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don't bother leaving a message
i don't listen to them anyway
hi lisa
if you happen to get this message
this is piero mansani
a friend of your cousin tommaso
i just want to say
everything's fine here in livorna
i mean, shitty as usual
how about rome?
That is, if you're there, who knows
i'll leave you my number again
so if you by chance
what the fuck do you want?
I'm ready
i told you not to bug me when i'm on the phone
buy flowers cemetery mommy
i'm not going to the cemetery
go, mara'll go with you
from my diary of those days
saturday, april 21
exhausted
i fight the idea of dying
in the useless delusion of
seeing you again, my love
you may ask yourselves
how is it possible that a boy not quite 20
with a healthy constitution
and a respectable academic record
can fall so low?
It's a long story
let's start from the beginning
i came into this world at midnight
sharp on march 12, 1974
in a place on via della coroncina
neighborhood of ovosodo
the super 8 film my father shot didn't come out very well
he and mom were very emotional
because their other son had turned out a bit odd
piero? Wanna play?
I have to finish my homework
the doctors used to shake their heads when examining him
they said he wouldn't live very long
but big lvano didn't feel like dying yet
leave me alone! Mom help!
Piero
you still have that headache?
Come here darling
mom was always a bit sick
but she loved us just the same
did you and lvano fight with each other again?
He hurt me
he loves you, you know
he could have 'braked' my arm
you should say 'broken', not "braked"
i want a kiss too
come on then
one day mom died
we couldn't face it
how could we live without her?
Dad loved her a lot
they met while dancing in the summer of '65
he told her he was the son of a tycoon from argentina
who left him a huge inheritance and a candy factory
an estate in canada with two lakes
one warm, the other cold
but it wasn't true
he had been a docker but had been fried
for political reasons, he said
from that moment on no one had a clue whatsoever
one day he came home with a big car
no one knew where it came from
he was always at the bar bumming rum punch
but mom loved him
together it was like the song
the most beautiful couple in the world
or so i thought
that afternoon, dad took us aside
to talk to us man to man
now you're both big boy
we can talk straight, clear the air, right?
I've been told about a nice girl
a hard worker
since you guys are big now
we need someone at home who can cook and clean
so i thought i'd have her come live with us
even can use a hand
if we can't help each other out
listen, mom was mom, no doubt about it
what's her name?
Mara. She's really a good girl
a worker
serious. During the darkest moments of mom's illness
she was always there for me
she was very kind and understanding
and she's nice. She sings
know which song?
The one you like the one that goes like this
i can't sing, but you know the one
so. It's a deal then
i'm glad you're with me on this
easy now
fucking lousy place
don't exaggerate! It's nice
what's wrong now?
They're looking at me
mind your business. Don't worry about it
here we are
this is piero and this is lvano
say hello, guys
he said good morning
does he always talk like that?
I'll show how we're settled
badly. There's even a pigeon
a blackbird, i'll get rid of it
i wanna lie down my back killing me
is there anything cool to drink?
Orange soda, barley water even a nice little beer
she's thirsty. Something cool
there's tap water
go get us something at the bar
so where's the money?
You always ask for money
when's the last time you changed the sheets? They stink
easy, baby
quiet
wait
come and see
i can do that too?
No, not you
you?
No, just dad
thank god
damn
i can't take it anymore
damn that fucking bastard who ruined you
did you get the towel?
Maybe we should take her to the hospital
i'll call the ambulance
no hospital
she doesn't want to go
her mother died there
your dad, where is that goddamned son of a bitch
don't you think she's a bit ugly?
She's all right
if she turns out ugly, i'll drown her
understand, diana?
Don't you dare turn out ugly
ugly women are all unhappy
you called her diana?
Like the greek goddess and the wife of prince charles
now she's got it good
he may be ugly
but think of the money, the castles the jewels
i would go for that
it must be your dad
mr. Nedo mansani, please
he's not here
we've got a search warrant
search the bedroom
there were words on the warrant
i had only heard in the movies
arrest warrant
criminal association
default, fugitive
understand? This is my house
who know what dad had done
where he had gone
at the time, i didn't ask certain questions
for some time, i was taken with something else
take a guess
girls
the other half of paradise
i wondered: Now that i'm the son of a fugitive
will it be better or worse?
What would girls think?
Would they avoid me? Admire me?
I was under a spell
they were like aliens to me
i was kind of afraid
what were they thinking about?
Did they feel what i was feeling?
I didn't know what i wanted from them
but i wanted it bad
the first symptom showed up one summer afternoon
i wasn't quite nine years old
striker paolo rossi got ready to take the penalty kick
german goalie schumacher was ready to make the save
whoever kicks it out, gets it
whoever smells it, deals with it
up your nose with a rubber hose
if it doesn't fit, sit on it
i'm rubber, you're glue
whatever you say
it was exactly three in the afternoon
of j uly 11, 1982
a fateful day
in a few hours
italy would win its third world cup
that night
while everyone was proud to be italian
in addition to being from livorno
i was very confused
from then on
the world seemed to me a place
where divergent creatures were drawn together to mate
i'm left alone with an idiot
and a good for nothing
some day i'm going to leave the gas on
and we'll all be blown up
what have i done wrong? Tell me, lvano
i just want to be happy and have a lot of money
a nice guy who love me
who take me out to dinner
who gives me lots of gifts
i would love coral earrings
shut up
actually, the only thing i liked to do
was to go buy milk at the corner store
i envied my friend mirko for his moped
for the store where he loaded up on snacks as much as he wanted
but most of all for his mother luana
put it on your tab?
See you, good looking
i envied him because of katia
at age 13, they french kissed
i was envious of whomever knew the secret of love
while for me
that mysterious question
became more and more of a problem
poor, sweet susy susini
who lived in my building
realized that at her expense
katia
can we go?
One second, susy
when i saw her, her reaction at the time
was indecipherable
did you say something?
No. I mean i said hello
i thought so, sorry
are you okay?
I was convinced she couldn't stand me
but katia told me she liked me a lot
in fact, one day she called me
susy wants you to know she's into you
toto, sergino and j uri
also like her a lot and they even told her so
but if you want you two can go out
right away. What should i tell her?
Can you repeat the question?
Sorry, but it's noisy in here
do i have to give you an answer now?
Okay
i said yes
thanks, don't worry about it
tell her i said hello
what did he say?
He was happy, his voice was shaking
this way, the four of us can go out
me and mirkio and you and piero
i've got a girlfriend
i read from my diary at the time
wednesday, may 14, 1987
i can't describe how i feel since i've found a girlfriend
is this love?
It seems more like pride
is lover pride?
Think about it
how's it going?
Okay. You?
Not bad
good
you going home?
Yeah, and you?
I'm going out for a little while
see you later
maybe i took too long to think about it
in fact, a few days later katia called me
susy doesn't want to go out with you anymore
fine, bye
i have to admit i felt a strange sadness
what did he say?
Fine, bye
forget about him, ovosodo's a nerd
should we call sergino?
No
come on
i said no
my girlfriend left me
what's wrong with me?
Why couldn't i do what others do?
I couldn't see myself making 'cucci-cucci'
whispering sweet nothing without feeling like an idiot
i thought what if i'm like fabio?
Or even like danielino?
But no, that wasn't me
even if some displays of machismo
simply shock me
when i have them bent over in front of me
i don't know what gets into me
those beautiful naked backs
i feel like punching them
i didn't dare let on that it shocked me
i lived in a world that did not allow nuances
one more subjunctive
one existential doubt too many
and you were branded a 'queer' for life
dad
no, we were all sleeping
i'm okay. I'm studying
i have exams in j une
not my driver's license, my diploma
when are you coming home?
Nedo? My love, honey
you were a bastard leaving like this
i miss you to death
it's a mess here. They want to evict us
the police have come
where have you been?
Don't worry, it's nothing
i'll talk to the judge
he's a good man
committed to civil rights, they say
i'll tell him what the deal is
love, i've missed you so much
what do they want from you?
Nothing
i've been framed by some bad guys
but there are plenty of witnesses
who will see to it that i'm set free
people like nedo, you know
come on, mansani
j ust one minute
at the trial we found out
that mercedes was stuffed with cocaine
he was sentenced 5 years and 8 months
to this day, i don't know if dad knew
or if he was really just framed
in school
i wrote an essay about the misadventures
of an innocent man
who was caught up in things much bigger than he could control
i also wrote that the cosmos is not built on a human scale
and that man must adapt to it with little gain
except those with power and fame
which even rhymes
piero
your essay is great
i want to read it to your classmates
to show them what it means for a writer to combine
the creativity of a novel with realism of description
that is to combine the fun of story-telling
with life's dramatic reality
j ust like dickens, mark twain and salinger
i gave you an a but in fact i wanted very much to give you an a+
what is it, batoni?
Sorry ma'ma but this isn't creativity
everyone can do that
what do you mean?
Ovosodo really has a father in jail
batoni, you get out
why me?
Because you don't even have the courage
to express your opinions
no, actually, stay here
this way you can help me analyze
the incomparable masterpiece
of our shameless friend there
title create a story that could actually happen
i, one day
an incredible thing happened to me
i told everybody about it
but, swear to god, nobody believed me
that it actually really happened
everybody would have thought that
i made it up all by myself to look cool
i ask if it is a daring and reckless inventor of language
or just a smiling rascal
who would do better to study every now and then
instead of spending his afternoon shooting lizards
and teasing poor fiorella
but ma'ma
honey, you're wasting your time
everyone knows florella likes enrico tampucci
okay all together
the infinite' by our friend giacomino leopardi
giovanna was more than a teacher
to me more than a mother
she was amazing but someone said she was half crazy
because her husband died just after they got married
she was asked to moved
what a surprise
i brought these back to you
you've already read them?
Good, that means
pasoline was a little rough but interesting
but the other one
moravia? Yeah, i know
it made me depressed but maybe it's just me
buricchio, move it
are you hungry? Should we eat something?
Have you seen the grades yet?
No, they haven't put them up yet
i went through a lot to get you a good grade
but mrs. Fazio says you're a disaster with equations
you finished with honors
honors?
Awesome
that word made me want to dress up in jacket and tie
smoke with a cigarette holder and go to cocktail parties
honors, like prince charles
only without the big ears
the commission supports the continuation of your studies
in particular classics
yeah right, classics
that's what it says
classics my ass. Listen to this guy
classics, who do you think you are? A writer?
What would you do for work
the classifieds are full of ads
help wanted, graduates in latin and greek studies, with license
ms. Fornari told me she would pay for my books
how generous
know what you should tell her?
If she has money to burn
why doesn't she send us a money order?
Your damned father still has to pay his lawyer
instead of dreaming go see my cousin riccardo
move it
ever since mara arrived her cousin riccardo
and his garage had loomed over my future
but i had gotten too big for my britches thank to giovanna
and i couldn't see myself as a mechanic
finally, i enrolled at caproni high school on via del mare
an exotic and elegant place for someone from my neighborhood
like beverly hills
on the first day i got off at the wrong stop
it's about time
we couldn't wait any longer
come this way
i'm not used to the bus
i got off at the wrong stop
they sent you alone, on the bus?
Bastards
here we are
the third one is clogged and there's also a leaky faucet
if you can take a look at it
have you been working with mr. Marmugi long?
Mr. Matmugi?
You're not the plumber?
Apparently
i didn't carry myself like the students from this school
but so as not to be rude i was about
to roll up my sleeves and take a look at that faucet
sorry
section a was the most prestigious
i never know if i was there by mistake
or because giovanna had been hard at work
unbeknownst to me
biagini
luca's brother?
My brother remembers you fondly
what a lovely boy
chimenti
doctor chimenti's daughter
give him my best regards
gargani
the son of the renowned captain i suppose
actually he's now an admiral
congratulations
i'll be sure to tell him
mansani
of course. Your father is that nice gentleman
the rotary club vice president
no
i meant not any more
no?
From then on
a shroud of mystery descended over my father's life
so dense it even fooled me
initiation
come on. Run the gauntlet
how about you? Come on curly
i told you to leave me alone
nice going, asshole
moron! Moron!
I was no expert when it came to punches
but at school, what i could do was more than enough
in my neighborhood
you had to know how to fight if you wanted respect
there were certain guys who were absolutely nuts
furio brondi bit the heads off lizards
sniffed gasoline, then tortured us kids
what are your mother?
Whores
what do i do to your mother?
Fuck her up the ass
and you?
What he said
good. Good boy
you have a few coins by chance?
We'll go home to get them
we'll be right back
now he's in rehab weaving baskets
silvano ciriello, we called wyoming
for his special talent
he could also say hawaii lowa and palaia
which was his mother's hometown
at school i minded my own business
but i earned a name for writing essays
and i learned how to exploit
50 (non-negotiable)
I'm done. Can i go now?
Yes, go head
knock yourself out
there's only a half-hour left
subject?
Literature. Count ugolino
current events?
Drugs
ugolino 50,000, drugs 30,000
i have one ready on the european union for 20,000
it's worth b, b+
do drugs
send someone in 15 minutes
i can only do three paragraphs
otherwise you won't able to copy them all
make it good or i'm gonna fail
i was respected sometimes even feared
some people may have even liked me
but i was really lonely
and i stayed that way for four long years
in that seat, in the second-to-last row
the first day of my last year
gargani, see what that strange man wants
finally. How do you get into this school?
Normally, through the front door
it's closed, and it's only 8:30
what, is this the naval academy?
Actually, it's 8:40
wanna know what happened?
I just got here when i realized that i had my slippers on
i had to go back home to put these on
who are you?
Tommaso paladini. This is 5a, right?
Can i come in?
Make yourself at home
where should i sit? Here?
Perfect! Comfortable seat, great view
i'm ready, go ahead
i don't know where you picked up these strange manners
you're right, i come from classics
it's become a real hole
clean up you act
that's why i'm here
i feel changed already
where are you going?
Home
i take the 12 and then change to the 30
where the hell do you live?
After via garibaldi
i'll give you a ride
it's pretty far. Where do you live?
Don't worry about it
is it gonna make it?
Push
aren't they waiting for you at home?
No one ever waits for me
sorry
goddamn it
dry as a bone
we can't even siphon some off
got 2,000 lire?
No
i'll call a friend of mine he'll give you some gas
it's great here
it looks like naples, berlin, bucharest
mirko
they're not back from the store yet
thanks, renata
c'mon piero
i'm coming
who's that?
My brother lvano
delicious, really, out of the world
even the pasta was exquisite
i'd like to come and live here
with piero, diana and lvano
can i call your mom?
That's all i need
big lvano, leave him alone
you're hurting me
tommaso was the key encounter of my adolescence
like brian eno for u2
and coach bearzot for the italian soccer team
glory and disgrace had him as driving power
hi piero. Good morning
bye susy
bye mom
with him. I set out to discover a whole new world
which had nothing to do with my neighborhood
with those afternoons studying in mirko's store
at the start of our friendship
i remember skipping lots of meals
tiananmen, commander marcos
mandela and the panther movement
zhang ymou, peter jackson, tondelli
getting high, kurt cobain kissing and being kissed
smelly feet
coming home at dawn with my head spinning
what time is it?
It's late
you know if you don't say good night to him he doesn't go to sleep
but what do you care
you're on you own in the morning
good night, piero
good night, go to sleep
the days passed the panther was caught
the students had returned to their places
but that seat in the second-to-last row was always empty
mansani beggar paladine bogus anarchist
get out
you're the one who taught me what's important
that's why i could appreciate tommaso when i met him
otherwise i would have judged him by his appearance
which was repulsive
tell me about this tommaso guy
you could have dreamed him up
he's funny, smart, an elegant bum
really?
He's a living paradox
the kind of guy we both like
everyone is unique in his own way
but certain people are made in many different ways
on the surface, they seem simple
but inside, there's much more
he's smooth, sharp, cultured
attractive, with a nice profile and a nice smell too
okay, so she's nice
she's the nicest person i know
she should be the pride of this town
i don't like nice people
i understand
in the sense that being nice is a fade mafioso virtue
typically italian
in france, england they don't try to be good
they care for real virtues that's it, right?
I was wrong to say giovanna is nice i belittled she
she's so much more
only assholes are nice, right?
Good. Can you pay? I've got no money
this music will have to do
i've stopped trying to keep up with the latest hits
tschaikovsky, the pathetic
the second movement, the best one
how's the ratatouille?
Exceptional
a kind of semolina with peppers?
Kind of
the wine should be cool enough now
he's not as repulsive as you said he even brought flowers
i told him to buy them and not to steal from city flowerbeds
he never has any money i think he's poor
what do his parents do?
He said his father's a gardener, a thief
he's dead
i don't think he has a mother
where does he sleep?
All over the place
one time he even slept at my brother's feet
to my friend piero
and this enchanting angel
three cheers for livorno
for our second course something unusual and tres chic
chinese shrimp?
Roasted chicken and potatoes
everlasting, like the infinite by leopardi
and the sanremo music fest i get the thigh
no, i get it
there should be two
what's the law of potatoes?
There are never enough
the inescapable cartesian axiom
descartes wrote about potatoes?
That's right
descartes is from the 1600s and potatoes were brought
from america in the 1500s, right?
You know, you're pretty funny
another drop
the night took on a french flavor
we talked about mallarme truffaut, henry levy
about a special wine called sauterne
i felt as happy as a character out of flaubert
i ignored what was about to happen
but let's not get ahead of ourselves
tommaso and giovanna went to get some dessert
where's the nutcracker?
It always gets lost
and the scissors?
Who knows where they end up
there's a parallel universe a virtual world
inhabited by nutcrackers and scissors
i hate the word virtual
i hate when they say i'm at the office
i hate it intrigues me this book intrigues me
it's almost worse than engaging and offensive
what are you doing?
We spent the rest of dinner practically in complete silence
something inside me did not want to think of something
my ears were ringing
it was my mind racing
to avoid thinking about what it was thinking about
thanks for dinner, see you soon
don't ever bring him here again
in the next days giovanna called me a lot
but i didn't feel like talking
tommaso just disappeared
they say paladini won't be coming to school anymore
you're not friends anymore?
Mind your fucking business
how nice
i'm just telling you because i found this under the desk
if you can give it to him, fine
otherwise, i don't give a shit
actually i can't stand the guy
he didn't come today either?
Tommaso?
Do you know where i can find him?
How are you doing?
Okay
his mother always hangs up on me
his mother? He has a mother?
You know nothing about him, do you?
Neither do i
i've gotta go
what should i know?
What happened?
Nothing
i mean
i'll call you. No, you call me
again form my diary of those days
friday, december 18
i feel angry, shocked and shamed of myself
who's tommaso? And who's giovanna?
What happened between them?
Who am i?
Why do i want to strangle tommaso?
Think about it
i think i've got the wrong house
i'm new around here
i'm on my way. Good boy
excuse me, i was looking for...
your son, i think
my son?
Where can i find him?
He died six years ago
who are you?
Dead for six years?
You're not tommaso's father
would i be here shoveling?
Dolores
this young man is looking for signorino tommaso
he's not here, he's in rome
he's in rome at his uncle's place
you want the address and number?
Sure, thanks
if only i had understood our teacher's little game
about famous relations
i would have figured out who tommaso was
the son of mr. Paladini, knight of rodi
commendatore, owner of a pier in the industrial port
and head of palchimica ins which for twenty years
has been polluting my neighborhood with its toxic exhaustions
sorry, i know it's a bad time
but something incredible has happened
did i wake you?
I know you and i have lost touch recently
but we're good friends, right?
So i said i'll go talk to my friend right away, is that okay?
Talk about what?
Brace yourself
i broke up with katia
after six years. Can you believe it?
I'm a wreck
c'mon
i told her
i took you to the movies to see cristopher lambert
to see the vallesi concert in ponsacco
i took you to the pitignano market there was a big sale
and just once, i wanted to see the stunt car
i even had free tickets
you want to deny me this satisfaction?
You're being unfair. Am i right?
Yeah, but don't speak so loud
i'm glad you agree with me
what, are you going somewhere?
I'm going to rome
to look for my friend
you know what, piero ol' buddy?
I've got a nice surprise for you
another one?
I'm coming with you
j ust like old times, remember?
No
we never took a trip together?
I don't think so
you see? I'm all messed up
i may be out of mind but i know what i want
to live my life enough with these chains, katia
mom, the store, all that
right, piero? I'm coming with you
plus i've never been to rome
are we taking the train?
They say there' a bunch of stations in rome
you have to be careful not to make a mistake
rome olympic stadium
rome vatican, rome termini rome terminillo
where are we getting off?
Take it easy, i don't have any money i have to hitch-hike
i don't even know where i'm going to sleep
i don't think it's a good idea for you to come, mirko. Think about it
piero, my friend, i have thought about
i'm coming
rome! Rome-ward bound
taste, you want?
My mom made it
no eat? I have potato chips
snack for baby
pecorino cheese. They make it here
capalbio 7 km.! Can you believe it?
There's occhetto's oak
the symbol of new communist party
piero too, right?
Would you pipe down
they're nice
the swedes have always been very cool
take stenmark and bjorn borg
that reminds me, is he still dating loredana berte?
I'm not a lady
but a woman with just star in her life
if only katia was here to see this awesome
meanwhile i was thinking
when i get there, i'll be cool
i'll ask for an explanation without getting pissed off
i'll try to be aloof, like the english do
no way! My best buddy
give me a hug
he's awake
what happened?
Your buddy slugged you
you livorno guys are expressive
did he take off?
He's in the john with nosebleed
the count socked him something just came over him
sorry, i don't know what got into me
he hit you, i hit him
the kid who's with him is over there
did you hit him too?
He took a few drags and passed out
he's gone
livorno! Wake up
you're crazy
what about you?
Did you come here to knock me out?
Don't tempt me, i'll do it again
why did you do it?
Are you gonna tell me or do i have to guess?
I get it
you saw my house and you were shocked
horrors! My father's rich. Is it my fault?
May be it is, since even i'm ashamed to admit it
i promise i'll waste it all as soon as i can
then will you forgive me?
It's not that
i ran into giovanna
how's she doing?
Badly, it seems
that night i tried to kiss her
i realized i had gone too far
so the next night i called her
you called her
to apologize
we talked all night
and then i went to her place
and slept together
in her bed?
Where else? On the floor?
She was acting strange the next morning
she felt guilty
go figure
she said get out of here
then she ran after me grabbed me by the hair
then she said sorry gave me a kiss and burst out laughing
she sat down and said i don't feel good
and then she started crying
i told her i'd see her again that evening
but you never went
i was on my way but i ran out of gas
i started hitch-hiking
and this really nice chick
on her way to rome picked me up
so you came to rome with her
i'm sorry, man, really, but what can i do?
Where're you going?
Home. What's there to do here?
Wait, let me see my cousin lisa tonight
then we'll take off
what, you wanna leave me here feeling guilty?
Too good
plate, please
this sauce is out of this world
with the bacon my mom sells at the shop
check it out they eat pasta that's half-cooked
they say it's easier to digest
they're kinda weird here in rome
they smoke that wacky weed
i took a puff 'cause i'm open-minded but i didn't feel anything
rome didn't change me a bit
do you want to eat something
finally, you made it
she's swedish
she looks like a couple of friends i met
hi lisa. The owner of the house
hi, you must be lisa, tommaso's cousin
i think i've seen you somewhere before
j ust for a second
i don't think so
i'm piero mansani. And this is my friend
nice to meet you, mainardi
you want something to eat?
Thanks
sit down, make yourself comfortable
now i remember where i saw you
in a picture in tommaso's diary
you were wearing a dark green jacket
doc martens boots and a striped scarf
but you had shorter hair, i think
a bus was passing behind you
the number 94 bus
i mean i think so, i just glanced at it
tommy, any calls?
This fabio guy, and giancarlo
and someone with a funny name alexa max
alexa? Wasn't he in jail?
Your friend in jail? What'd he do?
Resisting arrest
he kicked out the window of a cruiser
and put a cop in the hospital
why? Why? Are you joking?
Cops are helpful
without them, the criminals would do whatever they wanted
think about your uncle, they would steal everything he's got
if he didn't let them, they'd kick his ass
did you hear that?
I can't believe this friend of yours
what did i say?
Let's see if you can follow this
cops don't serve us
they only defend the interests of the powers that be
what powers?
What, are you stupid? The state
so what? We're the state
are you sure?
Let me ask you something, buddy do you believe in santa claus?
What's santa claus got to do with it?
Italian cops. I've always liked them
even the carabinieri
cops have a cooler more modern look though
piero where are you going?
I'm just going in there
my little buddy from livorno you're one of a kind
i was looking for the bathroom
then i thought the stereo was bothering you
do me a favor, hand me a cigarette
come here. Sit down
what's going on in there?
Nothing. J ust talking
talk with me
about what?
Who are you?
Piero mansani
we talked earlier, remember?
I go to school with your cousin
the guy with a cool family
tommaso told you that
i bet you're a libra
pisces
no way
you should get a tattoo of two little fish
i never thought about it
wouldn't it hurt?
Tell me, why do you live here all alone?
Are your folks on vacation?
Mom is traveling with greenpeace
and dad's in san francisco with his new girlfriend, claire
she was his patient, anorexic
manic-depressive, a real pain in the ass
your dad's a doctor?
Psychiatrist
really?
And you? Do you study?
Last year, i was in art school
then after attempting suicide
my folk sent me to chateaubriand
which is an awful place full of spoiled brats
suicide attempt?
I tried twice
how many times have you tried?
J ust about every day
it's basically a mental exercise
it's a normal juvenile compulsion
or so it seems, who knows
one time i swallowed
two bottles of pills that i found in my dad's office
they pumped my stomach
then another time i injected a syringe full of air into my vein
happiness is the disease of imbecile
who said that?
Rimbaud, celine
i made it up
you're just a smalltown kid
who believes everything he's told right?
Say yes
that's right
you're cute
now i'm going to sleep but don't go away
if i wake up, we'll keep talking
and you keep telling me i'm right
i'm leaving
to where?
Home. You staying?
Are you kidding? Wait
wait up, you taking off without telling me?
During the trip home tommaso warned me about his cousin
he said she was a lunatic who just wanted to make guys drool
and didn't give a damn about anyone
i reassured him
me? In love? Are you kidding?
Three month later
don't bother leaving a message i don't listen to them anyway
hope you don't mind me leaving another message
another two lines i wrote down
i don't know how you, so exhausted
can resist in this lake of apathy that is your heart
may be an amulet saves you
that you keep close to your lip liner
are you out of your mind?
Please, i'm on the phone
that's the hundredth call this morning all long-distance
you sleep all day, don't go to school
get out of here
not a chance, you get out of here
i can't stand it here anymore
you made your brother cry
he may be dumb, but you know
he only goes out to see his mother at the cemetery
you hurt his feelings
now he's afraid to talk to you
months passed, i didn't get one phone call, one message
people had started to go on vacation
i said no, do it yourself
you haven't written anything, obviously
i'm done, may be i'll hand it in maybe i won't
maybe i'll have it published
will i see you later?
No, i'll see you tomorrow
i don't think i'm coming tomorrow
then the day after tomorrow
my cousin's coming tomorrow i'm going to pick her up
lisa?
She's on the way to corsica
listen, tell her i said hello
maybe it's better if you get her
i've been absent too many times you can borrow my moped
mansani, paladini
sorry
paolo, how are you?
Tommaso couldn't make it so i came to get you
isn't livorno on the sea? I want to go swimming
we've got nothing but the sea
on the way to the coast, i thought
paolo, giovanne, call whatever you want
as long as you keep holding me like this
check out this dive, it's called 'the cannonball'
did i splash you?
Tomorrow i'll take you to the beach
the sand there, it's like being in the caribbean
thank to the run-off from the bicarbonate factory
don't you have to study?
Everything's under control
paolino, you're a madman
paolino?
What's wrong?
What do you think of someone who when he sees someone he loves
realizes she feels bad
but pretends he didn't see anything?
He doesn't even have the guts to say hello
someone who love, who?
Don't worry about it i know the answer
you're a sensitive little guy
a coward, i never have the guts
even now with you
for example, i would die before asking you to kiss me
then you're proud. It's a virtue
come here
hey, thanks
you're welcome
i make you laugh, don't i?
So then maybe i'm in love
because someone in love acts like this ridiculous
you don't seem ridiculous to me
so i guess you're not in love
it's understandable
someone like you in love with someone like me?
What are you talking about?
It wasn't the first time i had touch a woman's body
but there was no comparison
that time with my second cousin patrizia doesn't count
one time, she smothered me with kisses and her big tits
now she's a kindergarten teacher
i hope those poor kids are okay
paolo
then there was marina
we called her 'vespucci' like the navy training ship
this floozy weaned most of the adolescents in the neighborhood
i want to tell you a lot of things
go ahead
first of all, my name isn't paolo
what is it?
It's piero, but it doesn't matter
then i have a proposal
let's stay right here, today, tomorrow the day after tomorrow
but i'm leaving soon
to be frank, if i were you i wouldn't go to corsica
the ferries are uncomfortable they're always late
sometimes they even sink
it's too hot there in the summer the vegetation is really dry
perfect conditions for deadly fires
and then there are attacks by independence fighters
dying on vacation must be really suck
do you like the idea of dying?
Then let's die together, right here
we'll hold hands and jump into the canal
but i told you, ernesto's waiting for me with the ticket
i wouldn't even take a bus with
someone named ernesto
why?
J ust kidding
i joke too much, don't i? Then here's something serious
go ahead
i love you
lisa went to meet ernesto
the ferry left right on time
and despite my prayers, it didn't sink
now about d'annunzio's work
debenedetti talked about a sort of deductive mechanism
discuss the concept in light of the analysis made during the year
on decadentism and the doctrine of the superman
in light of the analysis we did in class
on decadentism and the doctrine of superman
we can say that when debenedetti talked
about those things you said
i pretty much agree
so you don't like d'annunzio either?
With all due respect, he's the worst
let's review. Carducci was a windbag
pascoli was smarmy
manzoni paternalistic
tell us which author you like
this year i read some great stuff
lan mcewan, benni, pennac
andrea pazienza's comics
they have a literary dignity
a fantastic book by chatwin, 'songlines'
nelson mandela's biography
that man has had an incredible life
you know this, right?
You know this?
You don't?
Even in your written exam you showed a commendable 'verve'
but you completely missed the subject
you began with leopardian pessimism
and you got lost in an incomprehensible tirade
against tourism, ferries
and you seem to have something against those who go to corsica
quite frankly, i don't know what to say
you're right, neither do i
who cares about church reform
about vittorio amedei ii of aosta
and his son carlo emanuele iii
watch out
my dad let me drive here when i was a kid
take it easy
i told them let's talk about saddam hussein
us oil policy
and what the fuck we're gonna do in the european union
you'd have done that without banging your shoe on the table
kruschev did it at the un too
yeah, but his feet didn't stink
who give a shit, they'll fail us both
we're rejects, human garbage
speak for yourself
that night, i realized that destiny would separate us
i failed because of that exam and that i had too many absences
he passed, but just barely
they said his father had intervened to protect his heir
but i think the school just wanted to get rid of that ball-breaker
who left for greece before going off to university
i decided not to go back to school
maybe i would look for work but taking my time
let's go
i don't feel like it
he's not coming
c'mon? Diving
i don't want to. Go play with diana
let's see how far you get by not doing shit all day
there's nothing to eat, deal with it
they say melancholy is just the presence of a neurotransmitter
called serotonin in your brain
it makes you dangle like dead leaves
you get used to the agony and you never want to get better
i was all alone
i didn't even have mirko around
he joined the police force and was part of the security team
for an important anti-mafia judge
good morning
i'm looking for ms. Giovanna fornari
visiting hours are at five
are you a relative?
A friend
come with me
it's nothing but tears here and i love crying
doesn't this lady have any relatives?
Not in livorno. Why?
Someone should talk to her
she doesn't eat, doesn't sleep
refuses to take her medicine
the other day she slapped the doctor
what's wrong with her?
They used to call it a breakdown now who knows what it's called
talk to her
thank you
sweetie, i'm so happy to see you
what a nice surprise
how are you?
Great
i had a little breakdown and would've already gone home
but the doctor is so arrogant he said i had to take all the tests
he's holding me hostage
how are you?
Not bad
you owe me an explanation how could you fail?
I was an idiot, they were right to fail me
it happens. You'll do great this year
i want to see a perfect score, ok?
Let me see you. You've gotten taller
you've put on weight, you look good
you look thinner
i'm trying to keep up with fashion
an anorexic top model
as soon as i get home we'll have a big dinner
we'll have chickpea pie
my mouth is already watering
my sweetie
what a surprise
that september, dad got out of jail
he took that job at cousin riccardo's garage
but he always got up late and never went to work
see you, dad
where are you going?
To the employment office maybe they have some new jobs
sit down, you're always in a rush
i'm late
you've changed
of course i have
too much, i mean
i'll see you at lunch
before christmas the cops came to take him away again
he'd stolen a car with two gypsies as accomplices
but he had enough time to get mara pregnant again
nice one
awesome
9,200250
he broke the piggy bank
that's all i have
you're in bad shape
take this, smoke to sergino's health
hey
what an honor for our bowling alley: The great piero mansani
how are you?
Not bad. You look good
are you running out to one of your million commitments?
No
we're going to have a pizza later
if you don't have anything better to do
and my friends don't even look at me
this is my first love
i had a crush on him and he didn't even look at me
what a fool
thanks, but i left my wallet at home
it's my treat
after graduation, i applied for a job at the hospital
and lucky, they hired me right away
the salary isn't bad, i'm saving up to rent an apartment
that's great, and you probably have a boyfriend too
tell me about it
i broke up with alessandro in j uly
a total idiot. His life was the gym
soccer and the stadium
i saw all the livorno game
home and away
fascinating
isn't it?
And let's not even talk about sex
one time after we had done it
i saw he was down, so i asked him: Anything wrong?
He said: I'm not satisfied with my pecs and lower abs
when you and i were going out so to speak
i used to play a silly game when i heard you coming down
i would run to the peephole and say
he's wearing an orange t-shirt
if i guessed right you were in love with me
it couldn't have been hard
i always wore the same clothes
that's how i fooled myself
thank for the pizza, goodnight
no problem
wait
sorry, but i thought
who know when i'll get another chance
i thought check out susy
and also maybe i could give it a try
maybe i'll look for her tomorrow
but instead, they came looking for me guys from the military
three months of training in barletta
then to rome's grenadiers
where, during leave, i reminisced
about that brief trip to the capital years ago
the tv presenter frizzi
live here with his wife rita
the tv host maria giovanna elmi lives over there
with her husband gianfranco and their daughter marianna
next door to the anchor-man funari who moved to milan
his first wife lives here with their daughter
you romans just can't understand
you're used to living with celebrities
but it's different for us hick
mansani, tell them
i was saying, whoever was born in rome doesn't understand
where's he going?
Bastard! Get your hands off her
running away, huh?
You okay?
What are you doing here?
Transferring vehicles
but i'll be sent near home soon
i had my big shot uncle recommend me for the post
it's great to see you
me too
where'd you go? I missed you
mansani, what the hell
i'm right here! Duty calls
you look cute in uniform
you too, even without a uniform
call me
my uncle was such a big shot that i was sent to the extreme north
to guard the inviolable
i called lisa, but i always got the usual machine
i thought it was over between us but then
i found a train that was coming up here
so i thought i'd surprise you
do you mind?
Want something else?
I don't know what we can do now
this place only has video games
and a bar with a juke box
the closest cinema is in udine
i could borrow a car
but i don't have a license. Do you?
Let's go upstairs
what's wrong?
I feel a bit...
i have to be back in barracks in twenty minute
or i'm in big problem
sorry
tomorrow i'll get a pass and i'll come get you
and we go for a ride
gorizia is pretty interesting
you're going?
There's this sergeant who's been picking on me
you make me sick
what?
You were right, you're a coward even worse, a liar
you said you love me. It's not true you don't love me
it's been a long time
no one like me
that's not true
i never want to see you again
maybe it's better if we talk tomorrow
i never saw her again
i heard she joined a buddhist ashram
she's doing okay and she has a boyfriend, a holy man
i'd like to take the opportunity to thank this buddha
because lisa could have met a bad end
like poor giovanna
she swallowed all the medicine
she has refused to take all in one gulp
so you're looking for work?
I've applied everywhere even at your father's factory
i hope they bomb the place it's polluting half the city
anyway, you live in the other half
now i live in pisa
you must have taken a lot of exams
not even one
the school is a dumping ground for small time losers
but some folks are really interesting
like the ones who do theater with me
what are you doing?
We're working on dostoevsky
our first play debuts on sunday
what's it about?
Come, so you can see for yourself
welcome to st. Petersburg piotr nedovic mansanski
seem like you've decided to be happy at any cost
what are you doing? You crazy?
Welcome to st. Petersburg
come sleep with us pavel pavlovic
miss claudia petrovna and i await you for tea
hey there handsome stranger
do you know how to dance?
I'm a friend of tommaso's
come with me
velcaninov is very angry with you
who?
You're a handsome scoundrel
take advantage of this poor body it'll cost you just a few kopecs
really, i don't have a lira
this won't cost you anything, stranger
wretched bourgeois
you think men are dogs
you judge everyone in your small-minded way
you're all vermin, you disgust me
disgusting
shut up, you fool
i liked it. I've never been to the theater
i thought i'd be bored
but instead it was like being st. Petersburg, not pisa
are you messing with me?
No. But i didn't understand the plot very well
go to hell, you and the plot
here you go, handsome stranger
tommaso didn't even introduce us
piero, cristina, my... what are you?
My concubine, lover, geisha
whatever you want, i love him
please to hear it
she's cute. Congratulations
i didn't know you were attached
if your want to take advantage
i saw how you two were kissing
actually
i know, i know, she kissed you
she also stuck her tongue in the light technician's mouth
maybe she just wanted to draw my attention
too bad, she's really cute
this fucking love that you all talk about depressed me
i just want to live like a dog
and rummage through the garbage of life
like that hungarian poet used to say
what's his name?
Give it a rest, like my uncle from lucca used to say
that night, i got over any regrets i had about not studying
i was lucky because at the time, april 1994
i was unexpectedly blessed by the new italian miracle
i got one of those million jobs
that the new government promised
at tommaso's father's factory
without even a recommendation
the job waiting list is a kind of
hit parade of the unlucky ones
with a dead mother, a dad in prison and a handicapped brother
i entered the top ten triumphantly
keep in mind that genercomit europa is gaining
but the fideuram index is low
you won't do shit with the fideuram index
actually, it's important
you have to go with secure italian commodities
capital credit, for example has been performing well
if you ask me
there's no question marks or treasury bonds
how much have you invested?
Nothing, but if i had money
my co-workers, most of them older and married
were much different than what i'd imagined
during my revolutionary high school days
they used to pick on me but they like me
because i tried to lighten up the endless work day
so does pip get together with estrella?
Piero, does he?
Hold on
first, there's the inheritance he got from the convict
the guy pip helped out?
Yeah, and after finding him with his friend herbert
he tries to help him escape to australia
but he fails
after the daring escape by boat on the thames
he is arrested
they arrested pip?
You idiot. The other one
does he get together with estrella?
Wait
after the fire which kills mrs. Avisham
estrella free herself from the old woman and goes with pip
and then they fuck
it doesn't say in the story
i really identified with uncle joe
he was kind and patient with miss gargery
it was like seeing myself with my wife
bube has to hide out because they're after him
and mara decides to stay with him at the hunters' shed
and they fuck
right
and then the party car comes to take them away to russia
does she go with him?
She stays and waits for him
she finds a job
and she goes out with a really nice guy
and they have a lot of fun
and she fuck him too
god, you are disgusting
no, they don't fuck
everyone knows she's bube's girl
and she wants to remain faithful to him
in fact, when bube comes back for the trial
they convict him?
He killed a cop and his son
they won't give him a medal
right, piero?
Are you mansani?
You're expected in the manager's office
order in the court
we can only take three opinions
i think they're going to fire him
i think they're going to promote him
i think they're going to fuck
this way
who wants to see me?
Mr. Paladini, in the conference room
mr. Mansani
dear piero, finally
i trouble you because we wanted to surprise tommaso
today is his birthday do you know my wife?
Diletta, this is piero
chiara, her sister, director of personnel
lucarelli, my son-in-law
the commercial director, mr. Bruni
all set? We have the candle
turn off the lights
you're all crazy, i'm out of here
blow the candles out
speech
his dad spoke, announcing that tommaso was going to the states
since he hadn't done anything in pisa
they sent him to harvard
he said he couldn't wait for tommaso to take his place
so he could enjoy his retirement in cuba with commies and palms
but may be he was joking, who knows
tommaso has told me so much about you and you family
your father, the poor dear
i know
i made you a little package from what was left over, so you can
bring it to your brother and the woman who lives with you
and give them my best regards i mean it, i care
thank you, you shouldn't have
let's go
are you really going to america?
Yeah, but if they think i'm going to study business administration
i already know the low-down on boston's jazz clubs
there's a cool artists' community
it's only two hours by train to new york
why don't you come too?
Me? To do what?
J ust come, you'll see when you get there
maybe one of these days
check it out. Dad's present
useless, i can't even take it to boston
wanna go for a ride?
No, i have to go back in
otherwise your father'll fire me
my friend
good luck
i got you all dirty
when i get there i'll call you and give you my address
i got home depressed that day
as if all i had ahead of me was my pension
luckily, i was wrong
on the luggage rack?
Yeah, thanks
moving?
Yep
i'll put this over there
i found a lovely apartment
top floor, with a view of the fortress
you have to come see me
if you want, right now so i can help
great
i don't pay much either 120,000 with rent control
believe that?
A teacher used to live here but they said she was transferred
i think this is the key i have to change the lock
great
what do you think? Small, but it's got a certain charm
now it's empty, check out the terrace
buricchio
you've never seen him before?
No
think he's hungry? C'mon. I'll give you some milk
see how things turn out?
One person's misfortunes leave room for another's happiness
where solitude and desperation used to live
you can bring back a little i don't know what it called
hope? Joy? Love?
They're all big words but you got the picture
were you careful?
Not me. Were you?
You didn't take, you didn't have
nothing
oh god
honey
what's wrong? Are you crying?
From that day on we saw each other every day
in exchange for some odd jobs i found dinner on the table
not like that, you have to brush
that's why it didn't work
she convinced me to get that damned diploma by self study
unification of italy?
porta pia?
crispi government
18,851,886
colonial policy
that's enough
you want your son to have an ignorant father?
What do i care, i don't have kids and i don't want any
you're not pregnant, are you?
Six weeks
what do we do now?
I didn't tell you so you could decide what to do
i've already decided
you want to keep it
definitely
what if they don't renew my contract what if i'm unemployed?
Who asked you for anything i have a job
i get a year's maternity leave my mom will help me out
are you hungry?
So what, i don't count?
Do what you want
i can tell people that he's the son of a hospital patient
a fallen aristocrat whom i made happy on his death bed
you're joking. You're crazy
a kid is a huge responsibility
i feel sick
poor baby, he's sick
that's right
if it's a girl, you've got to call her givoanna
like joan of arc i was thinking valentina
martina
no, givoanna sounds better giovanna mansani
can i have some water?
I've got something stuck right here
like i ate a hard-boiled egg with the shell
it doesn't go up or down
in j uly i got my diploma
in september we took the leap
the ceremony was nice even though a bit tiring
there was mirko who had married katia
they're expecting a second kid
he risked his life protecting that judge in sicily
then lost his hand in a stupid accident
but not his sense of humor
with the compensation he opened a sandwich bar
he told me, i need a hand
and burst into laughter
every now and then i work for him to make a little extra
dad is almost done going time
if all goes well, he'll be out before christmas
big lvano is doing really well
the doctors finally faced the facts
a swiss psychiatrist from lucca
is writing an article on his case
he goes out alone now and spends time with his african buddies
i'd pay to know what they talk about
and in what language
i figure maybe he's not retarder
maybe he's just a foreigner
giovanna was born in october
everyone says she looks exactly like me when i was a baby
thanks to my diploma i'm working with computers
one day i happened to find
the website of one tommy paladini from boston
he offers catalogs of on-line exhibits bootleg tapes
maps of alternative boston all at give-away prices
one of these days i'm gonna send him some e-mail
every morning before bringing giovanna to daycare
and going to the hospital
susy drive me to work
and rain or shine she always says the same thing
you get more handsome everyday
and i go to work nice and happy
maybe i've become a complete idiot
or maybe just i'm happy except for that sort of
hard- boiled egg inside which doesn't go up or down
but which keeps me company now like an old friend