The early bird gets the worm.
Some get more...
...and some get less.
Have you fixed the radio, mum?
No, it's Mr. Pipitone from next door celebrating his double score.
Others, like my family, don't get anything.
Here we go again! Angela!
- Angela, open the door! - Just a minute!
- Yes, I read the book. - How did you find it?
Come on, Ros, it's embarrassing.
Embarrassment is a bourgeois convention.
Don't you feel freer, more uninhibited?
Well, they're a bit like... pigs.
But they have wings!
Still in there? Hurry up, Angela, it's late!
Sorry, I must go. What do you want, dad?
What do I want? I must trim my beard for work.
- Must you trim it every morning? - Must you phone every morning?
I was talking to Danila.
Danila? You'll see her in two minutes at school!
Anyway, why must you speak to her in the bathroom?
Where then? He's always in the room!
Why? What's so secret you can't tell Danila in front of your brother?
It's personal. Is this an interrogation?
Sorry.
But if you occasionally see a boy I won't get angry. It's normal.
But if a father knows about it he won't worry as much.
Why? Must a girl necessarily have to have a boyfriend?
And you get out, I must get changed!
- Dad? - What?
Do you like mum's nipples?
Salvuccio, where have you heard about these things?
What are you reading?
PIGS HAVE WINGS
- Where did he find it? - Where? Among Angela's books.
- Where has he got up to? - Up to the nipples for sure.
- But this is all about... that stuff. - Pia, I can see it's all about...
- Even worse! - There!
We've got a degenerate daughter and a traumatized son.
Lorenzo, don't ever say that!
- After all... it's normal. - What's normal?
It's normal. Angela's growing up, she's almost a woman, it's normal.
What woman? Pia, she's 16!
Please! 16 today's like 30 in our days, don't be so reactionary!
Are you saying she can go around and get into trouble with a boy?
Stop. I'll talk to her and all will be well. Women understand each other.
- The problem's rather another one. - What is it?
They're growing, their needs change,
we could do with another room.
I know, Pia. But where's Salvuccio going to sleep, in the kitchen?
I was born in that house and we'd always lived there.
Then it suddenly became too tight.
Just like Palermo had become too tight for others,
in fact the city had grown.
Orange groves and Liberty style villas were replaced by all sorts of buildings
and the Golden Shell had been turned into a Concrete Shell.
The beautification of Palermo, as they called it in those years,
was accomplished by a little man who'd left Corleone
and had become the master of the city in very few years.
Hurray for Don Vito Ciancimino! Bravo!
Vito Ciancimino, a Christian Democrat,
former councillor for Public Works and mayor for very few months,
was still the most powerful man in Palermo.
To the point that even Totò Riina, the fierce chief of the Corleone clan,
had to show him respect in order to do business in Palermo.
Vito, I've brought you this gift as a sign of my "gratude", "gratetude"...
Gratitude.
Please, come in.
I know the way.
Vito, I've brought you this gift as a sign of...
- Tell me. - ..."grattetude".
Don't you like it?
- Is it an orphan, Totò? - But it's solid gold.
So? Were you thinking of getting me a chocolate one?
They always come by twos, Totò, for company.
You've stayed too long in Corleone.
Shake it off, Totò.
Good, that's it, good.
That's it, good.
That's enough, Totò.
- Isn't the Council meeting today? - And you look for it here?
Though he no longer held any official post,
important meetings didn't take place at the town hall, but at his home.
All works had to pass through him
and whoever looked for a new home, inexorably crossed his interests.
So, engineer, tell us about this project of the Vassallo company.
Where the Neo-Renaissance villa stands we'll build three 13-level buildings.
So our new house was his business too.
- Investing, "Giammaresi"? - Giammarresi, always double-R.
No. I'm just looking for a decent rent for my family.
You buy houses, not rent them, so you get the money back.
You must have the money to buy the house.
Well, one buys houses that still don't exist.
How?
Houses under construction, "Giammaresi".
Houses that aren't finished yet and cost less.
Yes, I know.
But you know me, you know that before I take certain steps...
And you must take them, Lorenzo.
I've heard about a new construction project, a great opportunity.
Great.
In the middle there's a vast green area
the ecological lung of the Sun and Nature Village.
Engineer, you're a real idiot!
What's all this space?
Buildings must be close together, stuck together.
Give me this, come on! We'll build a nice big one here in the middle.
See? Instead of three, we've got four.
We make homes. We build homes, not flowerbeds for the dogs!
Ecological lung!
Sorry, but what about nature? It's the Sun and Nature Village after all.
Sun and Nature Village!
No lungs, engineer.
And remember the last floor's mine, as always. Dickhead!
Yes, dad?
Massimo, you're getting a big head. You're not the only dickhead,
the engineer here challenges you for the title, you see?
His son Massimo was the favourite target of Don Vito's harassments.
So are you moving?
Yes, they've understood I need my privacy.
- How did they understand? - How...?
Tell me his name!
How many times must I tell you I haven't got a boyfriend?
Who gave you this shameful book that ended up in your brother's hands?
And don't eat biscuits, I'm talking to you!
He took it, I didn't give it to him! Anyway, I bought it myself.
Everyone's read it, I wanted to read it too.
Everyone who? I, for instance, haven't read it.
And you're wrong, it would do you good too!
You're really asking for it!
Alright, it's your life, it's your business, I understand.
He's your boyfriend and I respect him.
I'd just like you to understand
that if you need to talk, whenever you decide to...
- You know, we've often talked about it. - Yes, mum, a hundred times.
I could almost have written that book myself.
You're right. Mum trusts you.
- But the first time is important! - Who says it's the first time?
- I'm joking, mum, no sweat. - It's a stupid joke.
- Can I go to school now? - Yes. Bye.
I've earned my room.
Giammarresi, what's so funny about what you're saying?
Right, Giammarresi, sit next to Giraudo.
His presence might transmit some dignified composure to you.
Darò, are you waiting for Giammarresi to sit on your lap?
What are you laughing about?
Have you already finished the version?
Yes, up to here. It wasn't difficult.
You're strange, aren't you?
Do you like anything other than studying?
- Yes. - What?
It's time to introduce this one. Giraudo Marco, nicknamed "Torino".
A human case forever in love with my sister.
- Sailing. - Sailing?
Yes, sailing boats.
He got that answer wrong
and got everything he did and said wrong in the following six months
in his desperate attempt to seduce her.
And when I say everything, I really mean everything.
Are you moving because of a book?
It talked about boobs and they were on the cover too.
- Were they big? - I think so.
I want to see it too!
- Hello, children. - Hello, miss.
Forgive me for being late. Let's call the register.
- Abate. - Here.
- Abete. - Here.
- Barba. - Here.
Cassina...
- Cassina? - Missing, miss.
- Where's Fofò? - How should I know?
- I knew it! - What's the matter?
Clever Fofò is missing the day he's supposed to hand in his research.
- Miss? - Yes, Salvatore?
- I know why Fofò's missing. - And why?
Fofò...
...is dead. - Dead?
What are you saying?
Obviously, Fofò wasn't dead and I'd looked like a real idiot.
And I felt like a great idiot
having lost Alice for that absurd story that in Palermo one dies for women.
Salvatore, you're a real idiot.
Go back to your classroom, children. I'll be right there.
We called your husband at the office because nobody answered at home.
- We're sorry to have worried you. - Don't be. You did the right thing.
We had a problem with the car and didn't know how to warn you.
It's a regrettable situation and we don't know why he behaved like that.
- What came over you? - It's not my fault.
Isn't it? Whose is it then?
Where's he going?
Hey, kid, where are you going?
Excuse me, I'm looking for Boris Giuliano.
The deputy commissioner? And who are you?
It's Salvatore, my friend, I know him. Hi, Salvatore.
Not really a friend, you lied to me.
It's not true you can die for women. You only feel bad.
True. You feel so bad that it feels like dying.
Even though nothing really happens.
But does this pain last forever? It passes, doesn't it?
It passes if you give up.
- Are you the type who gives up? - Me? No.
Good. That's it. Don't give up. Bye, Salvatore, I must go.
Bye, Salvatore, take care.
As if giving up in love depended on one's will.
The only thing I was sure about was that I had to go on suffering.
Kitchen, living room, double exposure balconies,
master bedroom, two bathrooms.
Salvuccio, close this.
I've not told you the most important.
There are four tanks on the roof. Four!
- So? - So? So we'll have water every day.
We won't have to wait for the aqueduct, we'll have our own reserve.
It's asbestos, a practically indestructible material.
So, Pia, you can take a bath whenever you want.
- A bath? - Yes, love, a bath!
While I trim my beard peacefully in the other little bathroom.
You won't meet Mr. Presti Filippo in the stairs with his basin, too bad.
You can always call him if you miss him.
And there are two bedrooms.
One for Angela, so she can tell Danila all the secrets she wants.
And one for you.
You can bring your friends, do anything you like without asking her first.
What do you think, Salvuccio?
Look at all the green around it.
A playground! Imagine all the games you can play there!
Even in my fantasies I had to feel bad.
Wake up! He's daydreaming!
It costs...
but I've been to the bank and we're getting a mortgage.
It'll be a bit tough with the payments.
Why tough? You've got your job, I'll be an appointed teacher soon
and we'll manage with two government salaries!
We'll sure manage, love!
Coffee's ready. I'm off.
- Going out? - Going out.
- With Danila? - Yes, with Danila.
Good, then take your brother along, anyway Danila likes him.
Okay, I'll call you when I'm ready.
- Sit, love, I'll get you a coffee. - See? I'm a gentleman, Salvuccio.
Don't worry, coffee comes out of the tap in the new house.
Let's have it in the living room then and start being high-class right now.
I'd love that.
Why can't I come?
Because Rosario says it's not a film for children.
Yes, but children aren't all the same.
- It's all the same. - Why?
Don't start with the same old questions.
Look, here's 500 lira.
Take it, buy a cannoli and wait in front of the pastry shop.
Are you in?
A cannoli finishes fast. What if I get bored?
Here's another 500 for a nice focaccia. Deal?
- Angela! - I'm coming.
Come on! It's just for the time of the film.
Come on, hurry, it's starting!
- Alright. - See you at half past six.
Bye.
Have you got 1000 lira so I don't have to change?
- Yes, yes. - Yes?
- Shall I wrap it up, kid? - Yes, I'll eat it outside.
6.50.
A focaccia doesn't last long
and even if you add a cannoli it doesn't last all that longer
and I was sure I'd get really bored then.
So I settled for the focaccia and spent the rest on a bus fare
to go and see this ghost Sun and Nature Village...
as it sounded far nicer than all the new buildings springing up in Palermo
and it felt strange that us, the Giammarresi,
were going to live in such a place.
When I got there, I discovered it was even nicer than in the picture,
it had nothing to do with the new buildings.
It was a Liberty style villa.
There used to be plenty in Palermo then they slowly started disappearing.
Alice.
- It's open. - Then close it and put a seal on it.
Come on.
- Have you got the warrant? - There's just one.
- Do we put it here or on the gate? - Stick it here.
Come, we can go.
Help!
Help! Open up!
I'm locked inside!
This building site is nice and blocked.
Help! Open up!
Open up! I'm locked inside!
What's going on in your head?
I leave you with your brother and you leave him alone?
If you allowed me to be alone with my friends!
If you allowed me to be free for once!
Yes, Angela, alone with your friends! What do you take me for?
Is this freedom? To abandon a child! Do you hear your daughter?
I'm on the phone with the police!
Nothing? I have to call back? Alright, thanks.
Have you found him?
No.
The police say to wait at least 24 hours.
Too many kids disappear in Palermo and if they had to look for them all...
Right, they're always ready to pest an honest Christian,
but they don't give a damn when there's a child to find!
- He's been taken! - Steady, Pia.
- He's been taken! - Calm down.
He can't have been taken. Only rich people have their kids taken.
I don't think we have this problem here.
Don't worry, I'll find him. Let me call some friends.
Wait a minute, what friends?
Lorenzo, please, we want to find Salvatore, right?
You go back to your room, I don't want to see you. Go!
Hello? Hi, it's Massimo. How are you?
All good. Listen, I need a favour, is your uncle in?
It's you I must speak to?
A kid missing. He went to the cinema with his sister and... got lost.
- Pia, did you take the brochure? - What brochure?
The one of the house, the building under construction.
Please, Salvatore's lost and you think about the brochure?
I'm sure I left it there. You haven't chucked it, have you?
No, I don't chuck anything!
A kid, 10, brown. Yes, yes.
No, he isn't fat, he's thin.
Obviously he's intelligent! He's my nephew, how else could he be?
- Damn, where is it? - Help!
You see he's here? Salvo!
I'm locked inside!
But what...? Damn!
Wait for me, I'm coming!
How did he get in?
- Help! - Help... I need help. Just you wait!
You silly boy!
What are you doing there?
- I got locked inside, dad. - I can see that, but how?
They locked me in. This is the only open window,
all the others are blocked.
- What are we going to do now? - I don't know.
Wait a second. Must I really break my neck?
- Are you holding it? - Yes.
Damn...
Here we are, come on!
- Come, I'll help you. - But I'm scared to go down.
What do you want to do? We've got to go home, come on!
- The villa's beautiful, isn't it? - Yes it is, sure.
Why don't we move here instead of going in a new house?
Because this is a house for noble people.
Then why don't they live in it?
Because there's no noble people left in Palermo. Got it?
- Are we going? Come on! - I'm scared.
Again? I'll help you.
Your mother's dead worried. Your uncle, Angela!
They're all waiting for you. Slowly. Backwards, okay? Careful.
Come on.
Wait a minute.
- Alright dad? - Yes... alright.
Let's go.
- What does the sign say? - Nothing.
Come on.
Mummy's darling!
When I got home, my mother was so happy she cried
and right then I couldn't understand how so much happiness
could come along with what she did right after.
- Ouch! - You're punished. Go!
I thought maybe that was how it worked with women.
- Ouch! - Where had you gone?
Come here...
Salvù, come here.
Don't worry, I kept disappearing too at your age.
Once I went with a girl up to San Vito Lo Capo,
she was 10 years older than me, the police found us three days later.
Unforgettable! She's still licking her chops.
What are you telling this child?
- Nothing, men's stuff. - He'll end up as a playboy like you.
Yeah, a playboy... Once, but now I've got a girlfriend.
- Really? - I'm engaged, you know?
Chocolate!
Let's have a toast to Salvuccio even if he's punished.
What's this? Wine for the child?
What's wrong with it? It's just a drop.
Cheers!
If you hadn't found him, my friends would have ten minutes later.
Sure.
Lorenzo!
Give us a smile? Just a hint.
I don't get it. You've found Salvo, you're taking the plunge, right?
You're finally leaving this hovel, you should be "enphoric".
Euphoric. Massimo's right, what's this face?
- It's that... - It's what? What is it?
I've seen the project, it seems serious.
Vassallo's in it too, isn't he?
Isn't Vassallo in jail?
In jail... silly!
Who'll build houses in Palermo if he's in jail? In jail!
It's that... when I got Salvuccio I found a sign.
What sign?
The superintendence, they've placed it under restriction
and I wouldn't want the construction to be blocked.
- Blocked? - Yes, blocked.
I mean, suppose the bank gives us the money,
it'll take months, maybe years before the court lifts the restriction.
That's if we believe in fairy tales like you do.
Do you think a serious firm doesn't have a lawyer with balls to solve this?
The works start in a week, trust me.
I propose a toast.
To men with balls who solve problems!
They've put a restriction on me?
On me?
These pieces of shit!
Don Vito, don't get upset.
We'll solve this thing. Ciccio Vassallo's word.
Let's solve it fast then, Vassallo. Fast.
Fucking bloody hell!
It's a shame. It's a beautiful villa.
It was beautiful, it was, I mean...
Who gives a damn after all.
What was that?
Nothing, I banged the crate. Come on, get the other.
- What happened? - Nothing.
Why? Did you hear something? I didn't hear anything.
- Did you hear that? - I didn't hear anything.
That's how Liberty style villas disappeared in Palermo.
We all know now, but at the time, at least I, knew nothing.
And to avoid looking like an idiot I came up with something worse.
And there are monkeys...
You can tell me the truth.
You almost preferred him dead.
No, not dead.
Alive, but without Alice. But he's there.
I think he's settled for lunch and supper.
Just watch.
Salvatore, do you know where Fofò's taking me?
- No. - To the circus.
- The circus? - Yes.
- But it's such a sad thing. - Why?
Because the poor lions are in cages instead of being in the savannah.
How could we see them if they were in the savannah?
If you want, I'll show you something amazing.
Really? What is it?
- They're talking. - I can see they're talking.
- A drawing... a painting. - A drawing or a painting?
- A painting of you and your sister. - I don't have any sisters.
- She looks like you. - Like me?
Yes. This painting's inside a villa only I know, like the ones in fairy tales.
- Are you drunk? - Isn't it one of your usual lies?
No, if you come I'll show you.
So?
I swear it was there!
- You're incurable, Salvatore. - You've told us more of your bullshit.
No, I'm telling you there was a beautiful old villa.
I even got locked inside and my dad came to save me.
Yes, your dad. Come Alice.
- You know what they say in such cases? - No.
That he's victim of his fantasies.
My last hopes of conquering Alice had blown up along with the villa.
I really wanted to give up then.
I would have if the greatest playboy of Palermo hadn't stepped in,
my uncle Massimo,
who that same evening came for supper to present his latest conquest.
When I got there, the villa had disappeared.
- Stop it. - You've got really green eyes!
They're blue.
Really blue. You're as handsome as your uncle.
But Angela's even more beautiful.
With that face of yours you could be an actress.
She looks more like her dad.
It's true. You've both got shiny eyes.
- Have you got a boyfriend? - No.
Yes she has, but her parents mustn't know.
She's a feminist, but she'll get over it.
Massimo told me you're moving to a new house.
We're trying.
God, even on the day they've lifted the restriction you don't smile?
This is the maximum of "enphoria" you'll get out of him.
Euphoria.
It's because he's a sensitive person.
You can tell, I mean, I can.
- Is sensitivity a virtue? - Stop it.
This wine's delicious, it's going to my head.
Slowly.
Is there a mark? I'll get some talcum powder.
No, stay, I'll go. Is the bathroom over there?
- Over there. - Sorry.
Sit, sit.
Lorenzo, you're dribbling.
Do you like Patrizia? Yes or no?
Yes... do we like her?
- She's nice. - We like her.
- What about you, Salvatore? - I like Alice, but she's with Fofò.
- With who? - Fofò.
And you let a guy with such a sissy name screw you?
- Massimo! What's this language? - What did I say?
These pearls coming out of your mouth in front of the child.
I meant the name, not the child, who knows him?
I can only imagine a child with such a name.
You must listen to my rules.
Rule one, never satiate a woman.
Make her a bit jealous and when she's tense, you bite her.
Got it?
- Uncle, please! - What?
Listen too, it'll do you good, you've been rather nutty lately.
We have a caveman at table.
That's how it went with Patrizia, it's scientific.
I went to her café every day.
- Hi. - Hi.
- Can you make me a coffee? - Sure I can.
I talked to her colleague and didn't even look at her.
Yes, you listen too, so you'll remember a bit.
Shit, the last time I went she'd completely boiled over.
What are you saying? It isn't true.
And you believe him? It's the opposite.
He came for breakfast every day at the café where I work.
He was so handsome!
- Recover! - And I served everyone except him.
At one point he couldn't resist anymore and said,
"Are you teasing me, miss? 50 coffees all for me!"
I knew he was at my feet then!
You slithered. You looked like a snake in the jungle.
- It's false! - The truth was in between.
The two had simply seen each other and love at first sight had burst.
Can I get you something?
Patrizia liked my uncle and my uncle liked Patrizia immediately.
On the other hand, who didn't like Patrizia?
- Lorenzino, goodnight. - Goodnight.
- Bye, Patrizia. - Bye, Lorenzo.
She's nice.
I'm glad you agree with my brother for once.
Well, let's say we can agree about women.
Come, Salvatore, let's go to bed, it's late.
What's the matter? It's your brother's girlfriend,
I was trying to make her feel comfortable, at home!
You managed perfectly, you were so kind everyone noticed, even she.
- Pia, please... - Please what? Come in the kitchen!
"Please!" I don't know!
- Do you think it's normal? - Are you being jealous?
It's nothing to do with jealousy! It's not right towards your wife.
Her blouse gets dirty and you... "Shall I put some talcum powder on it?"
- Shut the door or the kids will hear! - You're overreacting.
Really? Do you realize?
It's not nice for your wife!
It was the first jealous rage of my mother I witnessed.
There might've been others, but I was too young to notice.
And this confirmed what my uncle Massimo had said.
Always keep a woman on tenterhooks.
Make her jealous and when she's tense, you bite.
- So your uncle told you this? - Yes.
What must we do?
Find me a girlfriend to make Alice jealous.
- What do I write here? - Who's the prettiest of the class?
Alice.
Not Alice. How can I make Alice jealous of Alice?
- Another one. - Calm down, I've got it.
- Santina. - Santina?
I saw her without her smock the other day.
She's got big boobs, bigger than Alice's.
She said yes.
- Santina, so we are together? - Yes.
So we're not together anymore? You want to leave me?
No, I've changed my mind.
What's the matter?
- Nothing. - Then take me for a walk.
Alice was about to leave Fofò.
When she realized I was with Santina, she decided to stay with him
and I swore to myself never to take advice about women again.
There are no rules in love and each story is a mess in itself.
How can you think I like your brother Massimo's girlfriend?
- I mean... she's not even my type. - But I saw how you looked at her.
Again, how did I look at her?
Please, your eyes were glued to her.
I might've looked at her accidentally once, it can happen, no?
Alright, you're right, it can happen. After all, I understand.
After all these years of marriage it's normal to be...
sensitive to novelty.
- May I? Hello. - Say hello to Mr. Ayala.
- Hello! - Mrs. Pia.
A little something. I looked for you in the teacher's room.
I'm here.
- One, right? - One.
I allowed myself a kind gesture towards Mrs. Pia.
- Kindness is important, isn't it? - Yes!
- Are you kind to Mrs. Pia? - Yes!
Yes, yes, they are.
Speaking about important things, how are you getting back to Palermo?
- By bus. - I offer myself as official driver.
Pia, I'm not looking for any novelty.
- Any. - You'd better not be.
What's this?
That book again?
Tell me, Pia, do you think Angela has...?
I don't know, Lorenzo. In the end it's her own business.
She says she hasn't.
Because you said you had to your mother?
- No, I didn't tell her anything. - There, you see?
Do you know what Angela said to me?
She said it would do me good to read it all.
- And have you read it? - Yes.
Naughty... Do you think I should read it too?
What do I know? If you want to you read it. If you don't, you don't.
Sorry, I was thinking...
Considering I've a teacher at home, why doesn't she teach me?
- Don't be silly! The kids are here. - We'll do it quietly.
Then switch off the light.
Just imagine, in our new house we'll be able to make a noise!
And that house they saw like a dream, like the end of many problems,
was the beginning of far greater problems.
At your age you're still running after those stinky banks?
Who should I ask this mortgage from then?
The problem isn't who to ask the mortgage for the house,
it's why ask.
Didn't you want to buy that beautiful house you saw?
Yes!
Didn't I tell you the constructors were friends of mine?
Honest people who'd understand the situation?
- What situation, sorry? - Aren't you an honest person?
- Certainly. - So?
No need for guarantees and other crap among honest people.
- Really? - Yes.
Don Vito, do you like the view now?
I like it a lot, Vassallo.
I feel I'm breathing again.
Palermo is beautiful, too beautiful.
And we'll make it even more beautiful.
Let's go, dickhead.
Yes, dad.