01x08 - The Ball

[bunniefuu]

["Grande Valse" by Wojciech Kilar playing]

ROME
MINISTRY OF DEFENSE

["Grande Valse" continues]

Let's go, guys! Ramp it up a bit!

We've got important guests coming tonight.
We wanna look good.

Watch your posture.

Lift your head.

And one, two, three…

I can't believe they're thinking
about dancing at a time like this.

What else should they do?

It's all a pretense.

-Hey!
-Sorry.

What did Bonaiuto tell you?

To be patient.

[uneasy music playing]

[Leonardo] Bonaiuto stirred up
a real mess.

She's talking videos,
ill*gal weapons, and hazing.

It's a colossal pile of sh*t.

The deputy commander was right
to file a report about it.

She made the decision to go over my head

because one of the students involved
is my son.

But I am here to clarify
and hopefully resolve the issue.

We will obviously need to send
a strong message

that this cannot continue.

And what will that entail?

Punishing those culpable.

[uneasy music continues]

[Leonardo] Anything else, Commander?

Actually, yes.
I think I should step back from my duties.

I don't want to bring disgrace
to the school,

but I feel I must take responsibility
for what's occurred.

I think that's a terrible idea.

If we lay blame on the cadets,
we can avoid a scandal.

But if we involve the officers,
then it makes it look systemic.

This was an isolated case.

Wasn't it?

[music fades]

[coffee machine whirring]

-[beep]
-[whirring stops]

Hi.

Hi.

What are you doing here?
There aren't any classes today.

I had to pick up homework to correct.

And plus,
I wanted to see how things were going.

Well, he's on his way back from Rome.

Did you hear anything?

No.

[dark music playing]

MINERVA ACADEMY

[music fades]

[waltz music playing in distance]

[Pietro] That's good.
Very well done, guys.

-[music stops]
-You're dismissed.

-I should be the one avoiding you.
-[scoffs]

You screwed me, Rachè.
I really trusted you.

You said yourself
you were tired of keeping it a secret.

Don't you feel better?

[cadet] Diego.

Your father wants you.

You wanted to talk?

Listen, the other night…

Here we go.

Now you're gonna tell me it was
a big mistake. We shouldn't have.

You know we can't keep doing this.

I'm really sorry.

Well, f*ck you.

Rachè, hold on.

I've spoken to a doctor. This is no joke.
You've gotta start treatment.

Then I'll never get into the academy.
What can't you understand?

The academy isn't everything.

[sighs, scoffs]

There's only five women in the world
who can pilot an F-35.

I'll be the sixth.

I'm not discussing this anymore.

Look, there's nothing bad

about coming to terms
with your weaknesses.

-Plans change sometimes.
-[chuckles]

Maybe for you.

You think if you're not the best,
you're nothing, but that's not true.

Look, people wanna be around you
because of who you are.

Do you think your father
would care that much

if you didn't become a pilot?

He'd only want you
to be happy and healthy.

What the hell do you know?

Stop assuming what my dad would think.

I'm sorry, but if you refuse,
I'll have to intervene.

[sighs]

[annoyed sigh]

[knocking at door]

[Diego] You wanted to see me?

I honestly

tried to protect you to the bitter end.

But unfortunately,
the situation is beyond my control.

Even Max testified against you.

[tense music playing]

No.

He'd never do something like that.

[exhales]

You're wrong.

You still don't know how to read
the people around you. Do you?

And that could prove to be fatal.

Believe me.

Diego…

you are expelled from this school.

-Come on, Dad--
-You must assume responsibility.

There's still time to do that.

Collect your things and leave the school.

Sir, yes, sir.

[music fades]

[heartfelt music playing]

I'm sorry.

It's what you wanted, right?

I had no choice.

Well, that's how it goes.

[sniffles]

[inhales sharply]

[exhales sharply]

[breathes shakily]

[heartfelt music continues]

[Esposito] What have you done, Achille?

[Achille] I told you before.

All we had to do is be patient.

[music fades]

The truth wouldn't have helped anyone.

It's all sorted now.

But you're ruining him.

[footsteps approaching]

All right.
Is everything ready for the party?

I don't understand. What's going on here?

Nothing.

My son is paying for his mistakes.

The school can go back to normal.

But you might want to think about whether
you want to continue your role here.

There should be mutual trust
between a commander

and his deputy, don't you think?

At least that's what…
I've always taught you.

[intriguing music playing]

[heel taps]

Colonel.

[music fades]

Diego's been expelled.
Is that a good sign?

No, Fusco.

But what about Francesco?
Will there be further investigations?

I don't think so. No.

Everyone wants to put
all this behind them.

-[sighs]
-So, that's it?

This was your big battle?

I'm as disappointed as you.

But the commander is a powerful person.

And this battle is over for us.

Yeah, sure.

All you care about is being in charge.

Who cares about Francesco?

The commander covered up
the violence against Russo.

If anybody here knows
about what happened to Francesco,

it's him.

[uneasy music playing]

[knocking at door]

[door opens]

-[music fades]
-What do you want?

[Paola] What's up?

Just leave me alone.

Come on, tell me.

I've been expelled.

Wait, Dad expelled you?

[sniffles]

That school was my life.

Yeah, I know, but why did he expel you?

[inhales deeply]

I did something shitty to that guy.

Francesco.

He wrote me this letter.

He said he was in love with me.

I didn't know what to do. I was confused.

[sniffles]

I kept it.

I couldn't throw it away.

And then this guy in my class found it.

I grabbed it from him in time,
but he was laughing.

I felt so…

[sobbing]

…embarrassed.

[heartfelt music playing]

Then I got paranoid.

I was scared
Francesco was gonna tell everyone.

[sniffles]

I was worried he'd say
there was something going on between us.

So I did something really stupid.

Did you have feelings for Francesco?

I don't know.

Diego.

You can tell me anything.

[Diego exhales]

Do you like guys?

I mean, I liked him.

He was easygoing.

He was good.

I don't know, Paola, he was different.
You know? God!

[Diego crying]

I was happy with him.

But the whole thing scared me so much.

I think what scared you was Dad.

No, it wasn't him.

I was the one in the wrong.

Dad is very good
at making other people think

they're the ones who are wrong.

It's the same thing he did with Mom.

Yeah, he made us believe
that she was crazy.

But the truth is,
she was locked up in here suffering.

She was ill, depressed.

Alone with two little kids. Where was he?

Haven't you ever thought
that maybe he was wrong?

Hmm?

[sobs]

I don't know. Maybe.
I'm not sure about anything.

[crying]

[phone buzzing]

[music fades]

Esposito.

What do I do?

Answer it.

[sniffles] Hello?

Yes. Why?

[car door opens]

[tense music playing]

[cadet] These are the blanks.

They're easy to recognize
because they've got a hollow point.

I'll be brief.

For 200 years,

this school has been training
young people like yourselves

to defend this country and make it proud.

It will continue to do so.

Myself and everyone here
are honored to be at its service.

But in order to do that,

we must all be willing to make sacrifices.

We cannot forgive those
who defame her in any way.

We must uphold her reputation.

Because this is our school,
Minerva Academy.

Strength, beauty, and tradition.

[intriguing music playing]

[indistinct chattering]

[intriguing music continues]

[tender music playing]

[exhales]

What do you want?

You're… you're alive? I thought--

Who told you where I was? Your dad?

Esposito?

Get out of here.

They knew about this?

Tell me.

I don't know how Esposito tracked me down.

Your father wanted to find out
if I'd k*lled myself because of you.

[Diego exhales]

I told him to leave me alone.
That I wanted to disappear.

[uneasy music playing]

-They never told me anything.
-That was good.

I was dead to you anyway.

[man] Hey, as*h*le. Come and clean up.

I'm sorry. I f*cked up.

Get out of here.

Go on.

Hey, your friend Salvo.

He got into deep sh*t
trying to find out what happened to you.

He didn't do anything wrong.

[man] Hey, punk!

When I call you, you come running, got it?

[tense music playing]

[music fades]

[Bonaiuto] You knew coming in
that you would have to work

ten times harder than the boys,
and you did.

You are the ones who brought honor
to this high school.

You made me very proud.

Remember, we are the future.

Tonight, the boys will vie
for who gets to be with whom.

But I want you to keep in mind
that you are no one's trophy.

Hmm?

Don't be afraid to say no
if you don't want them hovering around.

There is nothing more beautiful

than seeing a woman all alone
and standing tall.

[all] Yes, Colonel!

Now go and enjoy yourselves.
You deserve it.

Dismissed, ladies!

[Camilla] Hi.

I just wanted to say
that you were great with Salvo.

You taught everyone a lesson.

I didn't do it for him.

Doesn't matter who you did it for.

You showed courage.

How are you?

Not well.

Maybe it's been there for a while,
but it's only surfacing now?

I mean, I heard that from a psychologist.

You were in therapy?

I kept changing doctors.

If you need a good one,
I'll give you a number.

[chuckles]

You can be a b*tch,

but the progress you've made here
is really amazing.

I'm glad I picked you.

You belong here.

Um, I'm sorry if I went too far with you.

I would've been much worse.

[laughs]

["Sleeping Beauty Waltz"
by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky playing]

[inaudible dialogue]

[indistinct chattering]

Good evening, Commander.

At ease, Fusco.

I'm very pleased to see that you haven't

lost yourself in here.

On the contrary.

You were right.

Rules and discipline can be very powerful.

Now I'm gonna use them
to find out what happened

to Francesco Russo.

That's what everyone wants, isn't it?

Good luck to you, Fusco.

[heel taps]

[Vincenzo's mother] Where is this girl?
Aren't you going to introduce me?

She's always late.

Oh, wonderful.
They say that's a sign of intelligence.

But, Mom, I'm always on time.

I wouldn't worry. You're a good dancer.

-Oh yeah?
-You're excellent!

Well, would you like to dance?

I'll have to be drunk to dance to this.

-More drunk. Let's go.
-All right.

What?

[music stops]

It's my father.

Thank you.

[Camilla] What are you doing here?

Camilla.

They invited the parents too.

So you're hoping to meet some big shot?

[chuckles]

-I wanted to see how you were doing.
-[scoffs]

Not bad, as it turns out.

All right, I guess.

More than all right.
I spoke to the principal.

Call him "commander,"
or they throw you out.

[laughs]

He told me you're doing very well.
That you've made amazing progress.

["Grande Valse" by Wojciech Kilar playing]

Would you care to waltz with your father?

[sighs]

Keep this up until the end of the year,
and you can come home.

-Are you serious?
-[chuckles]

You'll have to get ready
for London sooner or later, right?

You don't wanna go anymore?

What is it?

Hmm?

Come on, you're not actually
thinking of becoming a soldier?

Are you?

If I stay here or go to London,
it's my decision to make.

Hmm.

[chuckles]

We'll see about that.

[music fades]

[uneasy music playing]

["La Traviata" by Giuseppe Verdi playing]

You look so elegant.

[both laugh]

I think the last time
I wore this dress was ages ago.

Minerva hadn't even been founded yet.

[both laugh]

The commander
has asked me to leave my position.

And will you?

I think I'm gonna stay

and keep doing exactly
what we've been doing,

no matter what he says.

I thought about not coming
to the ball tonight.

But then I told myself
it was more important to be here.

[heel taps]

May I ask for a dance, Professor?

Of course.

-Go ahead.
-[Canali] Thanks.

[indistinct chattering]

Dance?

I have no intention of ending up like you.

If you tell a soul about my condition,
I'll tell everyone we f*cked and ruin you.

What do you mean?

I'm doing this for your own good.

I'm sorry, but that's for me to decide.

You've been warned.

[dog barks in distance]

["La Traviata" continues]

You'll dance with Canali, but not me?

-[chuckles] It was nothing, really.
-You don't grade his work.

[laughs]

Now, there is someone you'll never
catch dancing with his teacher.

Listen.

I know we got off on the wrong foot,
and it's all my fault.

Attention, everyone.

I'm really sorry.

I acted like a real as*h*le
at the beginning of the year.

I went too far.

["Styrian Dances, Op. 165"
by Joseph Lanner playing]

All right.

But that's no excuse.

There are some things
that can't be forgiven.

Come with me.

[giggles]

What are you doing?

You said that we couldn't do
certain things at school.

Yeah. I was talking nonsense.

I'm sorry, Adele.

Would you like to dance?

Follow me.

One, two…

-That's it!
-[both laugh]

[laughter continues]

[tender music playing]

You're so pretty.

[both giggle]

-[music fades]
-[indistinct chattering]

["Waltz of the Flowers"
by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky playing]

[Vincenzo] You finally made it.

You look so incredible.

I don't know. Did that make you
feel like an object? Hmm?

Listen, my mom's in the other room.

I wanna introduce you to her.

But we still have time. [chuckles]

Mm…

-Wanna dance?
-Sure.

[Vincenzo laughs]

What's wrong?

We'll talk about it later.

No, tell me what it is.

If you get it out now,
we can enjoy the rest of the night.

[Paola sighs]

Okay, here goes.

I'm not coming here anymore.

I'll do anything to stay away
from my father and this sh*thole.

Okay.

Well, I'll be a sophomore
in September, so, um…

-I'll have more leaves and freedom.
-You don't get it.

[heartfelt music playing]

I'm talking about us too.

This place has done a number on everyone.

It's ruined Diego,
and it's going to ruin you.

Listen, I mean, I feel sorry for Diego.

Okay?

But I'm not him.

Here we go again.

You guys are all the same.

Denying, constantly denying.

Why are you staying?
What are you trying to prove?

Paola…

You don't belong with these people.
Don't you see that?

You're only here
because it's what your father wanted.

You're just like my brother.

Why the hell
don't you do what you wanna do?

You never even met my father.

How dare you presume to know him!

-I didn't mean it like that.
-No, it's exactly what you meant.

Bye, Paola.

There'll be thousands like her.
Well, maybe a couple more.

[waltz music resumes]

A senior has a duty.

He takes care of his recruit
from start to finish.

I wasn't a good senior to you,

but you were the best recruit.

I'm sure you've got
a great future ahead of you.

You too, if you stop being an as*h*le.

Wanna dance with me?

What are you saying?

What do you think I'm saying?

Oh, what do you think?
Gonna miss this shitty place?

-[Ilaria exhales]
-No.

-No. Not for a second.
-[music fades]

[applause]

I'm sorry things turned out
the way they did.

So am I.

It didn't seem like it
when you stood me up.

Or when you stabbed me in the back after.

It's the truth though.

I was committed.

I overcame my preconceptions.
I let myself feel again.

But I was wrong.

Yeah, in the end, people

always disappoint.

But ideas don't.

[serene classical music playing]

[indistinct chattering]

Here are my party animals.

Do you mind, ba*ls?

Go ahead.

Are you happy your dad made it?

I don't know. It was kinda weird.

He said he was proud of me
and that he knew I could do it.

That if I kept it up,
I could go back to Milan.

My punishment would be over.

Let's dance.

[tense music playing]

[sighs]

I'm really happy for you.

[serene classical music resumes]

I mean, you get to leave
the first school that didn't expel you.

Actually, I told him it wasn't up to him.

Are you leaving or staying?

[Lucio] Salvo!

Sorry, were…

-It's okay.
-[Lucio clears throat]

There's a guy in the library
who wants to see you.

Sorry. [chuckles]

-Excuse me.
-[Camilla chuckles]

[Salvo] Hello?

[creaking]

[footsteps approaching]

Hey, Salvo.

[Salvo gulps]

I don't get it.

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry you went through
all this trouble to find me.

[tender music playing]

[Salvo exhales, sniffles]

Where the f*ck were you?

I'm so sorry.

I just wanted to vanish.

Even from me?

But why?

Look, I know everything.

The pills, Diego…

The video.

Why didn't you tell me?

Francesco?

After Diego humiliated me
in front of everyone,

I could've reacted or fought back,

but I just couldn't.

Salvo, this school never accepted me.

That was just the last straw.

I wanted to disappear.

I didn't have the courage
to look at myself in the mirror.

How could I face you?

I got a job in a godforsaken dump

because I wanted everyone
to forget I even existed.

You could have come to me.

But if I did, I thought
you would've seen me as a failure.

You made it.

You're younger,
but you've always been more mature.

And you're still an a*s.

[Francesco chuckles]

[indistinct chattering]

Marshal, may I have a word with you?

[music fades]

A g*n is missing from the armory.

-Are you sure?
-Yes.

I opened it
to get the r*fles for the ceremony.

When I put them back,
I noticed one missing.

I'll tell Achille right away.

[sighs]

[door opens]

What are you doing here? Hmm?

Don't touch me.

You knew everything,
and you said f*ck all.

You made me believe
Francesco k*lled himself because of me.

I made an error.

You're a sick man, Dad.

What were you afraid of, huh?

Hmm?

That I'd go looking for him
and become g*y?

That I wouldn't be a good soldier?

No, I was

afraid of…

Of what, Dad? Say it.

Of your weakness.

Yes, I was afraid you'd be vulnerable.
I made a mistake.

I thought I was doing what was best,
but I made a mess instead.

I should've just listened to you,
but now I understand. I get it.

-[tense music playing]
-I swear, the next time I will not--

-[g*n clicks]
-There won't be a next time, sir.

What are you doing with that g*n?

Put down the g*n, Diego! Now!

-[Esposito] Achille!
-[Achille] Stop! Don't come in!

Diego, put it down.

[Salvo] Why did you come?

Diego found out where I was.

[tense music continues]

I told him to go,
but he told me you were here,

getting into trouble for trying
to find out what happened to me.

-[Esposito] Diego!
-[bang at door]

[banging continues]

[Esposito] Don't do anything stupid!

Open the door!

Open the door, or I'll break it down!

Do that, and I'll sh**t!

[Esposito] Diego, don't!

Just put the g*n down.
Don't ruin your life over this.

It's my life, Dad!

[breathing nervously]

It's not yours.

[Esposito] Come on!

Diego!

You don't want to do this!

Diego, stop it.

It's not worth it.

Go away!

You came looking for me,
and now I'm not leaving

until I'm sure
you won't do something stupid.

[Diego] I said go away!

[Francesco]
You're not a bad person, Diego.

I know who you really are.

[Achille] Diego, put the g*n down.

[Francesco] Open the door.

Just put the g*n down, Diego.

I know why you behaved
the way you did toward me.

You were afraid.

I forgive you.

[sobs]

[Achille] Let's start all over again.

[tense music swells]

-Diego.
-[g*nsh*t]

[Diego panting]

[melancholy music playing]

[Diego panting]

[inaudible dialogue]

[Diego chuckles]

[inhales sharply]

[Achille sobs]

[music intensifies]

[music fades]

LAST DAY OF SCHOOL

-When are you leaving?
-In two days. Going to Formentera.

-And you? Summering in foster care?
-[Salvo] Mm-hmm.

Sounds like a movie title.

Come and stay at my beach house.

So I guess Paola turned you down.

Come on, guys.
Let's just enjoy this last week

before our marks come out,
and we realize we're all f*cked.

Not all of us are afraid to get our marks.

What are you still doing here?

You're free. Go out and enjoy yourselves.

[Camilla] Thanks, Professor. Goodbye.

-Thanks, ma'am.
-Thanks again. Bye.

Thank you for everything.

We mean it.

Thanks to you, guys.

Mm.

-Have a good summer.
-I will, go!

Bye!

[uplifting music playing]

[Esposito]
Don't let your finals distract you.

If you wanna get into the academies,
you've got to keep training.

Is that clear?

[all] Sir, yes, sir.

I can't hear you! Is that clear?

[all] Sir, yes, sir!

That's all, you b*stards.

You can go now. Go on.

I said go!

[uplifting music continues]

Tomorrow, we're going to the beach.

After that,
I've gotta hunker down and study.

[chuckles] Yeah.

-[music intensifies]
-[indistinct chattering]

-Got it! No running, no running!
-[Camilla] Ah!

-Guys!
-Here, here! Pass it!

[man] Francesco.

Somebody came by earlier
and left this for you.

[music fades]

[Vincenzo] Let's toast!

Thanks.

Thanks.

A toast.

I'll say, to next year,
which should be a walk in the park.

Mm-hmm.

-Well, it couldn't be worse than this one.
-I hope not.

But you never know.

["Come volevi essere" by Lamante playing]

[Salvo] Come on.

Thank you.

The year just flew by.

Yeah, it really did.

Meh.

[all laughing]

[music fades]

[tender music playing]

[music fades]

[intriguing music playing]

[music fades]