Amina Persa Page #2

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When he thought he was

Scardanelli,the cobbler.

I have enjoyed

the pleasures of life.

The joy of youth

has long gone.

April,May and June

are past. And...

Now I'm nothing.

Life has lost its appeal.

It sounds nicer in German.

Doesn't it sound nicer

in German,dear?

- What are you doing?

- Nothing!

I was looking for a drink.

I was thirsty.

Don't you know

where the kitchen is?

Good night.

Good night,Uncle.

Yes?

- I don't want to impose.

- Come, in Tino.

- What's up?

- Nothing. How's your headache

It's gone this morning.

Sit down.

Thank you.

- Shouldn't you be at school?

- It's an hour later today.

- Do you mind if I smoke?

- No

Thank you.

Did you sleep well?

Were you cold?

No. I slept very well.

Just that...

Just what?

- Who plays the piano?

- What piano?

Last night I heard

someone playing a tune...

I seem to know.

It went...

- As if a child were playing it.

- Why a child?

I don't know. Children have

a hesitant way of playing.

Maybe it wasn't a child.

- Who was it?

- Nobody.

Perhaps a neighbour,

from a house nearby.

I don't know which one.

The sea breeze carries in

every voice and noise.

That music comes from outside.

But I don't know from where.

I don't.

You always say you love me.

Show me then.

- Would you kill yourself for me?

- No.

But I'd injure myself

badly for you.

Hi, Lucia.

Hi.

- No. Please don't...

- Let me get out.

- You look even better dressed.

- Nice of you to say that.

When a boy meets a girl

he usually wonders what

she looks like undressed.

- I have already...

- Forget it.

What's your name?

Tino Zanetti.

Lucia Pandin.

- Lived in Venice a long time?

- Since birth.

- How old are you?

- Almost 18. And you?

- Nineteen.

- Gee,you're old!

By the way,who was the man

with the beard?

- Did you see me?

- Yes,vaguely.

Not so vaguely.

You walked past me twice.

- Did you notice?

- Of course. I'm not blind.

Why didn't you say hi?

- He's jealous

- Jealous? Why?

Haven't you got it?

He was my lover.

You fool!

He's my uncle

Nice man

He looks like an artist.

He's an artist in his field.

He's a plumber.

Auntie?

Aunt Elisa?

- Isn't anyone home?

- Just you and me.

- Your uncle's out.

- Is Auntie out too?

Yes. Charity work.

She went to the hospice.

- Where?

- The hospice.

She donates money and clothes

forgetting the paupers near her.

Neglecting this poor old woman

who would love to retire.

and enjoy

a nice bottle of wine.

- Care for a cup of coffee?

- Yes.

- Annetta?

- Yes...

Can I ask you a question?

Who lives on top of my room?

What do you care?

Think of studying,eating

and being merry.

Annetta,please,

answer my question.

There's nobody.

Heavens above!

It must have been the rats.

We have plenty of those.

With all the houses in Venice,

how did you end up here?

Think of pretty girls instead.

They'll go crazy

for a handsome boy like you.

Get yourself a girlfriend.

And at night,

you'll serenade her.

Goodbye.

Wait.

Master Tino...

Promise you won't say a word.

Then I'll take you up there.

Come along.

- But you mustn't laugh.

- What?

- Speak softly.

- Where are we going?

Sooner or later,

they would have told you.

Someone lives in the room

just above yours. A sick man.

- Who?

- Mr Stolz's brother.

He's gone barmy,the poor man.

Come.

He hasn't left his room

for years.

He only sees his brother.

You'll see him through

the peep-hole. Don't be afraid.

He's a happy man

with his funny face...

One day he kept going

like this with his two fingers.

So I played "2"

on the Venice lotto.

And I won 48,000 lira.

Come.

Have a peep.

- I see nobody.

- Just wait.

We'd better go now.

Shut the peep-hole.

Doesn't he look like a snake?

When he sticks out his tongue

he's quite a sight.

I wonder what's in his mind.

Did you see how he waggles

his red tongue?

He's a real swine.

At times he lifts up his robe

to shock me.

I was a nurse in World War 1.

I've seen a few.

Imagine if I...

Madam's back.

- It's quite painful,my dear.

- What?

Having him here,

above our heads.

Despite his silence,we know

he exists and thinks.

Maybe he even hates us...

Squatting like an animal...

Can you help me?

Annetta was wrong,though.

She had no authority.

It's my fault.

I asked her...

You'd have found out anyhow.

But...

what really happened?

I didn't know

Uncle had a brother.

His name's Berto.

He was a science lecturer.

Suddenly one day,

he was taken ill.

He lost his mind.

He's a maniac but harmless.

- Is he always up there?

- Always.

So he plays the piano

at night?

No.

Who does then?

Don't make me talk.

I beg of you.

Be kind.

Don't ask questions.

Are you my friend?

Do you promise?

Of course,Auntie.

Good.

I'm not a curious person,

but those strange noises...

I won't tell Uncle if you like.

The oddest thing is that

Berto doesn't speak any more.

He used tp speak a lot,

and sing too,like a tenor.

Not a word now,

not even to his brother.

Your uncle's a saint.

He washes and shaves him

every morning.

He cuts his nails

and makes his bed.

No one's allowed in there.

Only Fabio keeps a key.

- Do you visit him?

- Never.

Fabio would be furious if he knew

we were discussing it.

Your uncle's very good.

But he can be quite mean too.

- What are you doing?

- Nothing,just closing it.

I'm sorry

I thought you were...

Why would you open it?

You have no reason.

See,Tino. We're survivors

of a great empire,

heirs of the Habsburgs.

Our forebears and fathers

of Venice,Trieste in my case,

all spoke Goethe's sweet

tongue as their second language.

To think we learn that the

Austrians were all ruthless.

What?

On the contrary,they were

honest and able administrators.

And strict educators too.

But for Italy's unification

we'd be part of civilised Europe.

Churches are deserted.

Only cinemas are full.

That's where today's people

go for confession.

- So you saw him.

- Who?

My brother...

the demented one.

- I'm sorry.

- You needn't apologise.

Silence is better than lies.

In fact my brother was

a noble soul.

A respected science professor.

Insects were his main interest.

He devised

an interesting theory.

That is,God is to be sought

below not above us.

He thought

we were more likely

to find evidence of God

in insects.

"Why look to the sky

when thinking of God?

"Let's look down and study

more mysterious forms of life.

"God ...is an ant.

"God's a bee. We must

look for God amid the insects."

Once he removed a crucifix

from above his bed

and hung up a magnified

picture of a scorpion.

We really got along.

I envied him in a way.

I had opted for a somewhat

dull career.

Engineer with the

Gas Company.

Whereas he...

he had chosen the absolute,

the great mysteries of nature,

an unknown world,

a wonderous world.

Don't think that as a scientist

he was a slave to his work,

his research,not at all.

Not at all. He gave himself

fully to living.

Especially to love.

He was hardly 20 when

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