone, if that's what you're thinking.
It was my choice not to.
I remained faithful first to your father...
and later to you and Lia.
That's the way I am. I can't help it.
And you're a lot like me.
You're far too attached to your things.
I don't know if it's a good thing.
Loyalty is hard.
If you're loyal, you're forever alone.
I shouldn't have called you.
It's not your fault, Mama.
It's just that I've always been afraid to come back.
And now, after all these years, I thought I was stronger...
that I'd forgotten a lot of things.
But in fact...
I find I'm right back where I was...
as if I'd never been away.
And yet I look at Lia and feel that I don't even know her.
And you, Mama...
I deserted you.
Ran out on you like a bandit...
without any explanation.
I never asked for any.
You don't have to explain anything to me.
I always thought you did what was right. Why dwell on it?
Only one thing caused me pain.
When I used to bolt the door at night...
before going to bed--
You never used to do that.
When you worked nights at the theater...
I couldn't fall asleep until you came home.
When you finally came in...
I'd pretend to be asleep.
But I'd hear you moving around the house.
Then, when you'd fall asleep...
I'd get up and bolt the door.
After you left...
every time I did it...
it felt as if I were leaving someone outside the door.
Far away.
You were right to leave.
You did what you wanted to do.
Every time I call you, a different woman answers.
I pretend to recognize them...
to save them the embarrassment of an introduction.
I'm sure they must think I'm a crazy old woman.
But I never heard in any of their voices...
that they really loved you.
I would've known.
All the same, I'd have liked...
to see you settled down...
in love with someone.
But your life is there.
Here there are only ghosts.
Let go, Toto.
Boccia!
Hello.
Hello. Who is it?
I'd like to speak to Elena, please.
Speaking.
Who is it?
Salvatore.
Salvatore... who?
Di Vita. This is Salvatore Di Vita.
Do you remember?
I'm across the street from your house.
Right here, Elena.
Of course I remember.
I'd like to see you, Elena.
Let's meet.
It was so long ago.
Why should we meet?
What good would it do?
Please, don't say no.
I'm old, Salvatore, and so are you.
It's better not to see each other.
Good-bye.
How did you know I'd be here?
I don't know how long it's been, but there are things I remember.
There weren't many places to choose from.
I looked for you.
You're still beautiful.
What are you talking about? I'm old.
Please don't look at me that way.
Why did you come back?
Alfredo died.
Do you remember him?
Of course I remember him.
I'm sorry.
You loved him very much.
I saw your daughter.
She's very beautiful.
I bet there are many Salvatores running after her.
A few.
But there aren't many like you.
I also have a son. He's older.
- And you? - No children.
I'm not married.
Are you happy?
All things considered, yes.
Although it wasn't what I dreamt of at the time.
You know my husband, don't you?
Sure I do. Boccia. I remember him well.
What does he do in life?
He's in politics.
He's a regional delegate.
We met up again at the University of Pisa.
Why didn't you marry the man your father had chosen?
I didn't want to.
And in the end, I won.
Back then I was waiting for you.
But I never forgot you. Ever.
Neither did I.
Even though you disappeared.
But why talk about it now?
We'll just end up looking pathetic and ridiculous.
Do you still live in Rome?
What are you talking about?
The last time we spoke, we made a date to meet at the Paradiso.
You never showed up! You disappeared without a trace!
How many years have gone by? More than 30!
I did show up for that date.
But I was late.
I had had a long fight with my parents.
I had tried to convince them that they couldn't separate us.
But it was no use.
They had decided...
to leave Sicily once and for all.
And we did.
I didn't know what else to do, what else to say.
So I said yes.
I would do as they wished.
In exchange, my father agreed...
to let me see you one last time to say good-bye.
I was hoping...
that we would use that time to come up with a plan.
I thought we would...
run away together.
My father drove me to the theater.
But Alfredo was in the booth, not you.
I couldn't wait for you to get back.
Hurry up, Elena.
So I explained the situation to Alfredo.
I told him I was leaving that very night.
I begged him to tell you everything.
He was very nice to me.
He listened...
very carefully.
Calm down.
Don't cry.
Now you listen to me.
If you want me to tell Toto all that you told me...
I will.
But if you want my advice...
forget about him.
It would be better for both of you not to see each other.
My child...
fire always turns to ashes.
Even the greatest love comes to an end...
and many other loves come to take its place.
But Toto has only one future.
He can't see it now. I tell him, but he doesn't believe me.
He might even kill me.
But you can understand it.
You must understand it.
Do it for him.
It's a secret I would rather not even have told you.
Damn Alfredo!
He fooled even you.
I told him I would take his advice.
But before I left, I wrote you that note.
I was going down the stairs...
and I figured that Alfredo couldn't see me.
So I went back.
He sat there motionless at the projector.
I took one of those slips of paper off the wall...
and wrote down the address where you could find me...
and that I would wait for you.
But you disappeared anyway.
How I looked for you, Elena!
You have no idea.
I wrote, I called. Nothing.
No one ever answered.
That's why I ran away.
And why I never came back here.
But I dreamt of you for years.
Even though years passed...
in every woman I met...
I sought only you.
I've been very lucky in my career, it's true.
But something was always missing.
I never would have dreamt that...
everything would end...
because of the man who was a father to me.
That madman.
He wasn't crazy. In the beginning I think I hated him too.
But in time...
I understood his words...
and also your silence.
I never found that note.
I covered it up with my own two hands.
I didn't see it. It's the only absurd explanation.
What does it matter now whether we find the reason?
What's done is done.
But Alfredo didn't betray you.
He was the only one who truly understood you.
Salvatore...
if you had chosen to stay with me, you wouldn't have made your movies...
and that would have been a shame.
They're wonderful.
I've seen them all.
But you never should have changed your name.
You should have kept your name.
Salvatore Di Vita.
These are the things he left for you.
When they showed your films on television...
he was happy.
He'd sit in front of it and forget all his troubles.
He knew all the words by heart...
and I would tell him what I saw.
And when the papers talked about you...
I'd have to read them to him two or three times.
- He never asked to see me? - No, never.
Once your mother said to him...
that you'd surely come if you wanted him to.
He was furious and said...
""No, Toto must never come back to Giancaldo!''
He didn't say it to be mean.
He was a good man.
Who knows what was going through his head?
Towards the end, he started saying strange things.
A moment before he closed his eyes...
he told your mother she mustn't let you know.
1 977, '7 8--
Moby Dick.
Dreams in a Drawer.
The Challenge.
The Searchers.
Magnificent Obsession.
The Cry.
""Salvatore...
forgive me.
When I see you, I'll explain what happened.
It was terrible not to find you here.
I'm afraid I'll be leaving tonight for Tuscany with my mother.
We're moving there.
But I love only you.
I'll never be with another man. I swear it.
I'm leaving you the address of a friend where you can write me.
Don't give up on me.
Sealed with a kiss...
Your Elena.''
When are you leaving?
This afternoon.
Elena, perhaps in the future we could--
No, Salvatore, there is no future.
There is only the past.
Even last night's encounter was just a dream.
A wonderful dream.
When we were young, we never did it.
Do you remember?
Now that it has happened, I can't imagine a better ending.
I'll never agree with you.
Never.
It's my square. The square is mine.
Check the leader. Roll when you're ready.
- I liked your film. It was terrific. - Thanks.
The distributor is moving up the release date.
The press conference is this afternoon.
The actors will be there, as well as the producer.
We just got official confirmation of the award...
but we've already received loads of telegrams.
Aren't you happy?
Sure, fine. We can discuss it later.