01x02 - I soldi

[bunniefuu]

You?

You looking for Alfonso?

No, we want to see Don Achille.

You can tell me.

We have to speak to him.

Achille!

Who is it?

The shoemaker's daughter
and Greco's older daughter.

I'm coming.

Well?

The dolls.

The dolls?

Ours.

Kid, there's no dolls of yours here.

You took them, down in the cellar.

Pinuccia!

Did you take
the shoemaker's daughter's doll?

No, I didn't.

Alfonso, did you take it?

You took them.

We saw you.

You, who?

Me?

You took them and put them
in a black bag.

So, I took your dolls
and I put them in a black bag?

Achille, it's ready.

Coming, just a moment.

Buy yourselves some dolls.
And remember...

that they're a present from Don Achille.

Good evening, enjoy your dinner.

Lenù, what do we do now
with all this money?

We're rich.

- We'll buy dolls.
- Yeah...

It's too late now.

We have to hide it, tomorrow we'll see.

Why?

We can't keep it at home.

If they find it, they'll take it.

So, where will we hide it?

Come with me.

I've done many things in my life,
but without conviction.

I've always felt slightly detached
from my own actions.

whereas Lila, although
she was continually in motion,

small and nervous,
stuck to the things she did.

We gotta find something to put it in.

what most impressed me,
what I noticed all the time,

was her firmness.

Lila was firm.

Look.

It's perfect.

We have to hide it underground.

No, it'll get wet.

So where do we hide it?

There, in that hole.

Help me close it.

- Tomorrow we'll come back and get it.
- Yeah.

Time passed,
and we got caught up in other games.

Every time one of us suggested
going to the ponds

to get our money, we took turns
finding an excuse not to go.

It was as if that iron box bound us

more closely
than anything we had already.

Then that day, Lila came to call me

and told me that we needed to go
and get our money

and that she knew how to make more.

It's here.

With this money we'll buy
the book the stationer's got.

"Little Women."

Here it is.

It's still there.

She told me that the woman who wrote it

made so much money

that then she gave some to her family,
who were poor.

And what are we going to do?

We'll read it,
we'll see how you write a book,

and we'll write one, too.

That's how we'll get rich, Lenù.

Let's go!

Have you come to get it?

- Is it good?
- How would I know?

With all my troubles,
I have time to read?

I'll give you a discount.

Bye, Iolanda.

Watch out, kid.

That man's always with Don Achille.

"Playing Pilgrims.

'Christmas won't be Christmas
without any presents,'

grumbled Jo, lying on the rug
in front of the fire.

'It's so dreadful to be poor!'

sighed Meg, looking down
at her old dress.

'I don't think it's fair for some girls
to have plenty of pretty things

and other girls have nothing at all,'

added Amy."

You gotta go home, you hear me?

Are you going or not? You piece of sh*t!

I'll send you to the graveyard!

You, what are you looking at?
Go, Michele!

Marcello, you too.

Go, Marcello!

Send him to the graveyard!

They're gonna k*ll him. Let's go.

Alfredo, what's wrong?
You got anything to say to him now?

Get outta here! Don't show up again.

That piece of sh*t Don Achille wants
to take away my work?

I'll k*ll him! I'll k*ll him!

Lenù, too many bad things
are happening.

Don't you think it's strange
they gave Carmela's father a job,

after what he said about Don Achille?

Let's go home.

We read "Little Women" for months,

so many times
that the book became grimy,

tattered.

But it was our book
and we loved it dearly.

"With curious mixture
of solemnity and excitement,

she replied in a loud voice:
'Your sister!'

'You?' cried Meg, dropping her work.

'I'm so proud!'
And Beth ran to hug her sister."

It makes you cry.

Jo also wrote a story

and no one thought
she could write it.

We have to do the same thing.

Yes, even though
Jo's a grown-up and we're not.

You want to grow old
and then make money?

We have a pail here in our head,
full of words,

where there's everything we need.

You pull out one word, then another,
and that's how we'll write the book.

Maybe we should first go to the school
where you study Latin.

Yeah, sure, we'll wait to study Latin...

I wonder if my mamma
spoke to the teacher.

I don't care what my mamma said,

I'm taking the admissions test anyway.

Then you'll need books and new
exercise books, who'll pay for them?

Rino will take care of it, then I'll pay
him back for everything he does for me.

And when we write the book, I'll make
him the richest man in the neighborhood.

There's Gigliola.

So?

The teacher said Gigliola can continue.

- And your parents?
- They said she could.

- And you?
- I don't know.

We know we're going.

Gigliola, if you're going,
there's no way we're not going, too.

Carmela, it's late,
go and give Mamma a hand.

I have to go.

The teacher didn't say anything
to Carmela, she's not smart enough.

Let's go, I want to see
if my mother's back.

- Bye.
- Bye.

They're sending me to study Latin.

- Do you really like school?
- The teacher says I'm good.

I don't. I'd like to go to work.

We're happy that Alfonso
will go on studying, aren't we, Mamma?

Tell us what you need, sir.

I never had a head for study,

but I'm glad that someone
in the family's reading books.

- I'm going home.
- Me too.

Wait, let me see!

Papa's happy that Alfonso is doing well.

Can I help you?

We'll have the boy do some paid lessons

and I assure you
he'll pass the admissions test.

Thank you, sir.

You hear that?
Alfonso's going to study Latin.

- Thank you, sir.
- Goodbye.

- I want to go home.
- Wait, let me hear.

I need this money.

- I told you to go away.
- I even put in some new parts.

You only did half your job,
don't be a beggar.

I'm gonna buy a new one, I'll show you
what a real motorcycle looks like.

I gotta go.

Fresh fruit!

Lenù!

You keep the book today,
I don't want my father to find it.

- Hi.
- Lenù.

Here you are.

Sit down.

Sit down, Lenù.

You know what your teacher says?

You're always talking to her
and she didn't tell you?

What's this about,
that the teacher wants money?

She needs extra lessons for the test.

What test?

- To get into middle school.
- Middle school?

- Why should she go to middle school?
- She says she's smart.

Let me get this straight:

if she's smart,
why does she need extra lessons?

The test is difficult.

- Then she's not smart.
- She's smart at making us waste money.

She can't keep studying,

because I need a hand and so do you.

You're not going to middle school.

Lenù...

Without the teacher's help
you won't make it?

I'll try.

Who do you think you are?

We work and the young lady studies!

Am I your maid?

Quiet, in there!

Go check on your brothers and sister,
that you can do without extra lessons.

Do I have to say it in proper Italian?

You've forgotten dialect? Go!

I'm going to take the test anyway.

- How dare you!
- Wait!

Stop it! I'm sick of the sound of you!

There are four of them, we have no
money. Who'll help me? She has to.

You're always humiliating her.

You broke my whole track!

Leave me alone!

It's due me, you hear me?

Due you.

- What's due you?
- Money.

I wake up at six, go to the shop,
work until eight at night,

it's normal that I want to be paid.

But you have a bed, you have food.
What do you need this money for?

As long as I come to work
I want to be paid.

It's my business
what I do with the money.

Rino, I already pay you generously,
because I'm teaching you a trade.

Soon you won't just
be repairing heels or edges,

you'll be able to make an entire shoe.

Did the lady across the street
bring the money?

It took her a month,
but she brought it all.

Papa, I don't want to insist,

but if you pay me
I'll send Lila to school.

- What?
- I'll pay for her school.

What was that?

Lila has to go to school,
if Papa pays me, I'll take care of it.

School? Why, did I go to school?

No.

- Did you go to school?
- No.

Why should your sister,
a girl, go to school?

She's the smartest person
in the neighborhood, ask the teacher.

Your sister is smart, but she doesn't
have to go to school, Papa has decided.

And you won't get paid
as long as you live under my roof!

- Speak to the teacher.
- Enough!

Enough!

We won't speak to the teacher because
she's not going to school anymore!

Is that clear?

Yes.

Sorry.

Here.

Look what I brought.

- Where'd you get it?
- That lady, this morning.

Lila?

Come and help me.

I'm coming.

Lenù, come.

Sit down.

We'll pay the money
to Maestra Oliviero.

We'll come up with it somehow.

Thank you.

Thank your father who's kind,
if it was up to me...

But you have to be the best.

You hear me? Good isn't enough.

The best of all.

Signora Cerullo,
it took some persistence to get you here.

Your daughter writes beautiful stories,

with words she creates images,
surprising for her age.

Effortlessly and without anyone
having taught her.

I know, I know.

We have a responsibility,
you as parents and I as a teacher,

to contribute to society
with a mind like your daughter's.

We can't sacrifice her.

Who wants to sacrifice her?

You see, miss...

we're a big family and we live off
my husband's shop,

which also has to feed
his unmarried sisters and my parents.

I don't understand everything you say,
I'm sure you're right,

only...

Look at these drawings.

Look at the hatching.

Did she do these?

Now do you understand what I'm saying?

Your daughter is good in every subject.

All right... I have to go.

Speak to your husband.

I'm sorry, we can't afford it.

Then you don't understand!

Miss, I do understand.

You think I'll speak to my husband
and he'll change his mind?

You think my daughter, who's a girl,

will go to middle school like a lady

while her brothers'll go to work?

Maybe things are like that
in your house.

But not in ours.

May I?

Goodbye.

Artichokes, potatoes!

I even got sorb apples.

Look what a beauty this tomato is!

Lila!

What are they doing over there?

Stefano Carracci's father
bought him a Vespa.

To make the Solaras envious.

Here.

- What do I do with these?
- Eat them.

Green?

Let them ripen.

- No, I don't want them.
- Then throw them away.

Oranges!

That was nice of Enzo,
I think he wants to be your boyfriend.

- And he gives me sorb apples?
- What should he do?

I don't know, he should say...

"Tomorrow I'll take you to the sea."

I've never seen the sea.

My mamma said she took me,
but I don't believe her.

I don't remember it.

Wait. You wanna do something?

What?

- Tomorrow we'll skip school.
- Are you serious?

Yes, let's go to the sea.

I want to see it.

Rino says the water glitters,
it's a magnificent sight.

If they catch us, they'll k*ll us.

No, we'll say the teacher invited us
to her house after school

for a party.

Since when has the teacher
ever invited us to a party?

That's the very reason we'll say it.

It would seem so exceptional

that none of our parents would go
and ask the teacher if it was true.

Besides, Gigliola's been to the sea,
we're the only ones who haven't.

And it's not fair.

Lila!

Climb up, we're going to the shop.

Wait, I'm coming.

Well?

- My father would b*at me to death.
- Why should they find out?

Well?

All right.

See you at the gate at the usual time.

Salad greens!

Oranges!

Cherries!

Salad greens!

Come and buy from Enzo Scanno.

Elena, are you coming down later?

I can't, I have to study.

I had never left the four-story
white apartments,

the courtyard, the parish church,
the public gardens,

I had never felt the urge to do so.

Let's hurry, if anyone sees us,
it's all over.

Let's put them behind here.

Let's go.

Trains passed continuously
on the other side of the scrubland,

cars and trucks passed up and down
along the big street,

and yet I can't remember
a single occasion

when I asked myself,
my father, my teacher:

where are the cars going,
the trucks, the trains,

to what city, to what world?

when I think of the pleasure
of being free,

I think of the start of that day.

I had no responsibility.

Lila knew exactly how to get to the sea,

the pace, the time we had
to get there and return.

I felt joyfully open to the unknown

and so I gave in to it.

What's wrong?

Will you tell me what's wrong?

Let's go back.

And the sea?

It's too far.

- And home?
- Also.

Then let's go to the sea.

- No.
- What do you mean no? Why not?

Let's go, there's still enough time.
The sea can't be too far away now.

I don't want to get wet.

If we go back
we'll get wet anyway.

She's looking for me! Now what will I do?
How did she find out?

Maybe when you told her about
the teacher she knew you were lying.

What difference does it make?

I'm going.

No, you better stay here,
maybe they haven't found you out.

- All right.
- Bye.

Bye.

I'll k*ll you!

I came to get you from school
with an umbrella!

You wretched girl, wait till
I tell your father, no school for you!

You have to b*at her too,
she has to learn.

You already b*at her enough.

- You'd send a girl like that to school?
- Yes, that's what we decided.

She decided.

Of course, with a fool
of a father like you!

You don't even know
how to hit your daughter.

What kind of man are you?

Where is she?

Elena!

Is that enough for you?

Is that enough for you?

Will you stop it?

Are you happy now?

She's going to school. She's going!

That's enough, Lenù, it's over.

And don't cry.

I'm sorry.

I didn't think we'd get caught,

or that they'd get so mad.

Now they definitely won't
let you study Latin.

No, they're letting me take the test.

Why do you ask?

No, I was worried.

Just as well it turned out this way.

Yeah.

So, Peluso,
how long are we going to take?

Come along, now.

Don't just stand there.

You have to add another zero
and take out the decimal point.

Cerullo, you think
you're really something, eh?

You think you're the best, don't you?

But you're nobody.

Keep quiet and speak only
when you're questioned, is that clear?

- Miss...
- Quiet!

I told you to be quiet
and not answer back!

You go to your place.

Now, how much does
a kilo of pasta cost?

1.580 divided by 12.5.

Add a zero and take out
the decimal point.

125 goes into 158 only once,
the remainder is 33.

You continue.

Good, bring down the zero...

Lila disappeared for a while.

She had a bad case of the flu,
she, who was never ill.

I heard she had been seen in the street
looking very pale and thin.

Rino.

Lila?

She has a high fever today.

She's not coming to school,
no use waiting.

It seemed to me
that I could understand that fever.

I knew she was suffering,
and I didn't like her pain.

Pisa is bathed by the Arno.

It is the seat of an ancient university

where Galileo Galilei taught.

The cathedral square
is a true artistic jewel

with three marble monuments...

I missed her, but I didn't have
the courage to look for her.

I studied, but I didn't know what I was
studying without talking to her.

"Teacher."

The days went by monotonously,

I'd go to the teacher
with Gigliola for the extra lessons

and then I'd go home.

"Source."

I thought that even if Lila
had tried to hurt me

when she asked me to go to the sea,

I had already forgiven her,
and I couldn't wait to see her.

"Lieutenant."

It was as if one side of my body
were always cold.

Something was missing.

- What is it?
- Is Lenù here?

Lenù.

Hi.

- How are you?
- I'm fine now.

I want you to read it.

What is it?

A book.

- Did you write it?
- Yes.

It's called "The Blue Fairy."

We said we were going
to write it together.

But you're always doing lessons
with the teacher.

Read it and tell me what you think.

What struck me most
is something I know how to say now,

but wouldn't have been able to then.

The writing contained Lila's voice.

She expressed herself
with difficult words, without mistakes,

and yet you didn't feel
the artifice of the written word.

It was special.

Lila.

It's amazing.

- Did you really like it?
- It's wonderful.

You think I can make money with it?

You should let the teacher read it,
she can still help you, it's important.

No, I don't want to.

But you should.

Please.

Do what you want.

I'm going to get the laundry,
see you tomorrow.

We will want, you will want,

they will want.

Elena?

Indicative mood,
past tense of the verb "to cry."

I cried,

you cried,

he cried.

Wait. Gigliola, you continue.

We cried,

you cried,

they...

They?

Crieded?

What?

- Cried.
- Yes, but you don't seem to understand.

You can't make a mistake, or else
you won't pass the admissions test.

- May I go to the bathroom?
- Go to the bathroom.

- Wash your hands afterwards.
- Yes, miss.

Miss?

Lila has written a wonderful book
that she wants you to read.

Tell Cerullo that
she should be studying for the diploma

instead of wasting time.

Elena, do you know what the plebs are?

Yes.

The people, the tribunes of the plebs...

the Gracchi.

Good girl, the Gracchi.

But I'm talking about now.

The plebs are quite a nasty thing.

And if someone wishes to remain
a plebeian, he, his children,

and the children of his children
deserve nothing.

Listen to me carefully:
forget Cerullo and think of yourself.

Lila, sit down. I'll braid your hair.

No, I don't want to.

I even have a new ribbon.

Lenù, come here,
I'll do braids for you.

- I want them.
- All right.

- What a nice ribbon, who gave it to you?
- The lady at the notions store.

- Is it silk?
- It's like velvet.

I gave her your book.

But she still hasn't read it.

As soon as I have time I'll write
another one, that one was no good.

That's not true, it was wonderful.

- It was garbage.
- No, your book's wonderful.

What book?

No book.

See you tomorrow.

Where are you going?

Home.

Ah, Lenù!

Anyway, tell Maestra Oliviero

that I'm taking the admissions test.

That's what I decided!

I'm going to school,
even without the test!

That's enough of this business!

I'm going! I don't give a damn!

Now you've really pissed me off.

Stop it!

Let go of me!

Stop it, Fernando!
Have you lost your mind?

- I'll smash your face!
- I'm going!

I'll do what I want!

- I'll k*ll you!
- Fernando!

Look what she made me do,
the little bitch!

You drive me crazy!

What, you're not even dead?

You were born to spite me.

I don't want to hear anymore
about middle school!

Get it?

You'll do what I say
because I'm your father.

I'm not hurt.

I'm not hurt.

Jesus, what happened?

What happened?

Let me see.

What happened?

What did she do?

Nothing, she just fell.

- What did she do?
- Nothing, she fell.

Careful, she's hurt her arm.

Slowly, slowly.

My baby girl.

In the end something happened
that surprised everyone:

I passed both tests,
the elementary-school diploma

and the admissions test,
with straight A 's.

Lila only did the test
for the elementary-school diploma

and got all A 's
and an A- in arithmetic.

Middle school was
no longer mentioned at her house.

Well done, Lenuccia!

Sit here.

I can't wait to go to work to say
how smart my daughter is.

She passed her tests
and she's going to middle school!

She's grown up!
Let's give her a little coffee.

- What are you doing?
- Just a drop.

- Will you give me some, too?
- No, you're too little.

- When can I have some?
- When you go to middle school.

Now he's going to middle school, too!

Lenuccia did better
than Spagnuolo's daughter,

than Carracci's son
and the shoemaker's daughter.

- How did she get straight A's?
- She's so smart!

She's a scientist,
she takes after her father.

Lenù, while I clean the kitchen,
you make the beds.

- Today, leave her alone.
- There's so much to do.

This morning leave Lenuccia alone,
today is a holiday.

- Who is it at this hour?
- I don't know, I'll go see.

You stay here, eat.

Eat.

- What happened?
- Vittorio, a tragedy.

Something terrible.

- Someone's been k*lled.
- Who's been k*lled?

- What are you talking about?
- He was still in his pajamas.

They found the pot still on the stove.

He was k*lled with a Kn*fe.

- Did you hear anything?
- No, I didn't hear a thing.

- The saucepan was still on the stove.
- They found a Kn*fe.

There was blood everywhere.

Yeah, so I heard.

A m*rder!

They say maybe he got in
through the window.

- What happened?
- A m*rder in the neighborhood.

- Who was k*lled?
- Nothing.

Who would have thought
someone could k*ll Don Achille!

Don Achille was k*lled?

- Don Achille was k*lled?
- Yes.

How is it possible?

It happened, it means
it was possible. Go inside.

- What happened?
- Don Achille was k*lled.

Don Achille was k*lled.

Those two came from outside.
Excuse me.

- Hi, Lenù,
- Good morning, Don Fernando.

Did you hear?

Who was it?

Wait, I'll come down.

The investigators found him
facedown on the floor,

he was k*lled when he woke up.

He had just opened the window
to let in some fresh air.

He got out of bed on purpose.

He was in light-blue pajamas,

all worn out,

and these yellowed socks.

When he opened the window...

the rain hit him in the face,

and suddenly, here,
on the right side of his neck,

between his jaw and his collarbone...

A s*ab wound.

The copper of the pot was so shiny

that the blood looked like an ink stain

with a black line dripping from it.

The m*rder*r definitely wanted
to s*ab him in the heart

while he was in bed,

but he found him awake
and stabbed him in the neck.

He didn't break in,
he got in with a skeleton key.

How do you know all this?

I don't know.

I open the pail and pull out the words.

Let's go play at Carmela's.

Are we going or not?

- What's going on?
- I don't know.

Let go of me!

I'm innocent! Help me!

Let go of him!

Giuseppina!
Help me, I haven't done anything!

I'm innocent.
The Solaras... tell them I'm innocent!

I haven't done anything!

Alfredo!

Mamma, are you hurt?

It wasn't Carmela's father
who k*lled Don Achille.

Who was it?

I know who it was.

Who?

It was a woman.

It was a woman, Lenù.