Day of a Lion (2025)

[bunniefuu]

Welcome home, Piccola.

I really need to pee.

Do you want some tea?

Do you want some tea?

Three spoons of sugar, no milk,

no honey, no cream-- oh.

And you can skip that pitiful

little biscuit at the side

they serve

in Florence all the time.

Would you like

breakfast?

Breakfast?

They don't serve

that in Italy?

All cheese and wine.

I have patties.

Patties.

Um...

How was the ride?

A what?

This whole mess started

this morning when I realized

I'd forgotten

to pack my favorite hat.

-Your what?

-My hat.

-Rat?

-My hat.

-Your hat?

-Hat.

-A hat.

-You remember.

The big one. Borgogna.

Burgundy, the very red one.

Well, I was so sure

I'd put it in my bag,

but then when I opened it

at the train station...

You opened your

suitcase on the train?

No, not on the train.

-That is so dan--

-On the sidewalk.

-The sidewalk.

-The sidewalk.

Well, I didn't want

to get on the train

before finding my favorite hat.

So then I asked

the lead service attendant

if somebody might have

seen my favorite hat.

How would the red hat

get out of your luggage?

Who knows?

Pickpockets, the mafia,

a jealous neighbor.

It could have been anyone.

So, then,

as I rifled through my stuff

on the wet, dirty floor...

suddenly, this giant of a man

suddenly appears behind me.

A giant?

A man. A giant man.

Well, at first I thought

he was Russian.

Yes, so I thought.

He looks down at me

with his wild black beard,

and I'm already

completely out of my mind

because I can't find

my gorgeous hat.

So then I say to him

with my most charming,

most delightful little voice,

soft like honey, I say...

How was I to know

that this was the train driver?

So, shocked, I answered...

Wish I had

my dear Geronimo with me.

He would have helped me.

He's a good man.

He would have

stepped up and said...

Yes, I would have liked that.

Isn't it just lovely being me?

Yes.

Yes it is, indeed.

Wanda?

The tea's almost ready.

What is this?

What? I-- I don't see you.

Did you change the color?

-What color?

-Of the wall.

- The what?

- The wall. Jesus.

The wall is blue now.

I know.

What happened

to the bright yellow one?

Oh, you mean this terrible mix

of grey and orange?

Hm.

When did Papa

find the time to do this?

Wasn't he in bed all the time?

I mean, in his final days.

I mean,

he had to rest a lot, right?

I really like the new color.

It's very sweet.

Fits the spirit of the house.

Thank you.

That's why I changed it.

- You painted it?

- I did.

- Painted the walls blue?

- Mint.

- ]I don't like it.

- I don't care.

I don't mind.

Would you like me to leave?

-You just arrived.

-It makes leaving easier.

Of course

I don't want you to leave.

Well, I asked to come.

You did.

-I did.

-And I agreed.

That's right.

But you didn't invite me.

I didn't.

That was three months ago.

What?

We agreed that I would come by

three months ago.

So?

So perhaps

you've changed your mind.

Would you like me to leave?

I can just--

No, I don't want you to leave.

No?

- No.

- No?

Well, if you want me to stay...

-I want you to...

-If that's your wish...

-It is not my wish.

-...then of course I can stay

-for as long as you want me to.

-I want you to--

No. As long as you need me.

I feel like the fairy godmother.

Is it just fantastic to have

your bigger sister back home?

I should go.

No, I want you to stay, please.

Uh, well,

if you wanted me to stay,

you'd have told me

by now how you've been.

-I mean, how long has it been?

-Three...

-Months?

-...years.

Is your, uh,

painting still going well?

Did you finish

your studies in, um, Paris

-before father got, you know?

-Architecture.

Pardon?

I studied architecture,

not painting.

Well, it all involves colors.

Looks like a task for children,

doesn't it? But I digress.

It was nice.

Nice and enjoyable.

I learned a lot about

what I don't like.

I didn't get

exactly what I like,

but that is fine, too,

because now at least I know

what I'd like to have,

and that I don't have it yet.

But the way to achieve it

is easier because now,

I know what it would look...

if I hadn't learned

what I don't like at all.

Like, not at all, I wouldn't

know what to look for.

Or maybe I wouldn't look at all,

because I wouldn't know

that there's something

better out there

than the current state of mind.

The deadlock I was living in.

I learned...

how I don't like feeling.

But that's better than

not feeling anything at all.

It made me feel feelings.

And that is

most important, isn't it?

You look different. Heavier.

-Muscles are heavy.

-Fat is, too.

Looks lovely, though.

A little extra meat on a bone

never hurt no one, has it?

Not here.

I let him go.

Let him go where?

- Anywhere.

- Anywhere.

Where he can do

whatever he wants to do.

Where did he go?

Oh, he's out in the world,

living life.

-This is life.

-No, I mean life in freedom.

-What is this?

-Sugar.

-What did you do to him?

-A glorious life.

Dolly, what did you

do to him?

I opened it.

Opened the g*dd*mn cage

and let him out.

Why?

To let him free.

-You k*lled him.

-I did not.

-You're a k*ller.

-A k*ller.

He was a g*dd*mn bird.

Oh, now you're already

talking about him in the past.

Oh, please.

They're supposed to live

in the sky, not the ground.

They need the wind,

not the soil.

-They need a protected home.

-No, they don't.

- Theodore didn't.

- How would you know?

He was our bird.

He was a love bird.

And he will love the outside.

It just got too hard.

It took all my time

and attention and I...

You're such a drama queen.

I can't change

my mind about this,

but I truly believe

I did the right thing.

So you think

you did nothing wrong?

It's a bird that was rescued

from a painful life

and eventually,

pitiful death in a cage.

Rescued from me?

Don't you "Soso" me.

Let me get you some more tea.

Aren't they just adorable?

Look at their little hands

and their little, little noses.

I wish I had a nose like that.

I wish I had the same smile.

Do you think we're bad people?

Why, do you?

We haven't seen

each other for years.

Well, that alone

doesn't make us bad people.

We haven't talked

since father got sick.

-And...

-Well, we're all just

unfortunately busy women.

We don't have the luxury

of sitting at home

spinning our minds

about our lives

or what we'll cook for dinner

while we're waiting

for our wealthy husbands

to arrive home.

Sometimes

I find my mind wonder...

would you have come back for me?

I feel responsible, but I--

I can't stop

my train of thoughts

that you wouldn't have come

if it wasn't about father's

death, his inheritance.

I.. I-- I--

catch myself praying

that you came for me.

Inheritance?

I came just for you,

to support you

in your time of mourning.

I do not care at all,

like at all,

about any claim on the house.

You mean that old thing?

What would I even do with it?

I live in Italy now, remember?

What would you do with it?

Well, and I'm so impractical.

I could not care less about

how I'm looking

or what I'm wearing.

Can you imagine

there's women out there

who make a big fuss

about everything,

like the world

only shines for them.

The sun only shines for them.

Frankly,

I can't stand those women.

Terrible.

That's why I came here.

Because you hate

the women in Italy?

-No.

-Because you hate women?

-No. Uh, yes.

-I don't understand.

Well, the good thing is,

I brought us some treats.

Oh.

You know I don't drink.

It's my rule.

Well, rules are here

to be broken.

What else would we enjoy

breaking if not rules?

Promises?

Here is a toast.

Let's celebrate.

What for?

To our inheritance.

To your inheritance.

To father's corpse.

Well, in the past,

people would have

clearly appreciated

the power of the elder sibling.

So you mean.

Well, look up

any kingdom in history,

England, Sweden, Mongolia.

Mongolia was never a kingdom.

What I'm saying is,

they all gave their crown

to the elder sibling.

Well, unless it was a girl.

Well, lucky for us,

we didn't have a brother.

We'd have to k*ll him

to get our right to the crown.

You're right.

You're right,

you'd have to k*ll our brother

to get your right to the crown.

You're absolutely right.

I'm glad we weren't born

kings and queens.

Well, maybe not officially.

We're all queens.

In here. Right in here.

Which means you can decide

to live life to the fullest.

I'm not sure about that.

There's nothing

to be unsure about.

Life is a whirlwind.

And even

if you weren't born rich,

which most of us

weren't anyways...

you can decide

to live a rich life.

Behave like a queen,

and people

will treat you like one.

Boop!

You should be fine

taking a bath now.

Can't wait.

I feel all itchy and dirty.

Well, seems like

somebody forgot to pay the bill.

Just yesterday,

the water was still working

and the kitchen sink works. I--

I don't understand.

Do you understand?

Do I look like a water engineer?

You could wash

your hair in the sink.

With grease and kitchen soap?

Here, I'll fill

a tub of hot water.

Just wait, just wait here,

or the bedroom.

Where are you?

I'm on my way.

Shut up.

Look at you. You look beautiful.

Mm! Mm.

No, I'm serious.

No, no. Mm!

Oh...

Why did you come now?

Because you told me to.

But not now.

Holy, it's way too early.

They threw me out of the room.

They kicked me out

when you left.

I had nowhere else to go.

There was no water anymore.

Nobody had paid the bill.

Where was I supposed to go?

But my sister is still in there.

Then let's go and say hello.

Oh. How would you like to die?

I'm too young

to think about that.

Well, if the answer

isn't cut into tiny pieces

with a dull knife

so the process is very slow,

very painful,

don't go in there.

I love your sister already.

She wouldn't be

the one to k*ll you.

I just need you to wait

for a few more days.

Days?

Where am I supposed to go?

I ju-- just haven't talked

with Wanda about it yet.

Okay, well,

what about the inheritance?

You said that

if there was a will,

your father

would have absolutamente

made you the only heir.

And if there was no will,

you would still

have received the house

because you are the eldest.

Yes, Geronimo,

yes, I know what I've said, but,

things turned out differently,

not like I expected.

I didn't find

the letter of inheritance yet,

which means that

the house is mine,

but I just didn't find

the time to tell her yet.

She's still so fragile.

She's still in mourning.

It's been-- it's been three

months since he passed away

and God knows why,

but she won't talk about it.

She's like

one of those stray dogs.

But it was her-- her father.

Mine, too.

-What?

-He was my father, too.

But you never really cared.

I did.

I-- I do care about

my sister now,

which-- which is why

I can't just storm in there

and take away her house.

I mean, she loves it.

God, she even painted

the walls blue.

You know,

we can't go back to Italy.

We have nowhere else to go,

our place is gone,

and money vanishes

like children in America.

Yes, yes, I know, I know that.

Amora, I-- I don't

understand this hesitancy.

You never really

cared about him.

-I did.

-It's okay.

I... Just not enough.

It's good to be home.

I just need

a few more hours.

Where would you like me to go?

Do you trust me?

I'm so ready for my footbath.

Who was at the door?

Uh, just, uh,

a confused neighbor.

Was it Tony? Laubner?

-No.

-Tony.

Did he say his name was Tony?

Tony Laubner?

-No.

-Dark eyes, violent hands?

No.

-Was it Mr. Schuller?

-Who?

Mr. Schuller,

father's friend from Vienna?

No.

They went

to elementary school together.

Nostalgia, hmm?

I always admired you.

Really?

You're beautiful.

-No, I'm not.

-Yes, you are.

-I'm ignorant.

-I'm ugly.

No.

No, you just admire my passion.

My passion to travel and...

my ignorance

towards the people I love.

That's nothing to be proud of.

-I'm...

-What?

Moins que rien.

-Wanda?

-What?

What does it mean?

-What?

-"Moins que rien."

Less than nothing.

Only sometimes I...

- What?

- I-- I--

-What? Tell me.

-Uh, I feel-- I--

Just tell me, Wanda.

I'm tired.

I'm tired of always playing nice

and pretending, you know?

I-- People play with me.

They play a mindless game

and they think

I don't know, but I do know.

I-- I know

when they play with me.

I feel I want to say something.

-What, now?

-No, not now.

-I mean in general.

-In general?

- I mean in a situation.

- In what situation?

It's just-- a situation.

-Like what?

-Just any situation.

Like when

you're tired of the day

and all you want to do

is eat dinner in silence,

but there are all these people

and they keep

talking and talking and talking

and-- and do you just

want to eat your dinner?

And there are all these voices

and they just don't stop

and all you want to say is...

But you keep quiet

and you keep playing nice,

and you keep

all this anger stored inside

for a much bigger event.

Release it.

What?

The anger.

No.

But you must.

- I must.

- You must.

It's your responsibility

to yourself, to life.

-No, I can't.

-Yes, you can.

-I can't.

-Yes.

How?

Howl.

Like a wolf. Howl.

No.

No, I can't.

- Yes, you can.

- No, I can't.

- Snap out of this.

- What?

This pitiful little

comfort zone you're sitting in.

I'm not comfortable.

You make me feel uneasy.

Good.

Yes. Roar like a bear.

-What was that?

-I-- Th--That was a bear.

That's not a bear.

That was not even a baby bear.

That was a kitten. Come on.

Now start moving.

Move your body to it.

It's like-- like dancing.

You have to feel it

in your whole body.

-I can't--

-Yes.

Now feel it, in here.

See, see.

It's like a dance, like a dance,

to the left, to the right.

-I deserve to be happy.

-You do.

No, say it.

I deserve to be happy.

-Mean it.

-I deserve to be happy.

Yes.

The bear inside of me.

Feel the wolf.

The bear.

-So what are you?

-I'm a bear.

-A bear.

-A bear.

-Yes.

-A bear.

What other animals are there?

Huh?

-What ar--

-Um, um, um, a-- a-- a dog.

A bird. What are you?

What are you? What are you?

Close your eyes.

Good. Which animal--

Which animal can you see?

Um, I see a bird.

-Yeah.

-I see-- I see a fish.

I see a cat.

- I see...

- Yes.

All right.

Um, come here.

What animal are you?

Are you a pack?

Are you a--

a rebel loner?

Are you a reptile?

A bird? A fish?

-A bird.

-A bird?

I'm sure. I'm a bird.

I'm a bird of paradise.

I'm a gorilla.

What are you, Wanda?

Come on, tell me.

What are you, Wanda?

-I'm...

-Show me your animal.

I'm...

I'm-- I'm a lion.

I learned his handwriting.

I learned so I could sign

all his medical documents.

He was so weak.

Isn't that interesting?

How such a strength of a man

can die down

into something so fragile.

Like a raisin.

Once big and sour,

it turns into something

so small and sweet.

Yeah.

I really do love humans.

They're so beautiful

and versatile.

And they always try

to find a purpose in life.

Always try to build, to create,

to adjust,

to make better, to perfect.

But most of the time

we're failing.

We're too slow.

We die before we can finish it.

Whatever it is our heart wants

and then we spend our lives

living for this one thing

that we'll never

be able to finish.

There's always more.

Bah!

I-- I like it.

I like the thought...

that we're so small.

But our minds are so big,

filled with so many things.

Almost unbearable.

Well, you really

have to love what you do

in order to do it forever.

Is that why you studied

fashion in Italy?

No.

I studied fashion

to become rich.

And did you?

In Italy, I mean.

Have you ever felt loved? Truly.

And I don't mean

the half-hearted love

a father gets his daughters,

I mean...

the love that makes you feel

like a queen.

Like you would sacrifice

your life for someone.

When Farouk got sick,

I left school

in France to take care of him.

I didn't tell you before,

because I didn't want

you to worry.

Hmm.

And every night, every night,

we would sit down at dinner,

and he would tell me

all the stories

about the past, and childhood,

and... Austria.

And... most of the stories

were about you.

He loved you more.

They didn't let me finish

my studies in France.

I missed most of my exams.

He never asked me how

I felt about that sacrifice.

Maybe that's true love?

No.

How did it feel when he hit you?

I hurt my lovers,

because we were taught to do so.

I hit Geronimo.

One, two, three times.

But he's a good man.

He would forgive me.

He would always come

back to me.

Lucky.

Luck is a state of mind.

A state of being.

Nobody can take away your luck.

You can create it.

And it will be all yours.

Is that what you did in Italy?

Find your luck?

I found my man.

I lost everything else.

Do you want to see him?

He's a beautiful man.

He has a beautiful name,

too, Geronimo.

Sounds like

a summer breeze to me.

-He looks spar--

-Don't speak ill of him,

ever in my presence,

you hear me?

He's the only

person in this world

I would really die for.

One. Two. Three.

What are we doing

with the furniture?

The pieces that

are too dirty to sell?

Keep them.

All of them?

All.

Look at this, Dolly.

What is this?

Perhaps you did, I don't recall.

It was the night Father was out,

and his friend from Germany

arrived that day.

Stefan.

We didn't like that man.

His boots were so big,

and he made the floor all dirty.

Father was just

smiling at him, and...

"He's important, be nice."

That's what he said.

As if it didn't even

matter that his...

boots made the house

all slippery and wet.

Made us clean as boots.

So, we drew this c*ck

on this table.

And this c*ck

was living in the boot.

And we-- we called

the c*ck Stefan.

I don't remember.

Yes, and-- and we pretended

this boot was all slippery,

and all smelly.

And the c*ck

wanted to leave.

But we wouldn't allow it.

Why wouldn't we want

him to leave?

I'm not sure.

Oh, look at the little bug.

His eyes wide open,

his mouth so big, and round.

Why, is he in pain?

I hope so.

What was that?

Water.

-Water, where?

-In the bathroom.

Wait, wait,

Wanda, what are you doing?

I want to see it.

No, it's just a broken pipe

probably, wait!

Wait, Wanda, please,

I need to tell you something.

-You see, I locked the door.

-Why?

So nobody would use

the broken pipe.

I wanna see it.

Well, you saw it

before, didn't you?

Or otherwise I would've

used the water,

and take a bath, right?

Or did you lie to me about it

to keep the water

-all to yourself?

-No, I didn't lie.

-You lied to me, Wanda.

-No, I didn't lie.

Tell me the truth,

you lied to me.

-I'm telling you the truth.

-Yes, you're lying to me.

-I'm not lying, I turned the--

-You want the water

-all for yourself, didn't you?

-I'm not.

-No, I'm telling you the truth.

-You used the water.

I'm telling you the truth.

I'm not lying,

-I'm telling you the truth.

-Come on, you're lying to me.

- Yes, you're lying to me.

- I'm not lying.

You want the water

all for yourself, didn't you?

- I'm not.

- You all just wanted the water

for yourself, didn't you?

You lied to me.

-I didn't lie to you.

-Like you lied about the house!

What do you mean?

When were you going

to tell me about this?

Where did you find this?

Papa's collection

of work papers.

Right there, at the bottom.

Hard to find.

-I didn't hide it from you.

-No?

Then Papa did.

Why would he?

Were you looking

for this?

Why would I?

Because it says who's

entitled to the inheritance.

- Does it?

- Most certainly does.

No.

- No?

- No.

I knew it was there.

I put it there

before you arrived.

- Yes, that's so.

- Why?

Because it says who's

entitled to the inheritance.

Me.

The entire inheritance

goes to me.

-You liar.

-This, is-- It says my name.

No!

What did you do?

This is your fault, not mine.

This is your fault.

You knew my letter-- my name is

not even on this stupid letter.

Why did you then even

invite me to come here?

Oh, h*, h*!

Oh! I see.

You wanted to see my face

all red, and blue, and sweaty.

Huh? That's why you

wanted me to come here.

No, this is supposed to be mine.

This whole letter.

This inheritance was

always supposed to be mine.

I'm the elder one, not you.

I'm supposed--

I'm entitled to this.

Oh!

Good plot here. Wow.

I'm not going back to Italy.

Never!

I've lost everything.

No money, no house, nothing.

I've lost it all!

So if you think this is going

to be split, you're wrong.

This is going to be mine.

So don't look at me

with your dull eyes, huh?

This is supposed

to be my inheritance.

So you should be happy.

You won't get an apology.

All these dolls

and the furniture,

we can split that,

and you're out tomorrow.

Split the stupid dolls,

and the stupid furniture,

and then you're out by tomorrow.

You are leaving.

I don't want to see you anymore.

You understand?

You know what? You should be--

You should be actually happy.

You should be happy.

You're free now.

Didn't you tell me about

your poor little sacrifice?

Huh?

Your poor little sacrifice.

"Oh, no. I have

to leave France." Ooh!

Well, now you're free.

Go out there in the world.

You can be free now, huh?

Why aren't you smiling?

Am I good?

Am I beautiful?

Inside.

Give it to me.

I'm not certain about this.

About us?

-No, about this.

-You mean, your sister?

It was my father's wish

to bequeath everything to her.

What?

I don't want

to lose everything again.

I don't want to leave.

Take what's yours.

Take it.

It is ours.

Hmm.

It's good.

All human beings

are born free and equal.

Don't believe it.

And we are too slow,

that we can't finish it.

That we die before

we find our purpose.

Imperfect.

All of us.

Imperfection reveals truth.

Nobody wants

to hear the truth.

Well, no one wants

to hear lies, either.

You go on your adventures,

and do whatever

you feel like doing.

Never looking back,

never being even

slightly interested

or compassionate

about the people

you push out of your way.

You don't care about people.

You didn't care

about father or Theodore.

Not really.

You never did.

You come here with

your false Italian charm,

and your charisma,

and you think you make

people fall in love with you.

With your beauty,

and your charisma,

but the truth is...

you make people around you sick.

You make me sick.

And it has always been this way,

so it was naive of me

to think that

that would have changed.

I should have never told you

Father got sick,

Father passed away,

with your charming ignorance,

you probably wouldn't

have even noticed he's gone.

Are you drunk?

You are a fraud!

And despite the fact

that everybody hates you,

you're still making a pretty

great show out of your life.

Pretending you're still

standing on solid ground,

although you're already falling.

Maybe, maybe I should have

been a little bit

more like you,

early on in life.

That would have saved

me a lot of sleepless nights,

fighting for my dreams,

while taking care

of a sick, old man.

You know what,

I'm actually glad he's gone.

Never really liked him, anyways.

-Father.

-Theodore.

That was our bird.

You decided for both of us,

I didn't have a chance,

I didn't have a voice.

Well, you have a voice now.

So, come on,

tell me how awful I am.

What a monster I am

for having some humanity.

- You k*lled him.

- I saved him.

You know what, screw it.

I loved getting

rid of that bird.

Call it my secret pleasure.

You know, I should start

claiming what belongs to me,

and stop covering your goofy

inability to live a life.

Here, do you think this,

do you think all of this

is a problem for me?

Oh! Mm! Mm!

Mm! No problem at--

No problem at all.

And do you think

Italians are the only

people who love

the rush of alcohol?

Oh!

Great sip of wine.

Mm!

Dlicieux.

Feels great

to be alive, finally.

Hmm!

I had a choice,

and I chose to be selfish.

Can I ask you one thing?

Please, go ahead,

don't hold yourself back for me.

Why do you hate me so much?

I deserve to be happy, too.

When beauty ages,

what do we have left?

I just wanted to wash my hair.

Do I want too much?

Am I ungrateful, disrespectful?

Do I not understand

the rules of life?

That I can't be someone

that I wasn't born to be?

Or am I resentful,

and scared to give up on the

person I don't want to be

to become someone I could love.

I love you.

It is me, darling.