Do you know what he said before he left?
He said: What do you want from me, Maria?
Do you want me to get old next to you?
You're so young, Maria! You're so beautiful!
How can you say that, when you can't even see?
Put it over there.
Farther down.
- Daniele is a good father. - Yes.
- That took some time. - How come?
- Really? - Yeah.
Then very slowly, with therapy.
- He's been in therapy? - For a long time. Didn't you know?
- Surprise. - Hi!
- Weren't you going to a party? - I came to pick you up.
What a nice place!
It's really beautiful.
Something smells good!
What were you making?
Roast beef.
What are you doing?
- Are you wearing new perfume? - Yeah, I bought it today.
It's warm.
It smells good on your skin.
- Did you do it for me? - No, I just wanted new...
I don't know, maybe. Maybe unconsciously.
- Do you mind that I'll never know what you look like? - No, it's better.
- That way, you can imagine I'm... - But I know what you look like.
You can know a lot of things...
..about a body close to yours, without even seeing it.
Shall I tell you?
You have clear, delicate skin...
..two gray-green eyes, like certain cats have...
..a few lines under your eyes...
..and you get dark circles when you've been working too hard.
Soft lips...
You're strong.
As a girl, you were very thin and athletic.
You still have nice, muscular legs.
Your waistline's a bit wider...
..but you have lovely breasts.
You don't show them off too easily.
But tonight you're wearing a low-cut dress. It looks wonderful on you.
Haven't you ever thought of being a director?
No. I don't like telling other people what to do.
I like acting.
What I like about acting is the relationship between body and mind.
Why are you laughing?
You always exaggerate. But maybe we really don't control anything.
We do things... and we don't even know what we're doing.
Yeah.
Instinct takes over.
Isn't there anything else to drink?
Here, finish this.
You'll be late for your party, I'll call you a taxi.
You'll never get a taxi, it's almost midnight.
Come in, sweetie.
Leave me alone, I don't want to think about it.
Fifteen, fourteen, thirteen, twelve, eleven...
..ten, nine, eight, seven, six...
..five, four, three, two, one...
..happy new year!
You have to stand back! Okay?
Congratulations! Happy new year!
Daniele told me about the baby. It's wonderful!
- Thanks. - Now you're safe. - Safe from what?
I love you.
Safe from what?
- Hey! - Safe from what?
Safe from what?
From what?
Safe from what?
For a long time, when I was a boy, I didn't realize anything was wrong.
It happened at night.
It seemed almost normal to me.
That was the hardest thing to overcome in therapy.
What?
The idea of my docility. I thought it was normal.
During the day, he sent me out to buy cigarettes.
He asked me about school. He came to talk to my teachers.
He was normal, paternal.
He never touched me.
Oh, god! I'm sorry.
That's why I...
..can't touch my own children.
I can't even hug them.
Oh, god! I'm sorry.
Don't say you're sorry. There's nothing for you to be sorry about.
Go on.
At a certain point during the night I'd hear his footsteps in the hall.
I'd put my head under the pillow, hoping he'd change his mind.
But he'd open my bedroom door...
..and after a few seconds, he'd say: ''Daniele, come here.''
In a pleading voice.
During the day he had an stern, authoritative voice...
..but at night it changed.
He had the voice of a whining child.
That's why...
- Don't cry. - I'm not crying for myself.
I'm crying for that little boy, because I feel so sorry for him.
I think of how he'd hear that pleading voice.
He'd get up obediently, he'd follow and do what he's asked to do.
That little boy didn't know what he was doing, but he obeyed...
..because he'd learned that you always obey your parents.
And mamma...
..where was she when he went to get you?
In the kitchen correcting homework.
One day, he bent over your bed to caress you.
He did it in an innocent way, like a father.
But I realized that sooner or later... he would do it to you.
A few nights later, when he opened my bedroom door...
..I threw a marble ashtray at him. I'd hidden it under the sheet.
It cut him on the head.
I told him I would kill him if he tried it again.
He wept.
He said: All right, all right.
I hated him more than ever.
That was when I realized I hated him.
Then mamma came in.
She sat down on my bed.
I kicked her and punched her. She let me do it.
Then she held onto my hands and she told me...
..It's a vice. He doesn't mean to hurt you. He's sick.
He's weak, but you're strong like me.
She begged me not to say anything.
We're a family, she kept saying.
You mustn't tell anyone because these things just happen.
We're a family.
I told her that I would kill him if he ever touched you.
Why did I have that dream?
Because it happened to you.
Twice. You were very little.
He confessed it before he died.
He told me I should send you to a doctor.
Maybe he'd seen some program about it on television.
He knew he was about to die and he wanted to get it off his conscience.
I didn't have the guts to tell you. Anne has always scolded me about it.
You stayed with him until the end. How come?
Maybe I wanted to show him that I was superior.
Or maybe because I wanted to see him die.
I took care of him. I washed him and changed him.
I watched his body getting thinner.
I thought: You're dying, just as I will die.
Then, what he did could be inside me, inside anybody.
I asked myself: What was the use of all his knowledge...
..if he could do what he did?
When he told me about those two times...
..in the morning he told the nurse he'd hadn't slept all night.
It wasn't true. He slept like a baby.
I thought of you the whole time. You, and him... and those two times.
I made him take a double dose of morphine.
He went into a coma. He died within a few hours.
You did that?
- You bought flowers, too? - Yeah.
Shall we go out to eat? Then we can talk a bit.
- I'm tired. Could we stay home? - Sure, I'll cook. Take a shower.
Everything's ready. Wow!
- How did it go with Daniele? - Good.
We talked like we never did before.
I really like Daniele's kids, and Anne, too.
She's very practical and efficient, but really nice.
Did you manage all right without me?
- Franco... - Yeah?
I have to tell you something, but it's really hard for me.
What?
I'm pregnant.
Darling... darling!
Dear Daniele, I couldn't tell him. I don't want his compassion.
He might not have been able to touch me again without thinking about it.
I wouldn't have had the courage to look him in the eye.
I don't want to lay the weight on him that you laid on Anne.
It seems like the baby knows everything, though.
How is Daniele? You never told me anything.
Here.
Daniele is strong. He's indestructible.
Even as a kid.
Yes, he seemed strong.
What do you mean, seemed?
Things seem fine in families. You never know if they are, or not.
How did it go in America?
Fine.
Don't you have anything to tell me? If it weren't for Maria...
- What did she tell you? - That something...
..inexplicable has happened to her.
- Being with a woman? - Being in love again.
Daniele, the hardest thing has been to associate mom and dad...
..with those two voices he had, the everyday voice...
..and the infantile one that called you at night. Maybe we all have two.
Like actors do when films are dubbed.
I wonder if the way he smiled at my dance recital...
..was the way any other father smiled.
I think it was. That's the hardest thing to accept.
At that moment, he was a father.
- Yes! - Read the script right away. We have to shoot it immediately.
Thanks, Sabina. Everything's great. Tell him to read it.
- Before you come to the beach. - I told you I would!
- My future is in your hands. - Good night. - My hat.
Read it.
- He's nuts. - He's really likeable, though.
A secret like ours...
..can't be mixed up in the lives of ordinary people.
Dear Daniele, I'm glad you're coming with Anne and the boys for the baby.
This past month has been incredibly hot.
The pregnancy has protected me and the baby from everything...
..and I don't want to be separated from him.
- Does Franco's friend have a wife? - He's already had two.
- He doesn't seem like a family man. - How would you know?
Sorry, you're the expert on families.
In my opinion, he's looking for the right woman to start a family.
The eternal dream... everyone has it.
I think men and women are made to be together.
- Want to go take a walk in town? - Sure.
- How's it going? - It's too hot.
- Want to take a walk with us? - No, I'm too tired.
- See you later. - Okay. - Shall we go?
That was great!
- Know what I like best about my film? - What?
The idea of showing a man starting with his defects...
..starting with everything he hides in the garbage.
The things we hide are the ones that tell the most about us.
Where's Sabina?
What am I doing at this guy's house? I don't even know him, and you...
..just hang out with your friend! - Are you jealous of Sabina? - No!
I would have been better off staying with my daughter.
You always start talking about her when you want to make me angry.
- It's moral blackmail. - You don't know what having a daughter means!
- You're such a bitch! - I am? You're no slouch, yourself.
That's enough! Street.
I'm tired of arguing. We made a mistake. Stairs.
We kept each other company at a difficult time, but now...
Would you rather go back to crying over your husband...
..or see if that director is free? - You're jealous! - I am not!
I like men, okay? I haven't given them up!
If my husband had stayed home, I would still be with him.
Then go back home, and get fucked!
The baby they find in the garbage bin sort of gets born two times.
No one would ever keep a baby they found in a trash bin.
- Why not? - It's illegal. They would take it to the police.
- You've been doing too much television. - Sweetheart!
- Where have you been? - I went for a walk.
- In this heat? - Sabina, want a little wine?
No, thanks, I'm tired. I'm going to lie down for awhile.
Have you had a fight?
I don't understand what's going through her mind. She's avoiding me.
She doesn't want me to touch her.
She's pregnant. It's hot. Put yourself in her place.
She came back from America, told me she was pregnant, then she changed.
- Did she figure out about Anita? - What the fuck are you saying?
- That didn't mean anything. - Women understand everything.
I got dumped for the same reason and I never confessed a thing.
That ought to make me think.
- Can't take it anymore? - No, I feel like an elephant, but I'm fine.
- Maybe you want your old body back? - I don't know.
I wasn't thinking about it. Maybe you're the one who wants it back.
- Anything wrong with that? - No.
- We can't go on like this. - Like what?
Everything has changed since you came back from America. Why?
- Are you mad at me? - No.
- Did I do something wrong? - No.
Why won't you tell me?
I can't tell you, I'm too ashamed.
Then... something did happen?
I have to tell you something, too.
While you were away...
Afterwards I felt like a worm. I don't even know why I did it.
I wanted to tell you, but when you told me about the baby, I couldn't.
- Was she an actress? - Yes. She was working with me.
Did you fuck her?
Once.
And you?
It was something very different. Nothing to do with us, anyway.
I didn't want to tell you. Maybe I never would have told you.
It's better that you had this adventure while I was away...
..because I wouldn't have been able to make love...
..after the baby was born. It's hard to understand...
..but it happens, and people survive.
I'd like...
..you to hear me out, without interrupting me.
- What? - Have you seen Sabina?
- No. Why? - She's disappeared. I can't find her.
What do you mean, disappeared? She must have gone for a walk.
She took everything with her. Her suitcase, her clothes...
Franco, we'll find her.
I'm sure nothing bad happened to her.
You had a fight. She'll come back.
We didn't have a fight. She left me. I'm such an asshole!
We have to find her.
- 0832... - We should split up.
We'll go back to Rome and see if she's there. What's the number?
- 757. - You two stay here in case...
- In case... - What is the number? You have to do two things at once.
- 824. - You two stay, so if she returns...
- I don't think she will. - What do you know? And if she does?
- Hello. We're looking for... - You have to ask for Maternity.
Could you transfer me to Maternity?
If anything's happened, that's where they'd take her.
- You're right. - Even we men are capable of a certain sensitivity.
Oh, yeah?
- No. I've only shot 40 episodes in a hospital. - You see!
Mom!
Help me!
He's my father.
He's my daddy.
- I'll go park. - Okay.
On the right.
- Where is she? - In here. She's sleeping.
No, she's waking up.
- Where is she? - Here. Go ahead.
How are you?
We were scared to death.
Where's Franco?
Have you seen him?
No, not yet.
How are you?
I'm still in pain, but not too much.
Come here, Franco.
- Let's go. - Where's Maria? - Outside, having a cigarette.
I'll go to the police and sign the report, then I'll come back.
- Well? - Well, what?
- What do you want to do? - I'm going home, do what you want.
- Why are we breaking up? - I'm tired.
- I'm too old to suffer again. - I don't want you to suffer.
I want you to be happy.
I love you.
Don't leave me alone in that house. I hate it.
I want to do everything with you. Go for walks, go dancing!
Don't leave me, Maria.
- Maria. - Emilia, I'm over here.
Fuck you!
Oh my god, how tiny you are!
Who do you look like?
Nobody. You don't look like anybody.
Don't grow up too fast. I have to put you in a trash bin.
I'll let you play the leading role.
Excuse me. What are you doing with that baby?
- I was offering him a job. - Are you the father? - No.
Only the parents can touch the babies.
- Says who? - That's the rule.
Nice rule!
Dear Sabina, I'm so thrilled about the birth of Daniele.
Every time I look at his picture I get mushy all over again.
I want to write you many things, but one thing most of all.
It's impossible to heal from certain wounds, and ours is one of them.
But we can still walk among other people with our heads high.
Now that you're a mother, you'll understand how important that is.
A scar is an indelible mark, but it's not a disease.
We thought they'd taken our lives from us, but we can take them back...
..even though to do it we've had to erase...
..the memory of the children we once were.