So...
Is she asleep?
She's not well
She left the factory.
She has to stop working now.
Lila has a bad life, it's true
like everyone who's exploited.
She'll die at this rate.
Lila's destined to do so much
she can't stop now.
The struggle at the
Soccavo factory is serious.
These fights are happening
all over the world...
You're always lecturing people!
We're all aware of the facts
but this is about Lila's health.
Lila's health...
For a little fever, your friend
gets to stay home like a lady?
- Like you are now.
- What am I?
- An intellectual.
- So what?
A petty bourgeois who cares more
about her friend than the working class.
Lots of workers
can wage w*r on Soccavo.
I knew there was something
strange, that she was in trouble
that she was wearing down.
Lila's really ill.
She was right to quit
Drive me home.
Let's go.
Enzo...
I'll see you out.
Keep Pasquale away from Lila.
"Lila was like a plant
that lost its green leaves"
"and turned gray
without any resistance"
"She'd feel good with us
all around her, helping her"
"and little by little
she got her life back"
"This left in me
a terrible sense of power"
"as if her weakness
gave me the power to discover myself"
What happened?
Fine time to come home
where have you been?
I was at Lila's.
I knew you were
with that slut.
She's not well, she needs help.
That one'll lead
you down a bad path
No one in the neighborhood
wants her, not even her family.
And you do?
For once, will you listen to me?
Think of what you've become
and how she's ended up.
Wasn't writing a dirty book
enough for you?
You want to stay friends
with her too?
What are you doing?
Who are you calling at this hour?
Hello, Pietro?
Did I wake you?
Don't open them
your sister's sleeping
We're all awake with all this noise
thanks to your sister.
I have to help her
What can I do?
To resign and get a little money
she needs a lawyer.
- It's important
- Who can I ask?
I'll ask Mariarosa.
I think she dated
a Neapolitan lawyer.
Then we have
to help her companion.
Enzo.
"He's a young Greek
scholar from Pisa"
who's obsessed with computers.
Call Mariarosa and
the Greek scholar, please.
- All right.
- Don't just promise, do it.
You just used the exact
same tone as my mother.
I'm different from
Adele, unfortunately.
Thank goodness
you're different.
She's exceptional with these things
so tell her about your friend
she'll help you.
Okay, I'll speak to you tonight.
Making calls for someone
who left her husband
and is living with someone else.
Wake up! Not even shouting
makes you open your eyes
Mom, you always shout
we're used to it.
Adele, it's Elena.
What on earth
happened this morning?
Lenuccia.
She slept over with that
trash without letting us know.
"May I give you a piece of advice?"
Elena, can you hear me?
Yes, I'm here.
Darling, don't overreact
Calm down
I'll help you
I'd be very pleased to
but you must learn
to take sides, don't be shy.
"Start with that riffraff
where you are"
"You're a writer
you have a role to play"
"Speak up and make
your voice heard"
- How can I do that?
- "By writing"
Frighten the factory
owner to death.
Him and those like him
Promise me you'll do that.
I'll try.
I'll give you the number of a good man
on the editorial staff of L'Unità.
Write down the number.
"How much longer
do we have to support her?"
Thank you, we'll speak soon.
No worries, I can give
Elisa a little money.
Look what a little sweetie
he is this morning.
Just look at him
Don't hit me!
Where's Gianni?
He's gone out
he didn't even have breakfast
What's wrong, Lenù?
You want to say something?
- Mamma...
- Mamma?
"First thing this morning, he goes
Mamma, did you buy cookies?"
He can't get out of bed
without sugar and milk.
"I was no longer the little match girl
always down to her last match"
"Now I had a sizable stock of matches
I could do a lot for Lila"
"I was leaving the family I came
from and I was joining a powerful"
"generously protective family"
"Saving Lila also became a way to
demonstrate, above all to myself"
"what kind of person I could be"
Come, I'll take you
in to meet Giuntini.
Don't be shy, he's kind
underneath it all.
Giuntini? She's here.
Good morning, Mr. Giuntini
I am...
You're Elena Greco, I know.
The paper devoted half
a page to you, a rave review.
- Your book wasn't bad.
- Thank you, sir.
We're less formal here, comrade.
You are a comrade, right?
I don't remember
what you wanted to write about
- Dock workers, miners?
- The sausage factory.
Right, the one in San Giovanni.
So why do successful
young novelists
want to dirty their hands
with shifts and overtime?
- Don't you have the piece?
- I thought we had to discuss it.
How do we put the paper
together, with chatter?
- Find a typewriter and write.
- Now?
How long do I have to wait?
Sit there and give me 30 lines.
No, actually...
You write well, make it 60.
This is Greco
she'll be with us today.
- Hi.
- Hi, good morning.
"As we walk in the street
with lowered eyes"
"we don't notice others
who brush past"
"we don't ask who they are
how they live"
"the sacrifices they make
the despair in their eyes"
"the wrath they feel"
"when they show us their hands wounded
from boning animal carcasses"
"scarred forever by toil
and neglect in their workplaces"
"the hands of workers who at
night collapse not saying a word"
"And young women"
"who aren't able to tell their men
their bosses suddenly"
"decided they mustn't
be immersed in the cooking water"
"for the ham..."
I wrote what you told me.
The teacher's Communist kids
won't like this way of doing things.
What way?
At the newspaper they complimented me
they asked me to work with them.
Nadia, what do you mean?
Don't give her more importance
than she gives herself.
- And Armando too.
- All right, forget it.
I'm not going
to the cardiologist.
- Why?
- Because I don't want to.
I called half the world to get you
an appointment, you can't do this.
- That's why I have to go?
- You're going, period.
It's important.
We'll put our shoes on
and go to your neighbor.
You get ready.
You're going to
the cardiologist by yourself.
Bye, Gennarino
Bye, Titina, thank you.
Are you ready?
Yes. I want to go back
to live in the neighborhood.
You're strong, I never have been.
You, the further away you go
the more real you feel
Me, if I go through the tunnel
I get scared.
Remember when we were going
to the seaside and it started raining?
Yes.
Who wanted to keep going
and who wanted to turn back?
But you can't go back
to the neighborhood.
What will you do about
Stefano, about your family?
Have you forgotten how
you treated your mother?
And your father doesn't
want to see you anymore.
How do you know
all these things?
People talk.
He's getting married
she's run off...
Rumors spread in the neighborhood.
Is this news to you?
Come.
"Going back is so stupid"
"I was about to forget
all about going back"
"and she wants to go back
to her old life"
You're beautiful
like these statuettes.
You're the lady
and I'm the maid.
"I don't understand"
"but I think she feels
lonely and scared"
"in the factory and outside"
"to the point where she feels
comfortable in the neighborhood again"
If I'm all right, I'll go back
to the neighborhood
- Cerullo, this way.
- Can my friend come in too?
- No, she has to wait here.
- Go, don't worry.
If she's not there, I'm leaving.
All right, follow me both of you.
Lila, you have to tell me when to make
an appointment for Enzo at IBM.
Do I have to tell you right now?
My son graduated
at the Normale University
a few years before you.
Now lie down.
How do you know Adele?
Her cousin a world-renowned physicist
is a friend of mine.
So you're marrying Pietro.
Good, I know he is a young
man of great intelligence.
You're lucky.
Relax now.
- When's the wedding?
- May 17.
17?
But that's unlucky.
- Change the date!
- I don't think it's possible.
Do you have trouble waking up?
I don't have trouble
doing anything.
It's not true, she's often tired
with no energy.
- Does she eat?
- Very little.
- And how would you know?
- I can tell.
You can get dressed.
She has a healthy heart
but we need to take urgent
action on your friend's health.
She needs a restorative tonic.
Most of these symptoms will vanish
as soon as she gets her strength back.
Hear that?
In any case, I advise
a neurological examination.
Do I have a nervous illness?
On the contrary
I'm merely advising a check-up.
Did I say something wrong?
Don't worry, the examination will give
a clear picture of the situation.
A relative of mine
my mother's cousin
has always been unhappy.
When I was young
I'd hear her through the window
shouting, laughing.
But it was always unhappiness
she never went to any doctor.
- She should have gone.
- Nervous illnesses are for ladies.
And wasn't your mother's
cousin a lady?
- No.
- And you?
- Even less.
- Do you feel unhappy?
I'm just fine.
Have her follow
this treatment regularly
absolute rest.
And if you can take her to the
country for a bit, all the better.
Once a doctor sent me to the seaside
and I got into a lot of trouble.
"It was hard to convince Lila
She kept resisting"
"But at the end, I convinced her
to see one doctor after the other"
Both the irascible and the desirous
souls prevail over the rational one
Let's try to restore the wellbeing of
the body to restore that of the mind.
Could you give me those pills that
prevent you from having children?
- Are you married?
- I was, not now.
- What does that mean?
- I'm separated.
You're still married.
- Do you have any children?
- I have one.
- It isn't much.
- It's enough for me.
A pregnancy would help you, there's
no better medicine for a woman.
I know women destroyed
by pregnancy, better the pills.
I don't know of
any contraceptive pills.
And if they exist
they're illegal.
There are pills
that regulate your cycle
but they are reserved
for legitimately married women.
And if you need them
don't ask me.
Anyway, I'll write you a prescription
with the medicines for your friend.
Here.
My wife read your book
she liked it a lot.
Thank your wife from me.
What's with the face?
It's a good thing.
Fine, I'll give you
the number of a lady doctor
a friend of mine.
- Here.
- Thank you.
- How much do I owe you?
- Heaven forbid!
- What a view!
- We shouldn't be here.
Let's go.
I won't take the medicine
that assh*le gave me.
My head's coming
unstuck anyway.
I think you're wrong
but do what you want.
I'm not mad at you
but at the doctors.
What do you want
those pills for?
- You already knew about them?
- Yes.
The doctor, to be polite
said they're used for the cycle.
- Do you take them?
- No.
No, but I will as soon
as I'm married.
- Don't you want children?
- Yes.
But first I have
to write another book.
Does your husband know that?
- I'll tell him.
- Have you already...?
No, not yet.
Then, let's both get
a prescription for the pill.
Those pills aren't candy.
And if you're not doing anything
with Enzo, why take them?
I'm not doing anything now
but who knows later on.
- Seriously?
- Am I not allowed?
Yes, of course...
But you ask the lady doctor.
No, you ask her
I'm embarrassed.
I'm embarrassed too.
That thing, it never gave me any
pleasure I thought it would as a girl.
To be honest, it annoys me.
I've always done everything
a man wants from a woman.
I did it because I had to
or out of curiosity
or out of passion.
With Nino I even had a child.
But now I can't accept
a decent man like Enzo with me.
This joy that drives you crazy
seems overstated to me.
For me it's not like that.
You wrote something
else in your book.
So you've read it
I don't even know
what ended up in there.
Dirty stuff ended
up in there, Lenù.
What men don't want to hear
and women are afraid of saying.
Now you're hiding?
You talked about
the annoyance of a relationship.
And if you talked about it
you know it.
- No use saying it's not like that.
- Maybe it's true, I don't know.
I'm sorry you got pregnant
without pleasure.
Let's stay here for a bit
then go and see that lady doctor.
Look at all the shells.
"We never shared these details"
"I would only listen and not
say anything she'd say to Nino"
"Even when he was at fault
she'd look the other way"
"And I was like her
I got used to the simple life"
"trying to make the best of it
despite all difficulties"
"But I was always scared
I'd be subject to someone"
"I was always scared of men"
"They taught us how to act
and what to do"
"and they'd criticize us
for doing like they've told us"
"Nino knew that
but he did all the same"
"Men always give themselves
the right to do as they please"
"not thinking if it bothers us or not"
"These actions destroys life"
"and turns it into something
void of all colors"
Good morning.
- How are you?
- Well, thank you.
- Have you been waiting long?
- No...
- What are your names?
- Raffaella Cerullo.
Elena Greco.
First of all
I'm not a gynecologist.
What do you mean by that?
That's not important
but I can help you.
You know the pill is used
here but it's not legal.
- I don't know anything.
- What does that mean?
We'll pretend
it's for something else.
- Why?
- We're being hypocritical.
The pill is only used
for therapeutic purposes
to regulate the cycle
and it is given to married women.
I'm still married
but I left home.
She's about to get married
let's say we're eligible.
Now I'll ask you a few questions
about your health
and I'll slip prescriptions
into your purses.
All right?
"What I'm feeling
is like being a guarding angel"
"I'm so worried about Lila
and I'm following everything about her"
"The next step will determine
the amount of danger"
"if she ever decides
to go back to the neighborhood"
In the end
you all left that family.
Lila and I have
one thing in common
in the Carracci family
we were aliens, Martians.
We couldn't last.
Is Stefano still mad at her?
My brother hates her
but he has too much trouble.
Lila is the last of his concerns.
Are you happy
to be getting married?
I was fine the way I was
but Marisa wanted it
and she turned to Michele.
Can you explain?
I don't get it
You're getting married
because Marisa asked Michele?
- Life is a very ugly affair.
- Why did you accept?
To avoid upsetting Michele.
He put me in here, he trusted me.
And sometimes we all go out
together, Michele takes us out.
And Marisa is pregnant.
Congratulations! Marisa will be a
good wife and a wonderful mother.
- Didn't Lila ever tell you?
- Tell me what?
if she didn't tell you
she hasn't told anyone
She's a very special person.
Lenù... I'm gay
I don't like girls.
And if I were a girl
I'd like to be identical to Lila.
They suit you.
How much do they cost?
I'll give you a special price.
"What I learned is that Carracci
was in trouble"
"She wanted to live in luxury
to get back at Lila"
Lenù, how are you?
"I just had to know
what Solara was aiming for"
"so I went to visit Gigliola"
- This is so lovely
- "She was getting married too"
- "and they were both quite dangerous"
- Don't worry, come on in
In this building there are engineers
lawyers, important professors
Look what a view.
Look. Ever seen the sea like this?
Naples...
Vesuvius is behind there.
Ever seen this sky
in the neighborhood?
Wonderful.
There's no comparison with
Lila's house in the neighborhood.
In what's now Ada's house
No, there's no comparison
This is more upper-class
- Yes...
- You're not convinced.
Of course I am, Gigliola.
I'm really happy for you
To each his own.
You studied, you write books
And I have this.
If you save up you can
buy a house like this.
- I don't think so.
- Doesn't he want to live in Naples?
I'd rule that out.
You can tell he's a good guy.
He's not like Michele
he'll do what you want.
You've been lucky
Of course, I've been lucky too.
Pinuccia lives in misery
because of that moron Rino
Ada is Stefano's whore and I have
Michele who's everybody's boss.
See where he set me up?
We're having a wedding worthy
of the Shah of Persia and Soraya.
I was sly, I took Michele
when I was a kid.
This is the result.
I'm always alone here.
- I'm getting married on my own.
- It's not true.
Do you think I exist?
Look at me, do you think I exist?
Let's eat something.
I'm only 25 years old and he
fucks here and there as he likes.
I feel sick when
they ask us how many children
we want and he replies
"I already have children
I don't even know how many."
Does Pietro say these things?
He's never loved me.
Men only get married
to have a faithful housemaid
He's always telling me "What the f*ck
will I do with you?"
I'm sorry
I'm talking like this because you
wrote that book
and you know suffering.
Why do you let him
speak like that?
Otherwise he won't marry me.
After the wedding
make him pay for it
How?
He doesn't give a sh*t about me.
I never see him as it is
just imagine afterwards.
I'm sorry, I don't understand.
You don't understand
because you're not me.
Would you take someone
who's in love with someone else?
Michele has a lover?
He's a man, he sticks it
wherever he can.
- But that's not the point.
- What is?
Sit down.
He loves Lila, he loves her
in a way he's never loved me
in a way he'll never love anyone
I'm not making this up
he told me himself.
One night he was so drunk he said
how many women he had f*cked.
122, for free and paid for some.
He told me
I was on that list too.
"But you're not among those
who gave me the greatest pleasure"
"because you're a moron"
"and to f*ck well
it takes intelligence"
"For example when you
give a blow job, you're hopeless"
"I can tell it disgusts you"
"I'm marrying you out
of respect for your father"
"and because one has
to have a wife and children"
Then he almost started crying.
He said "For me women
are all dolls with a few holes"
"All of them"
"all except one. Lila"
"She is the only woman
I love and respect."
He told me to my face
He says with her he could
have become truly important
that he didn't want her for sex but
rather to kiss her to caress her.
He wanted her to see
her grow old, to talk with her
He says only he
really understands who she is.
He recognizes her.
And what did you say?
Nothing, I didn't say a thing.
I thought...
"Now he'll fall asleep
and I'll s*ab him"
"and I'll get my Michele back."
I don't have it in for Lila.
Not anymore.
I wanted to k*ll her when Michele
took me out of the shoe shop
and put me back
in the pastry shop.
But I don't have it
in for her anymore
Actually, I'm glad because
she'll never take Michele
she'll make him spit blood.
- Do you think he could hurt Lila?
- Who, him? Hurt Lila?
Haven't you seen how
he's behaved all these years?
He could hurt me, you
even his mother and his brother
he could hurt all the people
close to Lila, especially Enzo.
But not her, he'd never
do anything to her.
"What I expected has happened"
"The articles had such a big impact"
"Bruno Soccavo called me"
"He talked about Iskia
and mentioned our friendship"
"All she did was cause trouble"
Don't get worked up
I believe Lila not you
"Now order them
to pay her down to the last cent"
There's nothing I can do
I don't manage my money
There's people behind me
whom you know very well.
What do you mean?
Maybe you've forgotten what certain
people in your neighborhood are like.
Lila
See this, Enzo?
That shitbag Soccavo
coughed up every last cent.
Thank you.
That man you sent me
to see was very kind
he knew all about your fiancé
he told me his father
is very important.
But he said you have to wait.
He says that IBM is
producing a new computer in Italy
and that they need
an expert in Naples.
My father-in-law's prestige
doesn't count for much.
This man will help you only
because you're good.
Boss!
Open the back door!
He's really good.
Yeah, sure...
I've never even seen a computer.
That guy must have understood
anyway that you're on the ball.
So it's Don Carlo's
widow's house?
- Yes
- How much is the rent?
Houses cost less in the
neighborhood than in San Giovanni.
Come, I'll introduce you
to your grandfather.
Let's do it some other time let's go
and see the apartment.
Why? Can't the child
meet his grandfather?
Papa!
Hi, Papa.
Here's Gennarino.
Gennarino...
When you see your mother
tell her she's a whore
Got that?
Don't worry, Grandpa was joking.
People like to joke in the
neighborhood, didn't I tell you?
Aunty Lenù and I used
to walk here. We grew up here.
I went to school down there.
Lenù. How are you?
- Fine, and you?
- Fine, thanks.
The things we've heard about you!
Now you're getting married.
You're going
to live in Florence...
Yes, I'm leaving soon.
Beautiful city, Florence, Ada and
I were there a few months ago.
God, what a city!
You're lucky
When you come back
come and visit us
Don't forget your friends
in the neighborhood.
- You got that?
- Of course.
- How are you?
- Good.
Good?
Hurry up!
Papa's girl! Hi!
- Say hello to Papa.
- Give me a kiss.
- Good girl.
- Where are you taking her?
- To your place.
- Tell Ada I'll be late tonight.
All right.
I'll see you later.
- Bye, Maria.
- Bye, little man.
You're here!
Let me say hello!
Lenù!
Hi!
You know Antonio's
still in Germany.
He always asks after you
in his letters.
You look so well.
All right...
That's what I'll turn into.
Is this your son?
Lila, you've gotten thin, ugly.
Look at yourself
you look like a cadaver.
Of course Stefano left you!
Men need flesh. If they don't know
what to hold onto, they leave.
Do you know, this is your sister?
Her name's Maria.
Give each other a kiss!
You're so cute!
Let me see
stand close together.
They're identical to their father
like they stuck his head on.
We'll get going. If we're late
your mother will give us what for.
Let's go.
Eat something
you look like a cadaver.
Skinny and white!
Eat a nice steak.
Eat a nice steak!
- Did you see the resemblance?
- What resemblance?
Melina was right they're
both identical to Stefano.
- It's not true.
- they're two peas in a pod.
Gennarino is Stefano's son
not Nino's.
This is the apartment.
Here's the bathroom.
The dining room, the kitchen
I'll open the window
in the bedroom.
To move in here we'll have
to gut the place first.
Look at this, Gennarino.
It's the right place
in the neighborhood
but not in the heart of it.
We can even escape.
You can see Carmen's
fiancé's gas pump.
I like that too.
It's the perfect apartment
for us, isn't it?
If Lila's got it into
her head that it's right
we have to take it.
But you'll have
to meet us halfway.
I'll have to work
on it every night.
- Don't worry, I'll lower it a bit
- A bit?
Yes, a bit.
You'll have problems
you know.
Got them in San Giovanni too.
- Here, there'll be more of them.
- We'll see about that.
will you always
stay close to her?
For as long as she wants.
Gennarino and
I will sleep in there.
But at night you'll hear
the trucks in here
- I like trucks.
- Me too.
Enough, or the signora
will raise the price.
- What do I have to sign?
- We'll make a contract.
- that way you're all happy.
- Fine.
- So, you'll come down a bit.
- Yes, a bit, don't worry.
What can you do!
- Are you sure?
- Extremely sure.
All right then.
03x03 - The Treatment
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An Italian- and Neapolitan-language coming-of-age drama that's named after the first of four novels in the Neapolitan Novels series by Elena Ferrante.
An Italian- and Neapolitan-language coming-of-age drama that's named after the first of four novels in the Neapolitan Novels series by Elena Ferrante.