Cinema Paradiso Page #14

SALVATORE:

Is that you, Elena?

WOMAN'S VOICE

Yes...

SALVATORE:

Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't recognize

your voice. This is Salvatore,

remember?

WOMAN'SVOICE

Yes...

SALVATORE finally speaks, says everything all in one breath, without stopping,

without hesitating, in order to leave no room for shyness.

SALVATORE:

Listen, I know that every time we see

each other I make a fool of myself,

but I'm not like that, I swear. It's

just that when I see you, I feel shy,

the right words don't come to me, I

don't have the courage to say that

all I do is think about you...

(He has finally got it

out. He's dripping with

sweat, but happy at having

succeeded. He continues.)

That's right, Elena, you're the last

thing I think of when I go to sleep

and the first when I wake up in the

morning. And at night I always dream

of you. I know, it's not good on the

phone. But please, don't get me

wrong. Because I love you very

much...

WOMAN'SVOICE

(Interrupting him)

If you don't stop phoning her, I'm

calling the police!

SALVATORE:

(Stunned)

But excuse me, who's speaking?

At ELENA'S house, a WOMAN who is visibly in a state is speaking on the phone.

ELENA'S MOTHER

I'm Elena's mother, you filthy pig!

SALVATORE feels like dropping through the floor, tries to get a word in to

explain, to apologize, but the flood of insults overwhelms him.

SALVATORE:

I'm sorry, Signora, maybe there's a

misunderstanding...I...

WOMAN'S VOICE

And don't call my daughter any more.

Never!

SALVATORE has no choice but to hang up, disappointed, defeated. He's so mad he

starts slapping himself.

60:
ALFREDO'S HOUSE.EXT.AFTERNOON

Good Friday. ALFREDO comes out of his house, leaning on

SALVATORE's shoulder. They go off down the street, towards the

church. SALVATORE has finished recounting his misadventure.

ALFREDO:

I told you, the blue-eyed ones are

the most difficult.

SALVATORE:

But why? There must be some way to

make her understand!

ALFREDO:

Don't think about it, Toto. Don't

even try. With feelings, there's

nothing to understand.

SALVATORE gives an angry gesture. This time ALFREDO'S words do not quiet his

frenzy, don't help him. He moves away from him a few steps.

ALFREDO stands there motionless in the middle of the road.

SALVATORE:

Stop it! I've had enough of your

sermons! You act as if you created

the world!

(A bicycle streaks by

ALFREDO, who gives a

startled jump, as if it

were about to

run into him. He raises

his voice, panic-

stricken.)

ALFREDO:

Heeey! Totooooo! Don't get pissed off

with me now! Come here! I don't

know where the f*** I have to go.

(A MAN on a bicycle almost

collides with ALFREDO.

SALVATORE fumes, goes over

to him listlessly. ALFREDO

puts his hand back on his

shoulder and they start

walking again. ALFREDO has

calmed down, but his voice

is determined.)

And the next time be careful how you

talk. Not to take credit away

from the Lord, but if I had created

the world, in all modesty, certain

things would have come out better.

But unfortunately such was not the

case.

SALVATORE:

(Laughing)

You see, it s like I say. You always

have an answer for everything.

ALFREDO:

I want to make you happy, Toto! I'm

going to tell you a story.

(And he squeezes

SALVATORE'S shoulder. It's

the signal for taking a

rest. They sit in a

doorway. ALFREDO starts

telling his story, and his

way of speaking is

hypnotic, magical. With

those eyes lost in empty

space, it's as if his

thoughts and his words

came in from some other

dimension, mysterious,

hidden...)

Once upon a time a king gave a feast

and there were all the most beautiful

princesses of the realm. Basta, one

of the guards, saw the king's

daughter:
she was the loveliest of

all! And he immediately fell in love

with her. But what could a poor

soldier do compared with a king's

daughter?!...One day he managed

to meet her and told her he couldn't

live without her. The princess was so

struck by the depth of his feeling

that she said to the soldier 'If you

will wait a hundred days and a

hundred nights beneath my balcony,

then in the end I'll be yours.'

Christ, the soldier ran off there and

waited! One day, two days,

ten, twenty...Every night she looked

out of her window, but he never

budged. Come rain, wind, snow, never

budged! The birds shat on him and the

bees ate him alive! After ninety

nights he was gaunt and pale and

tears streamed from his eyes but he

couldn't hold them back. He didn't

even have the strength to sleep any

more. The princess kept watch...And

on the ninety-ninth night, the

soldier got up, picked up his chair

and left!

SALVATORE:

No! You mean right at the end?

(SALVATORE is amazed,

dumbfounded; that ending

has made a deep

impression. They

start walking again.)

ALFREDO:

That's right, Toto, right at the end?

And don't ask me what it means. If

you figure it out, let me know...

SALVATORE:

I'll be damned'

6I:
CHURCH.INT.EVENING

Before the high altar, the Virgin Mary in tears clutches three spikes inher

hand. And beside her is another statue Christ descended from the

cross. MEN and WOMEN stand in line to kiss Christ's wounds. Many people are

sitting between the pews. SALVATORE helps ALFREDO take a seat, and at that

moment catches sight at the far end of ELENA on her way to the confessional.

She kneels down on one side, just as FATHER ADELFIO comes out of the middle

booth and goes to the altar to say something to the sacristan. SALVATORE'S eyes

light up. He has had a brainstorm.

He leans over and whispers something into ALFREDO's ear. ALFREDO nods his head.

SALVATORE is so happy that he gives him a pat on the cheek, like a caress. Then

he hurries over to the PRIEST. Says something in a low voice, gesticulates with

some agitation, points to the pew where ALFREDO is sitting. The PRIEST tries to

say he can't now, but SALVATORE insists, and wins. The PRIEST goes over to

ALFREDO, leans over.

PRIEST:

What is it, Alfredo? Right now, of

all times!

ALFREDO:

(In a grave voice)

Father Adelfio, I have a very serious

doubt that is torturing my soul. And

you've got to help me, because I've

lost all peace of mind...

SALVATORE watches from a distance. He sees the PRIEST put on an alarmed

expression and then sit down beside ALFREDO. Everything's ready. He creeps over

to the confessional. ELENA is there, kneeling down waiting for the PRIEST to

arrive. In an instant, without anyone noticing, SALVATORE pops inside the

confessional. He shuts the little door below and draws the purple curtain. On

the other side of grille, only a few inches away, those eyes that keep him awake

all night.

ELENA:

Father, I have sinned...

SALVATORE:

(In a low voice)

We'll talk about that later.

ELENA:

(Surprised)

But...who...

SALVATORE:

(Interrupting her)

Sssssh, Be quiet, pretend

everything's normal. I'm Salvatore.

ELENA'S eyes pop in amazement.

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