BUBE'S GIRL
I make this trip every two weeks...
and I'm always eager to get there.
I take with me the souvenirs of happier moments.
I wouldn't have done anything differently.
My story has been painful, but never sad...
and I like to remember that it all started on a celebration day,
at the beginning of July of '44.
Thanks.
- Is this Castellucci's house? - Yes, but he's out right now.
- Will he be back? - Sure he will, but late.
Well, since I'm already here, I'm going to wait for him.
- Are you his daughter? - Yes.
- Isn't your mother home? - No.
Do you have a needle-and-thread, so I can sew this while I'm waiting?
Come in.
No, never mind! I'm sorry, I wanted to do it myself.
As partisans, living the way we did, we even learned how to sew.
Step on there.
I was one of poor Sante's friends.
Once he talked about you, but I thought...
Well, you don't look like him at all.
Sure. He wasn't my brother.
What? What do you mean?
- He was my stepbrother. - Ah...
My mother was also his mother. My father only gave him his name.
Well, he was a real brother to me.
- Done. - Thank you.
How did you get the news?
From a farmer in Montespertoli: he was there when they caught him.
We eventually came to know that he was shot, but much later.
- Where's mom? - Look who's here.
I was a friend of Sante's.
Pleased to meet you, young man! I'm glad you're here.
Mara, bring a lamp, we can't see a thing. The lights went out.
Those damned Germans blew everything up before leaving.
Have a seat.
- So, you fought with Sante? - Yes.
I was always with him, even when they caught him in Montespertoli.
- Are you native to this region? - From Volterra.
I'm on my way home. Since I was passing by, I thought...
- You did the right thing. Have a drink. - Thanks.
Sante's friends are like my own sons.
This is your house. You can sleep in Mara's room.
You can sleep over at Liliana's. What's your name, son?
Arturo Cappellini, but I've always been called Bube.
- What was your name as a partisan? - "Avenger".
Anna, he was... one of our son's friends.
Good evening.
Try to understand. For a mother, losing her own child is too hard.
It's been hard for everybody.
We can't offer you much.
Half a bowl of soup and half a glass of wine.
The meal of the poor. Meat and chicken for the rich, soup for the poor.
Moreover, without any salt, since it's disappeared from the black market.
I've been enduring a lot for these past 20 years, but now our time has come.
We got rid of the fascists and the Germans...
now we have to eradicate those who exploit the people,
once and for all!
- What are you doing? - Are you scared? It's not loaded.
You see this? It's already helped me to settle quite a few matters.
And I'm not done dealing with the fascists, yet.
Take it, it's a present. It's silk from the parachute.
Did you bring it for me?
- Do you like it? - Sure. I'll make a shirt with it.
I'm dead tired, I've been walking since this morning.
- Thank you for the present. - You're welcome.
I waited for him, for more than a month.
Then I started thinking he would never come back.
Maybe he really came for Sante, and didn't care about me.
I was sure that if we had the chance to meet again,
I would understand what was going on in his head.
But Bube would not come.
Mara! Where are you going?
I'm staying here!
- No, you're going out! - I'm not. I'm staying here, you're such a nuisance!
- Hi, Mara. - Are you already back from work? - There's a strike.
- Are you coming with us? - I can't, I have to take care of Vinicio, he has a fever.
- Let me come in, then. - No.
- Come on, I know your mother's out! - I don't want to! - I'm coming in anyway.
You can't! I locked the door!
- You're afraid, aren't you? - Afraid of you? No way!
- I'll go visit Liliana, then. - Suit yourself! - I'm going.
- I bet you'll regret it. - You poor idiot, I don't care a bit.
Ouch! You stupid girl, you hurt me!
You swore you'd never talk about Liliana again, but I saw you together.
- She's nicer than you. - She has a sockeye!
Don't make such a fuss, I've already put my hands on you.
But nobody knows about it. And if you tell anyone, I'll say you're a liar. Bye.
- Hello. I'm looking for your dad. - He went to Colle.
- He should be back tonight. - I really need to see him.
But I have no time, I can't wait for him.
I came here by motorcycle with a friend of mine. He'll be back in the afternoon.
Have you shaved your beard?
Yes! I never did, when I was a partisan,
so, sometimes... I forget about it.
- I'm going to show you my shirt, you'll see how nice it is. - What shirt?
The one I made using the silk you gave me.
- How do I look? - Great.
Is everybody well in your family?
- Sure. - What about your girlfriend?
I have no girlfriend. I have no time to think about that sort of thing.
About a year ago, I had already left home, because of the fascists.
But now it's been a while, since you came back.
Yes, but what do you think? I work during the day and I'm busy with the Party at night.
Today, you haven't gone to work, though.
Well, today I wanted to...
I've been meaning to come and visit you for a long time.
Stay here, don't move.
Will you put them on my feet?
Hi, Liliana. What are you doing?
Hi! Look, I've bought four meters of this. Do you like it?
Do you like these shoes? You should buy a pair like these, too.
I have no time now, I'm with someone.
- Who? - Him.
Mara... I think you're making a mistake, dating someone you don't know.
- He's not a stranger. - But it's only the second time you've seen him! - Bye.
She's playing hard to get, but nobody ever looks at her.
- Where were you? - I asked the store if they also serve meals.
- But you can eat with us! - No, I don't want to bother you.
Come on!
- What is it? - Nothing.
Have I overslept? It must be late.
It's half three!
My friend should already be here with his motorcycle.
Funny!
I hope that nothing's happened to him!
- Maybe he's already come by... - I haven't heard any motorcycle.
Finally!
- He's here! - Hi, Bube! - Hi! - Good evening.
- Goodbye, then! My greetings to your father! - Goodbye.
- Is anybody here? - Can I help you? - Do you have some eggs for sale?
- How many? - All of them. - I'll go and check.
The summer ended before I could see him again.
In the autumn, Carlino, a trader from Volterra, showed up instead of Bube.
- Are you Mara? - Yes. - This is from Bube.
I'll wait for your answer at the store.
It was the first letter I had ever received,
and I shuddered at the idea of reading words of love.
"Dear Mara, I'm sending a little salt..."
"that I found on the black market, to your mother, and this letter to you."
"I hope that I'll be able to meet you and your family soon. Greetings, Bube."
I answered that he shouldn't have gone to all this trouble,
because we could get salt in Monteguidi too, by now.
It wasn't true, of course,
but he had to realize that he should take more care of me than of my father.
Carlino came back again a couple of times,
because Bube used to write even less often than he used to talk.
Another letter from Bube.
- Here it is. - Goodbye and thank you! - Wait, I'd like to ask you something.
- How long have you known Bube? - Three months. - Weren't you afraid of becoming his girlfriend?
- No girl in Volterra would have been so brave. - I don't care.
- Why are you talking to me this way? - For your own good... - Keep your hands off!
You got it wrong - I'm married.
And I wouldn't dare to bother Bube's girl.
You idiot!
Castellucci, mail for you!
Only during the winter, when the mail service started working again,
he started to write to me, once a week.
He used to write to me about his work, and kept me informed.
He behaved as though he cared about me, but he always forgot to tell me that.
It's Bube.
- Hi. - Why didn't you come home? - I wanted to talk to you, first.
Talk, then!
- First of all, I'm leaving for San Donato. - Where?!
- San Donato, near to Florence. - Do you have a girl waiting for you?
What are you saying? I don't know any girls there.
Some comrades have found a truck...
and we were thinking of starting up a freight company.
Carlino will take me to Colle, then I'll try to get a ride to Florence...
then, from Florence to San Donato.
- Are you listening to me? - I'm not deaf!
I must see your father. Where is he, in Colle?
- Why should you meet my father? - To tell him about us, what else?
- About us? What's the use? - What do you mean "what's the use"?
I don't want to do things secretly!
- I've already talked about it with my family, now we have to tell your parents. - You're crazy!
My parents have nothing to do with this!
- I must go now, I have no time to waste! - Go, then! What are you waiting for?
- Well, I'm leaving then. - Bye.
Bye.
You know...
It could be a long time before we can meet again.
Shouldn't we kiss each other?
- Bye. - Bye.
- Good evening, ladies! - Hi, dad.
- So, what do you think? You're happy, aren't you? - About what?
I'm happy too, you know? I'm really happy that my daughter got engaged.
- What has she done? - Play.
- Didn't she tell you? - Tell me what? - She got engaged to Bube.
She asked for my approval, and I gave it to her. He's an honest man and a partisan.
- You've already ruined Sante with your ideas, and now you're ruining her too! - What are you talking about?
- If she can go ahead and be a partisan's girlfriend. - Come on...
But I don't want him in my house!
Do you understand? Do it in the fields, in the ditches, wherever, but not here!
- Not here, do you understand? - Play!
He did it his way, once more.
I was so mad that, as a punishment, I decided not to think about him any more.
And I didn't tell anybody that I was engaged.
Mara!
- Mara! - What do you want? - Come home, Bube's there!
- Bube's there! Did you hear me? - I heard!
Sure, it's a serious matter, but it can be sorted out.
You're safer in Volterra than here, for the time being.
You should take my bicycle early in the morning and go to Colle,
and go on to Volterra by bus in the afternoon.
Leave the bicycle at the Party house.
Since I'm going to Volterra, I could take Mara with me.
It'd be a good opportunity to let her meet my family.
Bube, Mara said that it's you who should go to her.
No, tell her to come here; we need to talk about serious matters.
And tell her to hurry!
- He won't come. - Darn it! Get out of here!
- Dad said to go home at once. - Leave me alone, I'm dancing!
Too bad for you, I told you.
Can I drink a little?
Mara, I'd like to dance too!
- That's enough, gimme my shoes back! - I won't eat 'em! - No, but you'll ruin 'em!
Watch my feet.
There's Mara.
You can tell her what happened, but don't tell her mother. - Yes.
Good evening!
- I bet you didn't expect me here. - I thought you were dead!
Because I stopped writing? I had a lot of work.
But I saved some money.
- I can tell: you have a new outfit! - No, it's always the same.
I know - it's all worn out. I'll buy a new one in Volterra!
I saved almost 20 thousand lire!
You could have brought me a present, then.
- I thought about it, but I had to leave at once. - Why?
Something's happened. We were working, and we were doing a great job.
But an officer, a Carabiniere, was constantly harassing us.
- He even wanted to requisition our truck. - Why was he picking on you?
Because he was still a fascist deep in his heart!
He said he was an anti-fascist, but in his office, he had a picture...
of the king, Mussolini's friend.
Do you realize how much of an anti-fascist officer Cecora is?
- A blind officer? - I said officer Cecora, not cieco [blind]!
So? Why are you laughing?
A blind officer couldn't catch any thief!
- Well, he won't catch anybody any more. - Why?
Yesterday morning they were having a celebration in Church.
I think it was the Ascension.
I was with Ivan and Umberto, my work mates.
They were with two girls who wanted to go to Church.
When we got there,
the priest wouldn't let us in, because we were wearing short trousers.
- What? - Well, I had on the same outfit that I'm wearing now.
But Ivan and Umberto wore short trousers, and red handkerchiefs around their necks.
But that was just an excuse.
The priest wouldn't let us in because we were partisans!
And Umberto told him:
"When the fascists used to come here with their banner, you'd let them in."
"So, let us enter the Church with our red handkerchiefs!"
But he didn't let us in. Then Cecora came to help him.
We tried to explain our reasons, but he wouldn't change his mind.
So we put him against the wall...
because we didn't like to be harassed like that, and then it happened.
What happened? I don't understand anything you're saying!
You're not listening!
The officer found himself with his back against the wall, and started shooting.
And Umberto was killed.
But we avenged him. We killed the officer and then his son!
I did it.
He came out from nowhere...
and when he saw his father laying dead, he started crying for help!
As soon as he realized that I was aiming at him, he started running wild.
I ran after him, but he tried to find cover in a house...
right when I was catching him up. So, I followed him upstairs.
When he got to the top, he had to stop and I shot him.
You should have seen what was going on outside the Church: there were so many people...
That poor girl, Umberto's girlfriend, how she was screaming and crying!
We had to take her away by force.
- Are you happy to go to Volterra with Bube? - What?
Yes, she's going to meet his family.
- What family? - If your father doesn't mind sending you there...
- Bube, Mara will make your bed here in the kitchen. - He can sleep in my room.
- I can go to Liliana's. - No, we'd better not let anyone know that he's slept here.
You, my dear... you're going to Colle alone! And to Volterra too!
- Why? - Because you have to stop making decisions without asking my opinion.
- I thought we already decided. - Who? You and my father!
But I'm not your servant! You're dreaming if you think I'm coming to Volterra.
- I wanted to introduce you to my family. - Who cares?
- Even your mother had nothing to say about it. - Forget about her!
If I leave, she's happy! And if I don't come back, she's even happier!
I wanted to buy something for you in Colle, tomorrow.
Would you buy a pair of shoes for me?
Sure, I saved quite a lot of money. You can ask me for whatever you want.
- Some shoes with high heels? - Yes.
Hey, cutie! Looking for company?
Miss, come here! Take a look at our stock!
Why didn't you wait for me at the Party house? Why are you here?
- I wanted to see the market. - I told you to wait for me there.
I'm used to doing whatever I want. If you act this way, you'll get some surprises.
You must do as I tell you. Don't ever disobey me again!
- I was joking! - I'm not, and I never do. Let's go.
- To buy my shoes? - Yes? - There! - No! Not at the market!
We'd better go to a shop.
- Can I help you? - Yes, I'd like a pair of shoes with high heels.
- For her. - What kind would you like? - Like these, with a black stripe.
- Oh, the snakeskin ones! Right away. - Snakeskin? - Yes.
- These ones, Miss? - Yes. - Your foot, please.
- How much for those? - 1200 lire.
- They fit you perfectly. Do you like them? - Yes.
Come on, let's go.
Wait for me!
- Are you OK? - I'm fine.
Ouch, it hurts! They're pretty high, aren't they?
And now you can buy me a purse, right?
- We'll buy it in Volterra. - Will you take me to a restaurant, to a trattoria? - Are you hungry?
No, but I've never been to one.
You see? It's too early; nobody's eating yet.
- So, we can't go yet? - You usually don't, here in town.
- Do you want an appetizer? - Yes, yes!
- Would you like to sit down or stand up? - I'd like to stand!
- Two vermouth drinks. - Bube? Bube!
- Tell me. - Do you like me well-dressed? - What's the difference? I like you for what you are!
- Even with this hair? - Have a drink.
- Would you like a pastry? - Yes!
How do you open it?
- You're so sweet! - Don't speak so loud: they'll hear you! - Why, what's wrong with that?
- Can I sit down? - Go ahead.
Come here! Come on!
- What shall we do now? - Aren't you eating and drinking?
- Look at that priest; what a nice robe. - I know him.
I hope he doesn't see me - I don't feel like talking to him.
- Hurry up, let's go to the restaurant. - We just got here!
- I already told you: I don't want that priest to see me. - Why?
He's the priest from my parish. I was his altar boy when I was a boy.
- You must have been a real beauty! - What's he doing now? - He's left.
- Really? - I swear!
Let's go to eat.
Wait!
You see? If we'd come earlier...
You can have a seat at that table!
- Hi, Bube. - Memmo! How are you?
- What are you doing here in Colle? - I'm here for work.
- Oh, sorry! This is my fiancee. - Pleased to meet you. - My pleasure.
- So, what's going on in Volterra? - Everything's as usual. Are you going back to San Donato?
No. If he goes back, they'll put him in jail!
- You had to go the toilet, right? - Oh, yes! - What did she mean?
- What will you have? - Two dishes of spaghetti. - Very well. - What happened?
- So, they provoked us. - It's a serious matter.
- What do you think I should do? - Keep hiding for a while.
When you are in Volterra you can ask for Babé e Lidori's advice.
- Did you order for me too?! - It took you so long... come and eat!
Now we'll go to the Volterra road and see if we can get a ride.
Yes, it's better if they don't see you around, you're right.
- Did you sleep? - No! The ants were bothering me, they kept climbing up my legs.
- Did any cars pass by? - No.
You see? We could have stayed in Colle!
- Why did you bring him along with us? - I have my reasons.
He's in the Liberation Committee: he can help me, regarding what happened.
Tell me the truth. You act like you don't care, but you're afraid, aren't you?
- It's the bus! - Memmo, shall we take it?
Yes, otherwise we'll end up spending the night here.
Bube, thank God you're here! Father Solfi is inside. Get on, Bube!
Quick, come on! We'll make him pay for everything!
Murderer. Bube, have you seen Father Solfi?
- 90 lire. You be quiet! - Look at him.
My sister's son has been killed too! Everybody here knew him.
He was 19, his name was Valdini Silvano. Scoundrel, go away!
- Go away or I'll kill you! - Don't make such a fuss on the bus. - Let me go!
- I must avenge my nephew! - She's telling the truth! - Let me go!
- Sit down. - What do you know? - Calm down! - It was my nephew!
- You criminal! - Are you a relative of hers? - No.
Tell her to calm down, or I will have to make her get off.
- Bube, you must avenge my nephew. - Yes. - Justice must be done. - Yes.
- Now calm down. Calm down. - What did the priest do?
He was on the fascists and Germans' side. They don't forget these things in Volterra.
He was 19, a young man like you.
Madam, all of us have lost someone.
My fiancée's brother was with me; he was killed by the Germans.
Stand up. Have a seat, miss. Come, dear.
- Come, miss. - Sit down, Mara. - Have a seat.
Your brother was killed too, then?
Bube, don't get in trouble. The Americans and the English are in charge here.
- Don't give them an excuse to intervene. - Yes - San Lazzaro!
- Excuse me. - Bye. - Bye, Memmo.
- Hi, Memmo. - Guys, Father Solfi is inside! Get on the bus!
Come on! In the back!
- Father Solfi is on the bus! - And Bube too! - He's back!
Guido, quick, the fascist priest!
Everybody knows you! Everybody's mad at you, scoundrel!
Everybody's mad at you, murderer!
They're letting him get off on the other side! Bube's there!
- Go away! I'll take care of it! - Scoundrel! Fascist!
Excuse me? I forgot my suitcase!
Let him go! I know how to take care of priests. Jump. Make them go away.
Go on!
- Bube, kill this pig! - Stop it! Go home!
Bube's going to take care of it, calm down! Go home!
- Don't deliver him to the police! - We'll take care of him!
- What is it? - Take him!
In Colle, Bube had been kind to me for the first time,
just as I wanted him to be.
That's why I agreed to go with him to his house.
But once there, I wanted to leave that place right away.
Everything was dirty and in a mess.
I didn't like his mother nor his sister,
so we started fighting again.
I'm used to sleeping alone. In my house I always gave you my room!
But I can't sleep with two women.
- It's your mother and your sister! - Right, but they're still two women.
Either you let me sleep in the kitchen, alone, or I take my things and go to a hotel.
- Bube? - Who is it?
- Sorry, miss. I'm Lidori, a friend of Bube's. - You scared me!
- I need to talk to Bube at once. Is he there? - Yes, but he's sleeping.
I think he'd rather be woken up by me than by the police.
- Bube! - What is it?
- What happened? - The police are looking for him.
- Because of the priest? - No, because of the murder of the officer.
- This is Mara, my fiancée. - I already understood that.
I didn't want to say it in front of your mother, but it's getting serious.
- They must not find you here. - Where could you take me?
Babe and I think that the best place would be the paper mill that was bombed.
The one where you were hiding out before joining the partisans.
I'll wait for them here. And if they try to come upstairs...
No! We decided at the Party that you'd come with me.
Bube, I want to go home. Give me the money to go back.
- It's Sunday, there's no bus until Tuesday. You'll stay here. - What?
- I'm coming with you, then! - That's no place for women. - I'm coming anyway!
She has a good point. It's better if the police don't find her here.
- See? Get out, I have to get dressed. - Hurry up, we'll wait for you downstairs.
If the police come here, tell them you haven't seen Bube. Let's go, Bube.
- Bye, mom. Bye. - Bye, Bube.
Come, miss.
This is a safe place. You even have something to sleep on.
I'm going to see how things are going. I'll come back as soon as possible.
- Bye, Bube. - Bye. - Goodbye! - Go see my family.
Certainly. Goodbye. And don't do anything naughty, OK?
- Bye. - Bye.
Where's that music coming from?
Today's a holiday. There must be an inn over there.
Maybe they're dancing.
Too bad we can't go.
Lidori hasn't come back yet. I hope nothing's happened to him.
Bube, tell me the truth. Do you think you'll have to stay hidden for a long time?
I don't know... the comrades will try to fix everything.
But how long will it take? A month? Two months?
- I don't know. - Why did you have to get into this trouble?
What did you care about that officer?
He shot first! And he killed my mate. What were we supposed to do?
But after that? Why did you kill his son?
Well, there are moments when... you don't have much time to think.
I never thought you'd say that. I understand that Memmo could be mad at me.
Because he says he's like us, but that's not true!
He's never suffered! He's never been in misery.
But you have. Your father's had lots of troubles!
And your brother Sante was killed by the fascists!
We should have killed all the fascists! We should have killed 'em all! All of them!
It was that officer's fault. He knew what would happen.
But his son had nothing to do with it. You're right.
Actually, when Umberto died, we went crazy.
Everybody started crying madly.
I can't explain... sometimes you find yourself involved in certain matters,
and you can't act otherwise.
It was an accident.
It's already dark.
How long will we stay here?
Did you fall asleep?
Actually, no.
I was thinking of you.
- I love you, Mara. - I love you too, Bube.
Bube was trying hard to seem sure of himself,
but I understood he wasn't at all, and hadn't ever been.
Of anything.
I wasn't angry any more,
and I started to feel like comforting him and protecting him.
You finally woke up.
- Why, is it late? - No.
- Lidori hasn't come back? - No, nobody showed up.
Let's make a pact.
- What pact? - We must always tell each other everything. - Ah...
- Yes or no? - Yes.
Give me a kiss now. When we wake up in the morning, we must kiss each other.
- Where are you going? - I'm going to clean myself up!
- Bube? You don't love me. - That's not true.
If it weren't for the bus, you'd have come here alone.
You wouldn't have taken me with you.
You're always pushing me away. Isn't that true?
No.
My love...
See? They didn't realize we were here.
Sure, but they're not the police.
We'd better leave this place.
I'm sorry.
No, Bube, no!
Yes, I'm sorry, Mara.
Come closer.
That's the store. Take the money, you go.
- Buy a pack of cigarettes. - Can I buy some pop'? - Yes.
Go, quick.
Cigarettes.
Thanks.
- I would also like... - Shall we go? - What?
Never mind.
- Who is it? - It's me: Mara!
- My cousin's here. Arnaldo, this is Mara. - Good evening.
- Why isn't Lidori here? - He was taken by the police.
You shouldn't be staying here. They can see you.
- I asked her to go buy some cigarettes. - Here. - Thanks.
- I must go now. Bye, Mara. - Bye. - Agreed? - Yes. - Bye. - Bye.
- Bube. - Yes?
Give me your gun.
- Why? - Give it to me.
- What do you want to do? - Nothing.
And now promise me you won't do anything stupid ever again.
I promise!
- What did your cousin say? - Nothing. What could he say?
- I saw you talking. - We talked about what happened.
Tell me the truth.
They want me to go away for a while. They'll come and pick me up by car.
Where will they take you?
I don't know... Maybe abroad.
- Abroad?! - Yes, but only for a while.
Don't think about it. Let's sleep.
When will they come and pick you up?
Tomorrow. Early in the morning.
Tomorrow morning? You mean this is the last night we'll spend together?!
Bube! Hold me tight!
Hold me tight. I want to stay like this until they come.
- Why won't you hold me? What is it? - Nothing. - Yes, you're mad at me!
- No. - Why won't you hold me, then?
- You don't feel like holding me any more? - Nonsense!
I feel like holding you so much! Too much, Mara.
We'll be separated for a long time, so we'd better...
You can take back your promise.
I mean you don't have to consider yourself my fiancée any more.
You mean... you don't love me any more.
Don't you understand that I'm saying this because I love you?
Mara, I'd like to make you happy. But if it's not possible, then it's better to...
But I love you, Bube. I want to stay with you forever.
And if you go abroad, I'm coming with you. I won't leave you, my love.
You must not talk to me like that.
I love you.
My love... how miserable we are!
Hold me! Hold me tight!
- It doesn't matter if we're not married. - My love.
- Bube. Bube! - Yes? - It's morning.
Bube, let's go! Get in the car, quick!
No, you stay here! Arnaldo, think about the girl!
- Bube! Wait! - Don't worry. - Send me some news! - Bye!
Mara, why don't you go and have some fun?
- I don't feel like it. - Listen to your mother. Forget that Bube.
- When you stay with someone like him, you end up in trouble. - What do you mean?
- I mean he must have done something really stupid if the police are looking for him. - Leave me alone!
You have your friends!
- Mara! You're here? I thought you were away. - I came back!
- Mara, where are you going? Come here! - Leave her alone; can't you see she's sad?
- Will you talk? - Ask me and I'll answer.
You went to Volterra with this Bube. Don't deny it, because they saw you.
- Who's denying? - But the police didn't find you at Bube's.
- Sure, I was out! - Where did you go? - I took a walk.
Listen, miss... Bube's run away, but we'll catch him.
We'll catch him for sure!
And he'll get a life sentence. Do you understand? Leave them there.
- May I go? - Go, but make sure to be ready if we need you again.
Let's go, dad.
They think they're going to take our guns. They don't know we've hidden the good ones.
Wait until the English and the Americans leave, then you'll see who's in charge.
- Dad? - What?
A life sentence - what does it mean'?
It means that one stays in jail for life. Why?
The officer said that they'll catch Bube for sure.
- And that he'll get a life sentence. - That's what he said? - Yes.
- Sure! Right now Bube doesn't give a damn about them. - Where can he be now?
- In Russia. Where else? - In Russia?! - Don't worry, he's safe there.
The communists are in charge over there. We tricked them!
So, he must stay in Russia. If he comes back to Italy, they'll catch him.
No way. I told you: things will change. They'll change for sure!
- Dad? - Tell me.
Are you sure that he won't be away long? That he will come back?
Swear! Swear it on Sante!
Yes, sure! The Party will take care of it. Let's go.
Those words... "life sentence", "Russia",
they were upsetting my heart.
I could not stay in Monteguidi any longer,
because it's always bothered me seeing people having pity on me.
I decided to go and find work in town.
I was helped by a girl from my village, Ines. I was a guest at her sister's,
and I started working with her in a laundry shop.
If you start looking at this kind of thing, it's over! I'm engaged too.
- But my fiancé is far away. - Even better!
In my case, he lives in Monteguidi, and can get here anytime.
I made love with at least three people.
When you work all day long, you deserve a little fun, don't you think?
If I were you, I'd try to enjoy life. These are the best years of our lives.
If this famous fiancé of yours comes back, lots of kisses again.
- And if he doesn't come back, you'll find another one for sure. - May I come in?
- Excuse me, Ines. - Please.
My brother-in-law is a real pig. He's always trying to sneak a look at us in our underwear.
Did you get my theory?
Warm up! Warm your stomach up!
They're showing "Waterloo Bridge" at the theatre, with Robert Taylor. It's wonderful.
My sister told me about it. She's a dancer and he's an officer.
Then he goes to war... and there's no news of him any more.
Furthermore, the news arrives that he's dead.
- She's desperate and becomes naughty. - What? - She becomes a prostitute.
Then one day she meets him again, because he'd only been injured. Then...
No, don't tell me how it ends.
- Hi. - Am I late? - Shall we go? - Hey, look who's here!
- Hi. - Hi. This is Stefano. - Pleased to meet you.
- She's Mara, a friend of mine. - Pleased to meet you. - Who are you? - I'm Mario. Shall we go?
- Where? - Dancing. - Dancing?! - Well, since they're inviting us so kindly!
- You could have told me that you had everything fixed up. - Wait, I can explain.
We had a date,
but then she told me she'd come with a friend of hers, and I asked him to come.
- I didn't want to leave you alone. - You'll stay with Stefano, and Ines will stay with me.
I won't stay with anyone. I don't know who this Stefano is!
- But it's him! - I'm sorry, I didn't want to come. I know it's not a nice thing to do.
- You're making it so hard! Let's leave 'em alone. - Right, you can manage by yourself!
I'm sorry about this.
And now, because of that blockhead, I'll miss the movie!
- You're still in time. - I know, but it's too late to find someone to go with!
- She told me that it's such a nice movie! - I could take you.
- I wanted to watch this movie too. - Really? - Yes.
Let's go.
- But only if each one pays for himself. - As you wish.
- How much is the ticket? - No... later. - No, now!
50 lire.
- I think so. - Here, take it.
Why? I gave it to you, it's yours.
I think it'll be safer with you.
Miss Mara!
Now we are one soul.
This brought me luck, now I'd like you to be lucky too.
I'll keep it for you, Roy. I feel tired, dear.
- I know, it's been an exhausting day. - Yes.
Good night.
- Goodbye, my love. - Why goodbye? It's only until morning...
- What time is it'? - Seven. Is it late for you? - No. Goodbye.
- Can I offer you anything? - No, thanks. - Can I walk you home? - Yes.
She's beautiful.
- Maybe too beautiful. - It seems like you're still in love with her.
No, she's not a reliable girl.
- You're very jealous, aren't you? - No, but I found her with another man.
Is that why you left her?
No. You see... I think that I would have been able to forgive her.
But there was something else that I didn't like: how she behaved with me.
She didn't have any reserve.
When a man and a woman are engaged, the woman must "keep back" the man.
- Otherwise, where would all the poetry of love be? - Sure, you're right.
I'm home. Goodbye.
- It was nice meeting you. - For me too.
- Listen, I'm going. - Have fun. - No need to tell me.
- Bye. - Bye.
- May I? - Come in.
Why are you staying here all alone? Come and listen to the radio.
- Miss! - Oh...!
- Are you waiting for someone? - No, nobody.
I would have loved to see you again, but that night you greeted me so roughly...
- Really? - Yes. Maybe... you didn't realize it.
And it looks like you're worried about something, even today. Right?
- I'm in a bad mood. - I'm in a bad mood too, today.
Well... I'm a little nervous.
Yesterday I received a letter from the girl I told you about.
- She writes so often... what does she say'? - She'd like me to...
If you don't want to tell me... I'm sorry, I didn't want to be indiscreet.
Not at all. She's always writing the same things: that she regrets, that she's sorry...
- Do you write her back? - Only to tell her that I don't believe in her good intentions.
Flags with the royal emblem are waving.
- If you are not in a hurry, I'd like to show you the place where I work. - Is it far? - No.
This way or that way?
This way.
- Have you ever seen a print shop before'? - No. - Well, here it is.
- I work there. - What's that machine? - A linotype.
- What do you use it for'? - Well, you use it to compose a text...
- What's your name? - Castellucci Mara. - Ah.
Please, write "Castellucci Mara".
- There. Watch out, it's still hot. - What is it?
- Your name. - Ah...
You place this in the machine and you can print books, magazines...
or a newspaper like this. Come and see.
- There's even a short story of mine in this issue. - You write short stories?
Actually, it's my first one.
The newspaper advertised a writing competition...
so I thought I'd write down the story of my engagement.
I changed the names, naturally.
- I used to write poems, but I stopped. - Why?
- Well, they were terrible. - Are you sure? - Yes.
Listen. This is amongst the last ones:
"Mom, you know why I'm far away.
"To work, mom, to avoid any contact with a woman...
"which would be fatal to my life."
- Stopping writing poems was the right thing to do! - Well, it's not so terrible.
- Do you like it? - Yes.
A long time ago, I read a book that taught me many things.
I can lend it to you, if you want. The title is "And the Stars Stand Watching".
I like the title. I work here.
- It must be pretty hard. - Yes.
I don't like my work.
Still, I'd rather stay here in town than go back to my village.
- If you'll allow me, I could look for a better job for you. - Thanks.
But I'm good at nothing.
Don't worry, I'm sure you'll manage.
If that officer hadn't killed that partisan, Bube wouldn't have shot.
There will be an amnesty soon, I'm sure of it.
Everybody keeps telling me that, but in the meantime I'm here alone and I don't know where he is.
I knew there was something. You seemed too serious for your age.
I was about to ask you, but... ultimately I didn't dare.
You see now that I'm not luckier than you?
We must say it loud, in the name of Matteotti and Turati...!
The future of Italy has a name: Savoia!!
- Go on, we don't want to be a bad example for you. - He's not like me; he's a poet.
You see... what I liked in my girlfriend was only her body.
There was no affinity between us.
- With you it's different, Mara. - Why, how am I?
I think that... the look mirrors one's soul.
You can't really separate one thing from the other. Do you understand?
My girlfriend is good-looking, but she has a vulgar side.
While your beauty, Mara, is almost spiritual.
What I mean is that your eyes, your expression,
your gestures, are so full of grace.
I could stare at you all the time.
Mara, I know you're my soul mate.
Stefano, we can't go out together any more.
- Why? - Because of what you said.
- There's nothing wrong with it. - Yes. I'm engaged, and so are you.
- At least we can comfort each other. - No, Stefano. We can't.
Very well. I understand you.
I respect you too much.
- I regret that we didn't meet sooner. - When?
When you were free.
Mara... if you were free...
do you think you could have cared for me?
No, not like that.
Look me in the eyes.
Yes.
No.
Comrades, the partisans who died to redeem with their sacrifice...
the shame and disgrace that had befallen us,
have allowed us, the Italian people, to...
- Hi. - Hi. Any news? - No. - After one year?!
You know, it's not easy for him to send news. He has to be careful.
- But where is he? If I could at least know that! - In Yugoslavia. - In Yugoslavia?!
- If the outcome of the referendum is for the Republic, do you think he could come back? - Sure!
Vote for the Republic! Vote for Garibaldi!
For the progress of Italy! For peace and freedom!
Miss Mara, if you want to go to Colle, hurry up! I'm leaving!
Why isn't he sending any news?
Who knows? The only thing I know is that they're setting up a trial in Volterra.
- Do you think we'll win the election? - You bet, goddamn it!
We already saw whom the people support when we had the administrative election.
- Hi mom. How are you? - I'm feeling better. - Are you feverish?
No, not any more.
- Does it hurt? - No, it's nothing at all!
My mother was getting better, and during those days that I was spending with her,
I found myself thinking of Stefano more than Bube.
The things he said were intimidating, but they also gave me
a sense of security and trust that I had never felt before.
I wasn't forgetting Bube,
but Stefano was the only person who could give me a little serenity.
I asked myself whether I had the right to live my own life too'?
- Can I at least say "welcome back"? - How are you?
I was afraid you would stay in Monteguidi.
- How's your mother? - She's fine, thank you.
Are you happy I'm back?
They're celebrating the Republic! We won! Long live the Republic!
Mara, I've spent my time thinking about you.
I've tried to fight against my own feelings, but...
I couldn't do it.
I've tried to forget about you, too.
But I couldn't either.
How happy I am to hear that!
No!
Mara... now I'm sure that you love me.
Mara!
Dad! What is it? ls mom feeling sick?
Hi. No, we're all fine. But...
- What?. -You must come with me. - So, it's not true that she's well?
- No, mom is well. Let's go somewhere where we can talk. - Where?
- To the bar. Lidori's waiting for us. - Why?
It's about Bube.
They have... arrested him.
Him and the other man who shot the officer.
They're in prison, in Volterra.
- In Volterra? - Yes. Come.
- They arrested him at the border. - He was trying to come back?
- No, he's been expelled, along with many other comrades. - Hi. - Hi.
Sit down.
- What about the amnesty? - That was nicely done!
They let the fascists out, along with all those who've become rich by starving the people.
- It was necessary to pacify the spirits. - The spirits of the fascists!
Bube is a partisan, and there was no amnesty for partisans.
- I cannot come. - What? We're going for you!
- You have to come! - I can't.
You must be strong: he's waiting for you! He'll be so disappointed if you don't come.
Come on, you're such a brave girl! We have a permit for today only.
We are leaving right now, we're going by bus.
The permit is for only one person: Castellucci Mara.
It's impossible! They asked for it to be for two people!
The permit is clear: it's only for her.
- Mara, be brave. You must go in alone. - No, not alone!
- I need a permit to go in with her. - All right. Shall we go?
Sit here. You have fifteen minutes, you can't get close to each other.
- Hi, Bube. - Hi, Mara.
- I'm happy to see you. - Me too.
You haven't changed at all! You seem fine. You've even put on a little weight.
Tell me how I look.
Outside are Lidori and my father.
They wouldn't let them in, because they have no permits.
They met the attorney yesterday. He said you shouldn't be worried.
Maybe there won't even be a trial.
And even if there is one... you aren't worried, are you?
- How are you? - I'm fine.
I work in town, in a print shop.
Where have you been all this time?
Why haven't you given me any news?
Why do you just sit there, without talking?
I was looking forward to meeting you.
But not like this! Not here!
Enough! Stop it!
What kind of man are you? Don't lose hope! Do you understand?
You still have your friends outside, and they won't leave you alone.
You're in the hands of a good attorney. Everything will work out, you'll see.
I'm sure of it, Bube! I'm sure!
You're right, Mara.
I'm sorry.
I'm not desperate, not at all.
But seeing you has upset me.
I thought I would never see you again.
For these past few months, I've always been thinking of you, even though you've not heard from me.
Do you need anything?
No, I don't need anything. My sister's already sent me a package.
If you do... just let me know.
Yes, sure.
Mara, I...
- I'm sorry, I wanted to ask you something. - Yes?
Are you feeling the same things that you used to feel before?
I mean, have you changed your mind during my absence?
Well, you know what I mean.
Why should I have changed my mind?
You know, when you are alone... far away...
you start thinking differently.
When I was away, I had such thoughts...
At least now I've met you!
I feel better now; I'm not afraid any more.
Sure, you must not worry.
- Will you come back to visit? - Sure.
As soon as I get another permit.
It was good seeing you, Mara.
I'm not afraid any more.
Since I met you, I haven't stopped thinking about the future.
I used to think about it before too, but...
I used to live day-by-day...
Now, instead, I have to think about what I'll do later on.
There are two of us now.
- Mara, what is it? Are you crying? - It's nothing! No! - Yes, you're crying! - No!
- What is it? - Nothing. - You've had bad news. - No.
Mara, don't act like this, please.
If... if there's a problem, you have to tell me!
There must be no secrets between us!
Whatever happens, I'll always be here to help you. And to support you, as always!
Marry me, Stefano! Marry me now!
I'd tried to make something irreversible happen,
but now I wasn't so sure any more.
The thought of seeing Bube alone and desperate
made me feel closer to him than ever before.
I was hoping as hard as I could that the trial would end up well,
and that Bube would not need me any longer.
- The last door on the left. - Thanks.
Dad!
- Please, don't leave me alone. - Sure. Where else could I go?
- Hi, Lidori. - Hi. How's it going? - How could it go?
- What about Mara'? - She's over there.
- Hi, Mara. Bube's sister is here. Elvira! - Hi.
We left his mother at home; she has a bad heart condition.
Hi, Mara. Don't you recognize me? I'm Bube's cousin.
- Oh, yes. - I came to visit when you were hiding at the paper mill.
- We've never met again since then. - Right. - Do you have a job? - No, I'm studying.
How do you feel? You're not worried, right? Good, everything will be fine.
Thanks. Who's that woman there?
- She's the officer's widow. She's the plaintiff. - Is that bad?
Well, it's not good. It's understandable - put yourself in her shoes.
- Her husband and her son have been killed. - Sir. - Good morning.
The Court!
- Mara? Mara! - Yes? - You can talk to Bube!
I have a permit, come.
- Hi, Mara. - Hi. I haven't understood anything of what you told the judges.
- What about Lidori? - What did you say? - What's his opinion?
He thinks they won't give you more than 3 years because you... overreacted in self defence.
- Let's hope so, but I don't think that'll be the case. - The attorneys are good.
Your friends have collected some money to pay them.
- I wish they had never been friends of mine. - Why?
- Because they pushed me to do this. - That's not fair!
None of them opened my eyes while there was still time.
If I had given myself up before the amnesty, I'd be out now.
But everybody told me not to do it.
Do you remember what Memmo said, when we were in Colle?
He had studied, he should have understood these things.
Why didn't he tell me that running away would have been worse, useless?
Even Lidori... that night, when he came and woke me up,
he told me to run away and stay hidden.
I did as they told me, and now what do I get from running away?
Lidori cares for you, though.
No. Tell him not to come and visit. I don't want to see anyone!
You're the only one I'm happy to see.
I feel guilty only about you.
- I feel bad because I made you suffer. - Don't say that!
The Court!
- Bye, Bube. - Bye, Mara. - Bye. - Bye! - Bye, Bube.
Bube talks like this because he's in prison.
So, whose fault is it?
It's the fault of the war, of fascism.
Unfortunately, we forget the real reasons and we remember only the consequences.
- Will the judges realize that Bube is not a violent man? - Don't count on it.
We'd need a different court,
one that would take into account his merits as a partisan, not just his faults.
Unfortunately, they're now enforcing the law as though nothing happened.
Swear to tell the truth, only the truth. Say: "I swear".
- I swear. - Sit down.
- You have asked to testify. What do you wish to tell us? - What?
What do you want to tell us? Speak up.
So?
- Louder! - I... - Calm down, miss.
- I wanted to say... - What?
Erm...
Bube...
Were you in San Donato when the accused killed officer Cecora's son?
- No, not in San Donato. - Mr. President, the witness can tell us nothing regarding this case.
That's not true. The honesty and the character of the defendant are of much interest also.
We can't put this kind of question to his fiancée.
Our witnesses are as reliable as the ones brought by the plaintiff.
Calm down. Are you engaged to the accused, Mr. Cappellini?
- Yes. - Why have you asked to be heard before us?
I wanted... to help him.
Yes, I understand. ls there something specific that you wanted to tell us?
- Many things. - Go ahead and tell us. - I was...
- I was on the bus. - On the bus? - When they wanted...
- When... - Calm down, miss. - When they wanted...
- When they wanted to beat the priest up. - The priest?
We already know everything about that episode. It's useless to go back to it.
Miss, dry your tears, don't cry.
You told the police that you don't know anything.
Do you have anything new to say now?
- No. I don't know. - So, let's write it in the record:
"Miss Castellucci confirms her deposition".
- Please, go back to your seat. - Am I done? - Yes. - But...
- Please. - I protest! She hasn't said anything and she's already asked to leave!
She didn't know what to say.
Mr. President, many witnesses have come here,
but none of them said that the accused hasn't shot the officer's son!
- He's a hero! - The officer was a partisan too!
Silence, or I'll ask to clear the courtroom!
Listen, Mara... there's something I have to tell you.
When mom attacked Bube, I always came to his defense.
- But we have to understand her point of view, too. - What do you mean?
What matters to all parents is the good of their daughter.
We'll wait for the sentence, but if it ends up bad...
- What? - You have already made many sacrifices for him.
All right, I understood, dad.
Stefano!
Hi.
- Why are you here? - I saw Mario, he said you went to the movie theatre.
I waited for you until nine, then, since you were not coming...
- I had to go to Volterra with my dad. - To Volterra?! Why?
To attend Bube's trial.
- You could have told me. - You're right, I'm sorry. I didn't have the courage.
- You needed courage to tell me? - Yes.
- Stefano, this is the last time we meet. - Mara, why?
- You didn't tell him about us? Why? - I couldn't do it.
- When will you see him again? - It doesn't matter when.
Stefano... I'll never forget the moments that we've spent together.
Maybe... those will be my last hours of happiness.
But now we must leave each other. We must follow our separate path.
Stefano, I'm Bube's girl!
Luck will never strike me.
- You know that you're breaking my heart. - I know.
I will regret you forever, Mara. I'll never forget you.
Excuse me.
Was the accused trying to protect you from the crowd, or was he attacking you?
Everyone wanted to attack me.
It's true, the accused delivered me to the police...
and he tried to calm the woman in the bus down.
Does the witness think that, without the presence of Cappellini Arturo,
his return to the parish could have ended in tragedy?
Answer.
Probably... I think so.
Did you hear? Solfi admitted that Bube wanted to protect him. It's important!
The attorney says that it's a good sign if it takes them longer to decide.
- It could also be a bad sign. - No!
Don't be afraid if the sentence is for a long stretch:
there will be another amnesty next year, after the elections.
I'm ready for anything.
I will never leave you, whatever happens.
I know, Mara, I believe you. I believe only you.
Bube... listen: it's not true that nobody's your friend,
it's not true that your friends have given you a bad advice.
It's just this... court, that can only see the bad things that happened.
If you say so...
Nobody's ever helped me like you did, Mara.
I want to go on because of you, otherwise I'd have already hanged myself.
- Don't say that, please! - I just want you to know that I owe you everything.
I've lived through many bad events, but I've also been very lucky to meet you.
- For you, on the contrary... it's been a misfortune. - Don't say that.
The Court!
Everything will be fine. Don't worry. Bye.
In the name of the Italian people...
Mara!
How nice to meet you again... after all this time.
- Where are you going? - To visit Bube.
- Do you go often? - Every two weeks.
Listen, Mara...
You're so brave.
What about Bube then, who's been in jail for seven years?
He still keeps on going, he endures everything.
At first it was very hard,
but now we can already think about our future together.
Will you wait for him, seven more years?
Well, they'll pass.
I'll be 34. He'll be 37.
We'll still be able to have children.
There are people who get married even older than that!
- What about you? - I work here.
Did you get married?
- Yes. - To that girl... the one you were engaged to?
No. Another one.
- Bye, Mara. - Bye, Stefano.
I'll be meeting Bube soon.
He always looks forward, as I do, to the few minutes that they allow us.
When he was sentenced to 14 years, I thought I wouldn't make it.
It's been so easy, instead...
Subtitles by talpaleone and lordretsudo