- Who's living here? - A couple. 2
- I can't see anybody. - They don't go out. 3
- Your first time in Venice? - No no. 4
I spent a summer here, as a child. 5
- It's a wonderful city. - Venice is Venice. 6
- Annetta. - Yes, ma'am. 7
Take care of Mr Tino's suitcase. 8
- Your suitcase. - But it's light. 9
No, give it to me. 10
- Nice trip? - Yes. Thanks. 11
- You must be tired. - No. 12
How you've changed. You're a fine young man now. 13
- How are your parents? - They send their best. 14
This is your room. Want to wash your hands? 15
- Trains are quite dirty. - Give me your coat, sir. 16
- I'm in the dining room. - All right. 17
Damn window! It never stays closed. 18
Latin, no. Maths, impossible. Dad's plans don't interest me. 19
Even mom said. 20
"Try painting. You're gifted." 21
Are you gifted? 22
Well, as a child I was praised for my drawings of Tarzan. 23
- No. - I'll have some more. 24
What an appetite... 25
- May I finish it? - Yes. Don't be so formal. 26
Oh, my head! 27
Always at this time. 28
Join me in the other room when you're ready. 29
Tino, come here. 30
I'll show you around. 31
This is Uncle's study. 32
He always eats out. 33
He meets important guests, some from abroad. 34
- What is he? - Engineer with the Gas Company. 35
A very important position. 36
I won't recognise him after so long. 37
- Is that him? - No. His father, Mr Stolz. 38
A peculiar man. 39
When the Italians took Venice he moved to Vienna. 40
"I want breathe the air of the Empire..." he said. 41
- So you met there. - No. We met in Venice. 42
He sleeps there. 43
Let's see the abandoned parts of the house. 44
The house has been in my family for centuries. 45
We've only restored a small part of it. 46
Everything's so costly today. 47
We'll wait for better times. 48
This was the theatre. 49
Look at the decay. 50
How terrible. 51
As a child I'd sing... and dance here. 52
Come. 53
Watch your steps. 54
- Where does this lead? - Into a locked room. 55
Don't ever go up there. The staircase is rotten. 56
Understood, Tino? 57
Come on. Let's go. 58
This is my room. 59
He comes home late. 60
I'm a light sleeper. It's my nerves. 61
Go to bed. You must be tired. 62
Good night and thank you. 63
I thank you for bringing your youth into this home. 64
Ciao. 65
- Can you find your way? - Yes, Auntie. 66
- I can't find my room. - It's right in front of you. 67
Thank you. Good night. 68
Good morning, son. 69
- It's late, almost 7:00. - Good morning Uncle. 70
Just say your morning prayer if you want. 71
I'll look the other way. 72
Know how long you slept? Nine hours. 73
Plato said... 74
"There's a beast in all of us which comes out in our sleep." 75
So rule 1 is: Sleep little. How long do I sleep? 3 hours a night. 76
Here's what you need to wash yourself. 77
A touch old-fashioned, I love the simple things. 78
Cold water and exercise are good for you. 79
I do it every morning. Naked by the window. 80
Do likewise. 81
We have 35 minutes to get to Professor Sattin's school. 82
He's a poor painter. And a hopeless teacher. 83
But it could help. The boat is ready. And breakfast too. 84
You may start breakfast. I'll come immediately. 85
Hurry up. 86
What you see are the windows of the prison. 87
Doge Faliero and the Fornaretto of Venice... 88
were imprisoned and then executed there. 89
That's Cimetta's house... the first real murder after the war. 90
Her lover cut her up and threw the pieces into the canals. 91
A little dirty, your Venice. 92
Yes. A humorist said: 93
"Venice is an old lady with a bad breath." 94
A ghost that speaks at night lives in that palace. 95
It says strange words in an unknown language. 96
Some fauna! 97
This is a provincial relative. I wonder if he's talented. 98
We'll see soon. 99
Actually, who needs talent today? Goodbye. 100
Look at them. The remnants of a fleeing army. 101
Stateless vagabonds. 102
All rebellious Absaloms, victims of their hair. 103
- Are you crazy? - I was joking. 104
But they are lost. 105
Spoiled by too much attention and understanding. 106
- Well, go ahead. - Bye Uncle. 107
Since some of you are new here... 108
The others are old pupils. 109
Here are a few words for the new ones. 110
The others are free to listen. 111
- This will be my third time. - There will be many more times. 112
Drawing makes a good painting, I tell you, not the colour. 113
If you think colour can hide a bad drawing, 114
you're grossly mistaken. 115
Because the drawing underneath always shows... 116
like the tits under a beautiful girl's blouse. 117
Has Lucia arrived? Lucia! 118
I'm here. I missed my ferry. I came by motorised gondola. 119
Is that why you're late? 120
The gondola ran out of petrol. 121
You're really gifted in telling myths. 122
This elegant line from the shoulders to the hip... 123
Try to draw it with just one stroke. 124
With just one stroke. 125
And here, don't overdo the shadows. 126
Your bum's getting rounder. 127
Is this your first time in a nude class? 128
No. I've been many times. 129
This is my first time. 130
If you're so experienced, tell me, 131
are these nude models actually... little whores? 132
What are you saying? Modelling is serious work. 133
Some hot coffee for these nice kids. 134
Lucia, can you help me? 135
Coffee's here. Just what I needed. 136
Thanks. 137
- Sugar? - Two... Three... 138
- Two or three? - Three. 139
- Are you new here? - Yes. It's my first day. 140
- One or two? - Two. 141
One. 142
- Are you reading word puzzles? - Yes. 143
Interesting. Very good. 144
I don't work them out. But they still fascinate me. 145
It's the link between such diverse things... 146
A king, a farm and two bulls... 147
a fisherman casting his net... 148
a tall girl next to a grave... 149
and all those mysterious letters here and there... 150
A, Q, M, R... 151
Poetry... 152
Surrealism... 153
At times I think I'd love to live inside a word puzzle. 154
Isn't it so? Don't we all live in a word puzzle? 155
Dear, you've been inside all day. 156
Have a stroll with Annetta before turning in. 157
- I can go with you if you like. - No... 158
I want to show you my library. 159
You're right. A stroll will do me good. 160
See? The idea of going out makes her feel better already. 161
- Have you noticed? - What? 162
That every woman has a special smell. 163
Men and women, we all have our own individual smell. 164
True. But women smell of vegetables. 165
Strindberg... 166
Strindberg said, women smell celery. 167
I'd go further. 168
Some smell of celery, others, of rosemary... 169
radish, artichoke, cabbage... 170
Because, among all living creatures, 171
women are closest to the vegetable species. 172
- Don't you think? - No. Go on. 173
I really believe that the transition between animal and vegetable... 174
is represented by the woman. 175
Women are the link that joins the two. 176
So long both of you, I'm going on my health stroll. 177
Can you smell it? A delicate fragrance of celery. 178
- Pardon? - Nothing, dear. 179
Are you going out like that? 180
I'm covered. It's not cold. 181
I think I noticed a light fog outside. 182
It denotes dampness. I don't know if you should... 183
I'd say no. You coughed a lot last night. 184
- Maybe a little. - No, my dear. A lot. 185
You'd be asking for trouble. 186
You're right. 187
You'd better stay at home. 188
I'll read something for you. 189
Listen. Do you know what's in here, Tino? 190
All Hölderlin's poems. 191
Here's a beautiful one from his schizophrenic period. 192
When he thought he was Scardanelli, the cobbler. 193
I have enjoyed the pleasures of life. 194
The joy of youth has long gone. 195
April, May and June are past. And... 196
Now I'm nothing. 197
Life has lost its appeal. 198
It sounds nicer in German. 199
Doesn't it sound nicer in German, dear? 200
- What are you doing? - Nothing! 201
I needed something to drink. I'm thirsty. 202
- Don't you know where the kitchen is? - Yes. 203
Good night. 204
Good night, Uncle. 205
Yes? 206
- I don't want to impose. - Come in, Tino. 207
- What's up? - Nothing. How's your headache. 208
It's gone this morning. Sit down. 209
Thank you. 210
- Shouldn't you be at school? - No. It's an hour later today. 211
- Do you mind if I smoke? - No. 212
Thank you. 213
Did you sleep well? Were you cold? 214
No. I slept very well. Just that... 215
Just what...? 216
- Who plays the piano? - What piano? 217
Last night I heard someone playing... It was... 218
A tune I seem to know. It went... 219
- As if a child were playing it. - Why a child? 220
I don't know. Children have a hesitant way of playing. 221
Maybe it wasn't a child. 222
- Who was it? - Nobody. 223
Perhaps a neighbour, from a house nearby. 224
I don't know which one. 225
The sea breeze carries in every voice and noise. 226
That music comes from outside. But I don't know from where. 227
I don't know. 228
You always say you love me. Show me then. 229
Would you kill yourself for me? 230
Kill myself, no. But I'd injure myself badly for you. 231
Hi, Lucia. Hi. 232
- No. Please don't... - Let me get out. 233
- You look even better dressed. - Nice of you to say that. 234
Usually when a boy meets a girl 235
he wonders how she looks like undressed. 236
- I have already... - Forget it. 237
- What's your name? - Tino Zanetti. 238
Lucia Pandin. 239
- Lived in Venice a long time? - Since birth. 240
- How old are you? - Almost 18. And you? 241
- Nineteen. - Gee, you're old! 242
By the way, who was that bearded man? 243
- Did you see me? - Yes, vaguely. 244
Not so vaguely. You walked past me twice. 245
- Did you notice? - Of course. I'm not blind. 246
Why didn't you say hello? 247
- He's jealous. - Jealous? Why? 248
Haven't you got it? He's my lover. 249
No, you fool! He's my uncle. 250
Nice man. He looks like an artist. 251
He's an artist in his field. He's a plumber. 252
Auntie? 253
Aunt Elisa? 254
- Isn't anyone home? - Just you and me. 255
- Your uncle's out. - Is Auntie out too? 256
Yes. Charity work. She went to the hospice. 257
- Where? - The hospice. 258
She donates money and clothes but forgets the poor near her. 259
Neglecting this poor old woman who would love to retire. 260
And enjoy a nice bottle of wine. 261
- Care for a coffee? - Yes. 262
- Annetta? - Yes... 263
Can I ask you a question? Who lives on top of my room? 264
What do you care? 265
Rather think of studying, eating and have a good time. 266
Annetta, please, answer my question. 267
There's nobody. Heavens above! 268
It must have been the rats. We have plenty of them. 269
With all the houses in Venice, how did you end up here? 270
Think of pretty girls instead. 271
They'll go crazy for a guy like you. 272
Find yourself a girl. 273
And at night, you'll serenade her. 274
Oh, Colombina, come into my heart... 275
- Thanks, goodbye. - Wait. Mr Tino... 276
If you promise not to say a word I'll take you up there. 277
Come along. 278
- But you mustn't laugh. - What? 279
- Speak softly. - Where are we going? 280
Sooner or later, they would have told you. 281
Someone lives in the room just above yours. A sick man. 282
- Who? - Mr Stolz's brother. 283
He's gone mad, the poor man. Come. 284
Hasn't left his room for years. 285
He only sees his brother. 286
You'll see him through the peep-hole. Don't be afraid. 287
He's always happy and makes funny faces... 288
One day he kept going like this with his two fingers. 289
So I played on "2" in the Venice Lotto. 290
I won 48.000 lira! 291
Come. 292
Look. 293
- I see nobody. - Just wait. 294
We'd better go now. Shut the peep-hole. 295
Did you see it? 296
When he sticks out his tongue he looks really like a snake. 297
I wonder what's in his mind. 298
Did you see how he can role his tongue? 299
He's a real pig. 300
Sometimes he lifts up his robe to shock me. 301
I was a nurse in World War I. I've seen a few. 302
Imagine if I... 303
Madam's back. 304
- It's quite painful, my dear. - What? 305
Having him here, above our heads. 306
Despite his silence, we know he exists and thinks. 307
Maybe he even hates us... 308
Locked in like an animal... 309
Can you help me? 310
Annetta was wrong. She had no permission. 311
It's my fault. I insisted... 312
You'd have found out anyhow. 313
But... what really happened? 314
I didn't know Uncle had a brother. 315
His name's Berto. He was a science lecturer. 316
Suddenly one day, he fell ill. 317
He lost his mind. 318
He's a maniac but harmless. 319
- Is he always up there? - Always. 320
So he plays piano at night? 321
No. 322
But... who is it then? 323
Don't make me talk. I beg you. 324
Please. Don't ask questions. 325
Are you my friend? 326
- Promise? - Of course, Auntie. 327
Good. 328
I'm not a curious person, but those strange noises... 329
I won't tell Uncle... 330
The oddest thing is that Berto doesn't speak any more. 331
He used to talk a lot and sing in beautiful tenor. 332
Not a word now, not even to his brother. 333
Your uncle's a saint. 334
He washes and shaves him every morning. 335
He cuts his nails and makes his bed. 336
No one's allowed in there. Only Fabio keeps a key. 337
- You visit him? - No. 338
Fabio would be furious if he only heard us talking. 339
Your uncle's a good man. But he can be quite rude too. 340
- What are you doing? - Nothing, just closing it. 341
Excuse me, Tino. 342
I thought you were... Why would you open it? 343
You've no reason. 344
- With or without milk? - A little milk, thank you. 345
That's enough. Thank you. 346
See, Tino. We're survivors of a great empire, 347
heirs of the Habsburgs. 348
Our forefathers or fathers of Venice, Trieste in my case, 349
all spoke German as their second language. Goethe's mother tongue. 350
To think we learn that the Austrians were all ruthless. 351
What? 352
On the contrary, they were honest and able administrators. 353
And strict educators too. 354
Without Italy's unification we'd still be part of civilised Europe. 355
- Hans, how are you? - Very good. 356
- Good sermon! - Thank you. 357
Who's this boy? I never met him before. 358
My nephew Tino. He studies art at the academy. 359
- A cute boy. - Thank you. 360
Thank you. 361
Great chocolate. 362
Churches are deserted. 363
Only cinemas are full. 364
That's where people confess today. 365
- Did you see him? - Who? 366
My brother... The deranged. 367
- I'm sorry. - No need to apologise. 368
Silence is better than lies. 369
In fact my brother was a noble soul. 370
A respected science professor, mainly occupied with insects. 371
He devised an interesting theory. 372
It says God is to be sought below, not above us. 373
He meant we were more likely to find evidence of God... 374
among the insects. 375
"Why look to the sky when thinking of God? 376
"Let's look down and study more mysterious forms of life. 377
"God... is an ant. 378
"God's a bee. We must look for God amid the insects." 379
Once he removed the crucifix over his bed... 380
and replaced it with a photo of a scorpion. 381
We really got along. I envied him in a way. 382
I had opted for a somewhat dull career. 383
Gas engineering. 384
Whereas he... 385
He had chosen the absolute, the great mysteries of nature, 386
an unknown world, full of wonders. 387
Don't think he, as a scientist 388
was a slave of his work, his research, not at all. 389
Instead, he lived... a total commitment. 390
Especially to love. 391
He was hardly 20 when he knew a tragic love for... 392
Well, I won't go into the details. 393
It was an overwhelming love. 394
For a girl who turned out to be different from her image. 395
It left him with an incurable wound. 396
And that caused... 397
Yes. That heartache was probably the cause. 398
But there are also ancestral, familial factors. 399
Madness is like a ghost creeping randomly into people's heads. 400
But sometimes it skips a generation. 401
So, one day, he was grabbed by 402
an idea, a phobia, a whim... 403
It's always a whim that drives us to madness. 404
He got afraid that his face would slip off his head, 405
slide down his chest to his feet 406
and vanish on the floor. 407
- You understand? - Not really. 408
A spine-chilling obsession. 409
He took to looking at himself in the mirror more often 410
to check whether his nose or eyes had in fact descended. 411
With a ruler, every day, 412
he'd measure the distance between his nose and hairline. 413
He was really mad. 414
But there's reasonable psychological explanation for his mania. 415
The fear of seeing one's face slip off 416
is nothing but fear of losing one's identity. 417
To lose oneself. 418
Know what that is? A mental asylum. 419
Could you imagine to leave your brother in there? 420
Forcible restrained to a bed? 421
Look! 422
Poor souls! 423
Only guilty of rejecting common sense and its rigid rules. 424
Hello, Minister! Come and keep me company. 425
Do you know why they're locked up? 426
Like kids, the insane know the truth. 427
And people fear the truth. 428
And since he's in that room hasn't he seen anybody? 429
Nobody, except me. 430
He has his toys, his things... 431
He's quite well equipped. 432
He has even film cameras, microscopes... 433
He hates clocks though. He can't stand their ticking. 434
My brother came here often before he... 435
became a recluse. 436
He loved this oil tanker, abandoned here. 437
He could watch it for hours. 438
Then suddenly he'd yell a word. 439
A name... Eufrasio. 440
I wonder why? Eufrasio. 441
That's how he yelled. Who knows why? 442
Until recently his madness was kind of predictable. 443
He used to film interesting, curious things. 444
There was order, logic to it. 445
He was very interested in spiders, arachnids... 446
and scorpions... 447
and in dipteras... 448
which we, as you don't know, normally call flies. 449
Nature can be so cruel. 450
Very good observation, and so inventive. 451
Here is a film shot a few years later. 452
He had already lost interest in living things. 453
What? Who included that footage? 454
I don't know. Not me. 455
That's enough. Let's eat now. 456
Tino, the wine please. 457
- It's your third glass. - No, engineer, the second. 458
No, the third. 459
It's your birthday soon. Anything you'd like? 460
Never mind. I'm grown-up, I don't need presents. 461
I'll have another sip. 462
It's enough, dear. 463
You'll only get red spots in your face. 464
A little present would be nice. 465
A diligent student deserves it. 466
It's a shame today's youth has no more interest in these things. 467
Here. 468
You see, Tino... my father gave me these on my 18th birthday. 469
American duelling pistols from 1830. Look. 470
Such elegant lines. 471
Nothing's more perfect than arms and musical instruments. 472
A pistol in particular, has a unique 473
a rational, essential beauty. 474
Certain objects remind us of other things. But a pistol... 475
will only remind us of a pistol. 476
- Please don't do that. - Why not? 477
- Think I could kill you? - No. -Yes. 478
You believe I could do it. 479
We know so little of each other. 480
The chiropodist has arrived. 481
Accidents happen to all of us. 482
Every day someone falls into the canal. 483
But not her. She's as reliable as bad luck. 484
No need to talk in mysteries. 485
You're grown up. 486
- Did you notice that girl? - Yes. 487
She's one of those. 488
She comes every Thursday... for the professor. 489
His mind may be sick but he's still a man. 490
We have to accept it. 491
Charity doesn't only mean alms and kind words. 492
What that poor woman does is anything but a pleasure. 493
And Uncle is present? 494
Of course. He stays there the whole time. 495
He doesn't trust him. And I can see why. 496
God only knows what could happen. 497
For him, it must be... 498
Once we thought we should change. 499
Your uncle went to find another woman, 500
and negotiated with her... 501
But it was in vain. He wouldn't accept any other woman. 502
We trust her. She comes and goes so discreetly. 503
Like a nurse. 504
Nurse, my chin! She's a whore. Why not say it? 505
I'll get your uncle to disinfect himself. He's too polite. 506
He walks her out and shakes hands. 507
This is Vermeer's Sleeping Girl. 508
Next time I'll go through its virtues and beauty. 509
Today we'll discover something else. 510
This is a detail of the painting. 511
Look very carefully. 512
This isn't a still life by Cézanne. 513
Here is an enlargement of it. 514
Sandokan, come and lift up these apples. 515
Hold up the Cézanne. 516
Aren't they similar? 517
And isn't this a Burri? Just like this one. 518
What did modern artists invent? Nothing! 519
- Rascal! - How dare you? 520
- I'm leaving, sir. - Have a nice day. 521
What I mean, is what contemporary painters do 522
has all been done already by the old masters. 523
But their paintings room so much more in addition. 524
Get the idea, fools? 525
Especially you, Francesca. And you, Tino. 526
Where's that clown? 527
He plays with toys like a kid. He shoots short films too. 528
Films about what? 529
Insect's life for instance, ants, spiders... 530
My uncle showed me a few. 531
Aren't you afraid of living with a madman? 532
I am. But I also feel sorry for him. 533
Yesterday, I went to see him unbeknown to anyone. 534
- What was he doing? - Having coffee. 535
Nothing wrong with that. 536
He poured it on a plate and lapped it up. Like a dog. 537
Disgusting. 538
But let's move on... Nice place, is it famous? 539
People come from all over the world. Mainly Americans. Artists, writers... 540
Look. That should be an American writer. 541
It's the owner counting his money. 542
- It's pricey. Can you pay? - Of course. 543
They look like mummies. 544
Shall we wake them up? 545
- It won't be easy. - Let me try. 546
What's going on? 547
A Swiss came in, screamed, and went out again. 548
Some people! Venice has become unlivable. 549
Come in. 550
- I'm leaving now. - Alright, Annetta. 551
You'll be home alone. 552
All alone? 553
Well, not really. You've got him. 554
- Who's there? - Me. Lucia. 555
- I'm so happy to see you. - What're you doing? 556
No, it's just... They all left. I'm home alone. 557
- With him. - Him? 558
- Where're you going? - I don't want to disturb. 559
I'm all alone. How could you disturb? 560
- Where are you taking me? - We'll have a drink. Do you want one? 561
- What brings you here? - Aren't you glad? -Of course. 562
- Where is he? - In the attic. 563
- Can I see him? - Do you really want to? -Yes. 564
- Yes... I do. - Let's go, then. 565
What a sitting room! Your relatives must be wealthy. 566
Okay. Little Red Riding Hood meats Big Bad Wolf. Come on. 567
- This way. - After you. 568
Watch your step. 569
Come. 570
- You're afraid? -No, but... - I'm here. Come along. 571
Careful. He might hear you. 572
I can't see him. 573
- Oh, it's you. - Let me see. 574
What a fright! 575
My heart's pounding. 576
- Yes... -Can you feel it? - I sure can. 577
And what's that? 578
Look! 579
Pretty, isn't it? What's this? 580
Cute... 581
You're Lelio, and I'm Rosaura. 582
Oh Signorina Rosaura, you're so lovely. Give me a kiss. 583
- What? I'm a decent girl. - And I am a decent boy. 584
I'll give you my heart and my father's estate when he dies. 585
Forget it. I'm already engaged to Fabrizio, the servant. 586
Then let me be your lover. 587
- Are you hurt? - No. 588
I've never been in here before. 589
- Quite pretty. - Yes. 590
- Who was that girl? - A school friend. 591
We weren't doing anything bad. We came in here by chance... 592
There's something new in the sun today. 593
Or in fact, ancient. 594
How mean! He may not speak to me like that. 595
I swear I'll never let him talk to me like that again. 596
I've asked Jesus to forgive me. 597
- Let's go, Gino. - Where are you going? 598
- To a lecture. - Aren't you saying goodbye? 599
Yes, Auntie. 600
- Is it serious if you're late? - No, I can even skip it. 601
Are you ill? Anything I can do? 602
No. I'm better now. 603
Sit with this poor patient. 604
God, I've changed. 605
My face... my eyes... everything's so grey. 606
I'm starting to decay. 607
I'm discovering that years are like an eraser. 608
A light and invisible eraser. 609
It slowly goes over our eyes, nose, mouth... 610
Making everything blurred, confused... 611
I can feel it going over my face time and time again. 612
- You're partly to blame too. - Me? 613
Yes. 614
You woke up some things I wanted to forget. 615
You've made me think... recollect... 616
Those memories hurt. 617
- I didn't mean to hurt you. - No. You did the right thing. 618
With your thirst for knowledge... 619
I know I'd better keep quiet, 620
and stop wandering at night. 621
I've apologised to Uncle. Excuse me please, you too. 622
Open the first drawer and take out the box. Bring it to me. 623
Here it is. Look. My little one. 624
- This must be... -Beba. - Your daughter? 625
Yes. My daughter. From my first marriage. 626
When I met your uncle I was a widow with a 10-year-old child. 627
A sweet, gentle and sensitive girl. 628
She loved music and dance. 629
I can still see her in her tutu, 630
a pretty little ballerina. 631
She loved Fabio. And he loved her... 632
like his own daughter. 633
Then Fabio had to leave on business for two months. 634
At that time his brother came to visit us. 635
He returned from a long trip. 636
He was already ill. 637
He fell for the little girl. 638
Understandably. He was lonely, unhappy. 639
Beba was sweet, radiant... full of life. 640
She covered him with caresses, kisses... 641
In a very innocent way naturally... 642
very innocent. 643
But the professor was no innocent man. 644
The girl's slender arms around his neck... 645
her never-ending kisses on his forehead, his cheeks... 646
on his lips at times... 647
the presence of her body, her hair, blonde and glittering... 648
awoke a violent passion in him. 649
Or even love, if we want to call it that. 650
The poor girl was upset... shocked. 651
I saw her cry more than once. He'd told her everything. 652
He begged her for love as if she was a grown-up... 653
a woman able to understand. 654
He'd send her flowers 655
buy her dresses... bracelets... 656
bracelets for her slim wrist. 657
He charmed her. 658
He fascinated her with his weird stories... 659
his stories of anguish... 660
told in low voice while he stared her in the eyes. 661
Once the child was totally besotted by him, 662
he grabbed her and kissed her desperately... passionately. 663
But why didn't you stop him? 664
You didn't do anything? Speak to him? 665
I knew nothing. I found out much later. 666
You said you saw her cry. 667
But I didn't know why. I swear, Tino. 668
One day he suddenly became violent... aggressive. 669
The child was frightened. I was out. 670
Crying, she ran towards the canal. 671
When they fished her out she was dead. 672
And he has locked himself away since... 673
A prisoner... 674
A prisoner of his own remorse. 675
Can you hear him? 676
He can't rest. 677
He never sleeps. 678
He hasn't found peace. Never more. 679
What means horehound? 680
- Not during the recitative! - Pardon 681
Always when I listen to the music. 682
You always ruin the mood. 683
It's you who ruins the mood. I'm quiet. 684
It's enough now. The concert's over. 685
- So, what was it about? - Never mind. 686
You can't pull back now. 687
I've to teach you. Instruct you. 688
- Well? What was it? - Horehound, I think. 689
We don't need a dictionary for that. 690
Horehound is a plant with small white flowers. 691
Of the labiates family. 692
Satisfied? 693
It's amazing how insensitive women are 694
to everything spiritual. 695
Your aunt, for instance, who's not so silly after all. 696
But... she loves holding a book in her hands, 697
flicking through it, reading here and there... 698
But it's only empirical reading. 699
Empirism... It's not true culture. 700
Sorry, but I'm reading. 701
Want and example? 702
When she takes a book she never puts it back in the right place. 703
Better as if she wouldn't put it back at all. 704
But no. Tidiness doesn't bother me. 705
The fact is, the poor woman still hasn't grasped the idea 706
that some writers find it painful 707
to be found next to each other. 708
Recently she took out Ulysses, which is bitter, difficult reading. 709
So she decided to return it. 710
Know where she put it back? 711
Next to Goethe's works. 712
How can anyone put those two side by side? Joyce and Goethe! 713
The classical, sublime Goethe! 714
Joyce can only detest Goethe. And vice versa. 715
Where does Joyce belong? 716
Next to the great charlatans of language.. 717
And literature. Next to Rabelais, 718
Teofilo Folengo, Gadda, Folengo, Celine... 719
Only a stupid woman 720
can try to reunite Joyce and Goethe. 721
Good night, Tino. You'll spend a nice evening. Have a nice time. 722
Oh well, our little tyrant is ironic? 723
You don't like being called stupid? 724
But you are. 725
You drive me crazy. Stop torturing me! 726
- I'll kill myself! - You want to kill yourself? 727
You've been dead for years. You're a corpse. 728
And I am rotting away next to a corpse. 729
Like in Middle Ages, when they tied people to a corpse. 730
Yes, it's a torture. But the corpse is you. 731
Do you know why I married her? 732
One day I didn't know what to say to her... 733
So I told her I loved her. 734
Poor woman... 735
She's been a nervous wreck, ever since. 736
- She told you, didn't she? - No. 737
The way you answer lets me understand "yes". 738
It's one of her delusions... 739
She frees herself from guilt by blaming others. 740
Like my poor brother, who's innocent like a child. 741
I must be frank with you. You know too much now. 742
You see... young Beba... 743
my wife's child from her first marriage 744
was a nice child, without any malice. 745
She was attached to me, like to a real father. 746
Suddenly, Elise... 747
was overcome by unfounded jealousy towards her. 748
She was jealous of our hugs, our caresses... 749
I could tell from the suspicious way she looked at us. 750
Yes... 751
Elisa came to hate little Beba. 752
- She caused her death. - What are you saying? 753
Yes... 754
Yes, Beba fell ill... 755
A pulmonary bronchitis. Nothing serious, 756
if she'd been treated properly and if she'd taken right medication. 757
But Elisa neglected all that. 758
She even forgot the injections. 759
And so... 760
Beba got worse. 761
We couldn't save her. 762
But what you say is terrible. I don't believe you. How a mother... 763
Beba died because of Elisa. 764
And she lies there... in our family vault. 765
Where I wanted her buried. 766
And I hope to join her soon. 767
What do you believe? 768
I don't know. But my uncle lied, or my aunt. One of them. 769
Listen Tino. You'll never know the truth. 770
- Besides, who cares? - You're right. 771
But I can't just ignore this story. 772
Really! The cause of death won't be written on the grave. 773
There is something amiss. My aunt's still very young. 774
When was Beba born? When did she die? 775
Let's have a look. 776
It must be over there. 777
Strange... 778
There's no Beba. 779
It's a nickname. Means doll in Serbian. Didn't you know? 780
No, I didn't know. 781
Who is that? Barbara Stolz, 1920 -1968. 782
Impossible. She died at 48. 783
She's not here. What's that empty stone? 784
Do you know where the Gas Company is? 785
Of course. I'm from Venice. Third bridge to the left. 786
You scared all my fishes away, idiot! 787
- We don't have a Mr Stolz. - My uncle. He works here. 788
Not to my knowledge. Augusto, do you know a Mr Stolz? 789
Stolz? I don't remember him. 790
I've never heard the name. No, never. 791
Oh yes, of course! Engineer Stolz! Ah yes! 792
A great man... quite handsome too. 793
I thought he was dead. He worked here years ago. 794
Maybe 12, or 15 years ago. You see, he isn't here. 795
- Happy birthday, Master Tino. - Thank you. 796
Blow. 797
This is my present, Vermouth. 798
- This is from me. - Thank you. 799
With my best wishes. Buy what you like. 800
- Thank you, everyone. You shouldn't have. 801
Mind you, presents also please the donor. 802
This morning I went to see your office. 803
Well done, Tino. 804
- What were you talking about? - Nothing. 805
Tino and I are going out together tonight. 806
So much studying calls for a break. 807
But it's so cold. 808
It's not cold. Besides, we'll be in a heated Café. 809
Perhaps Tino prefers... 810
Who decides? You or him? 811
Don't you want to let him make up his own mind? 812
He's old enough. 813
Careful. 814
What are you doing? 815
Give it to me. 816
An additional toast to your birthday. 817
A plum liqueur, an excellent stimulant. 818
It warms. Outside it's cold. 819
Frankly, it's quite cold inside too. 820
It's so boring this room. 821
Well... You said this morning, at noon? 822
I bet that dreadful gas building hasn't changed much. 823
Dark, grey... 824
a grey like muddy water. 825
But inside, it's a beehive. 826
You have no idea of its many stairs, 827
corridors, offices, like a rabbit burrow. 828
Is the caretaker Augusto still there? Elderly, thin, with a red nose. 829
There is an old man, yes. 830
You won't believe it, but I feel that certain words such as... 831
gas, yes, gas seem ridiculous. 832
Simple words are already funny, such as "engineer" 833
or even better... "surveyor". 834
"Expert"... 835
But monosyllables like "gas"... are really truncated words. 836
Foot, foot, foot, footer... 837
Do you hear the sound? "Foot, foot, foot"! 838
Like suffered, wounded, died, loved, died... 839
Died, died! Irresistible! 840
One of these days... 841
I'll show you my collection of dictionaries... 842
22 of them. 843
Excuse me. If I had known... 844
No, I beg you. Don't justify yourself. 845
No excuses or justifications. Not at all. 846
Remember Homer's words instead... 847
"Be calm, my heart. You've suffered far worse." 848
- Why are you staring at me? - No reason. 849
- Are you afraid of me? - No. 850
You don't need to fear me. 851
I'm only fond of you. 852
Let's go, have a talk in the café. 853
That's the girl! 854
Is it good? 855
- Yes. - I'm glad to hear. 856
I also love Cannoli. 857
Those little logs, how about them? 858
- I really shouldn't, sir. - Come on... 859
- Is it good? - It's good. 860
Give it to me, then. 861
Come. 862
I'm not crazy about sweets but I love the game. 863
And that Daniela, she's so sweet and friendly... 864
My dear Fabio... 865
Always so handsome. 866
Tino, in front of you sits 867
a real Duke. 868
This must be your nephew. 869
I've heard... 870
My nephew, yes. 871
He wanted to visit me at work today... 872
At the gas company. 873
How incredibly smart! 874
What can I say? 875
Blessed youth. Blessed innocence... 876
Sorry, forgive me. 877
The Duke and I are very old friends. 878
His presence helps me speak. 879
The fact is I don't have a work. 880
I haven't worked for 15 years. 881
So I live on the capital... my wife's capital. 882
Yes. 883
What a tattle. This isn't my business. 884
Excuse me please. 885
Don't you move. 886
I can't explain everything. It would take years. 887
Tell me, why should I work? 888
Why? For whom? 889
I don't have a reason, a child... 890
Do you find me indecent? 891
I'll be right back. 892
I won't forgive him. 893
But don't think badly of him. 894
Someone who does what he did... 895
for his poor brother... 896
Buried alive... A life in misery. 897
- Is there a train tonight? - At 1:00. After roulette which starts at 23:00. 898
It's 22:45. You'd better hurry up. 899
It's drizzling. 900
- I can't guess your age, son. - Nineteen. 901
Nineteen! No occultism, please Fabio. 902
Come on. Let's go, Tino. 903
- Hurry up. It's late. - Ah, Fabio! 904
- Where're we going? - To Venice. The Venice you don't know. 905
I'm so glad to see you. 906
- Hello, my doll! - Who is this young man? 907
This is my nephew. Come on in. 908
Sir, you can't enter without a tie. That's better. 909
- A little cognac? - Yes. Give me the bottle. 910
Four, black, even. 911
- You've got the money? - That from my aunt. 912
If you have it, get it out of your pocket. Quick! 913
Here... 914
Orphans. 10 on orphans. 915
Six... six and nine, split. 916
Christ! 917
- Aren't you playing? - Yes, I am. 918
Nineteen, red and odd. 919
- You bring bad luck. - Nineteen... 920
- Is that you? - Yes. 921
You won and you say I did? 922
The 19 here. Bravo. Sit down. 923
Good. 924
No! I'll take this. 925
This allows me to go on. 926
Shut up or I'll eat you. You know that I eat children? 927
They must have told you. 928
Let's play on odd numbers. 1, 3, 5, 7, 9... 929
1, please. 3, 5, 7, 9... 930
E, U, A, I, O. Eufrasio! 931
You know why my brother said that word? 932
Because it contains all the five vowels. E, U, A, I, O. 933
Seventeen, nineteen, twenty-one... 934
Twenty, black, even. 935
The train is leaving. 936
Come. Lets go. 937
- May I pay later? -Yes. - Let me touch your bum. 938
Go ahead, make the bat! Do the bat! Fly, fly! 939
And now we'll wait for the casino survivors. 940
Your uncle gambles away his last money with them. 941
- We should go home, Uncle. - Yes, of course. Home... 942
Let's go home. 943
Duke, I'm taking the boy home. 944
Wait here. I'll be right back. 945
- Let's go. - I'll go alone. 946
Listen to that... Okay, go ahead. 947
Just go alone. 948
But don't fall into a canal. 949
No. I'll wait here. 950
Are you crazy? 951
I'm going... I'm staying... I give the orders here. 952
I command you to go. Off with you! 953
You're not well. Let's go home. 954
Don't touch me, fool. 955
Don't look like a seminarian. 956
Go home. Get lost! 957
Good night. 958
They're coming. 959
I have a royal flush! 960
- Duke, I have a royal flush! - Bravo! 961
What are you doing here? 962
Nothing. 963
You've paid a visit to the forbidden room, right? 964
May I offer you something? 965
A chocolate? 966
They are good. 967
They are delicious. 968
Listen. Listen. Listen to the cicadas! 969
It's like a violin in... 970
In my brain. Just listen... 971
Can you hear the bow, how it... 972
how it sweeps and screeches... 973
cutting... 974
Like a circular saw. A circular saw. 975
What's up? Do I scare you? 976
I don't want to scare you. 977
You're afraid of your poor... 978
Your poor uncle, 979
half wise, half insane... 980
Half engineer and half professor... 981
Like two sides... of a mirror... 982
A light side... and dark side. 983
Tino, aren't we...? 984
Aren't we all like that? Are you scared? 985
You're really scared. 986
You think of poor Beba... 987
You think I killed her. You see me as a... 988
You see me as a murderer. 989
- You haven't killed anyone. - Why? -Beba isn't dead. 990
Isn't she? Where is she then? 991
Perhaps she's sick. She might be in... 992
a clinic. 993
- Or... - Or? 994
- Or she's hiding in here. - That's right. 995
You found it out. 996
Why couldn't she be right here? 997
And you're here looking for her. Right? 998
Of course. 999
But she's not here. She's not in this room. 1000
But... wait... 1001
Wait... Maybe she's in another room. 1002
Beba! 1003
She can't hear. Let's try louder. 1004
Call her, Tino. 1005
- I'm leaving. - No, no! 1006
No... You can't leave now. 1007
Now... 1008
This is the time. Do you understand? 1009
Consumatum est. 1010
Come here. 1011
Can you hear her? She's coming up. 1012
She's here. 1013
Come closer. Don't be afraid. 1014
Come closer. 1015
You shouldn't have... You shouldn't have told him. 1016
Your tutu, Beba... 1017
And your dancing shoes. 1018
- I can't wear them any more. - Why not? 1019
They don't fit any more. I'm grown up now. 1020
I beg you, try them. 1021
You know it's impossible, Fabio! 1022
It's absurd... totally absurd. 1023
Beba, then it is... 1024
I loved her when she was a child... 1025
when she was innocent. Because youth is innocent. 1026
I wanted to make her stay young for ever. 1027
But everything decays, gets spoiled. 1028
She grew up... 1029
changed... 1030
and killed my little girl. 1031
The little girl I loved. 1032
Should I send a message to Mr Sattin? 1033
No, I will write to him. I guess he understood I'm not a painter. 1034
Too bad. Painters earn a good living. 1035
The gifted ones, yes. A blank canvas is 3000 lire. 1036
My paintings aren't even worth that. 1037
- Where are you going? - Back home. 1038
- Bye. Write to me. - What's your address? 1039
- What? - Your address?