Cinema Paradiso Page #15

ELENA:

What are you doing here?

Meanwhile ALFREDO and the PRIEST continue their unusual and animated discussion.

The PRIEST is appalled, crosses himself.

PRIEST:

But Alfredo, what you're saying is

horrifying!

ALFREDO:

I know. But take the-miracle of the

loaves and fishes, for example! I

think about it a lot...How is it

possible for...

In the confessional, the whispered conversation between SALVATORE and ELENA

continues.

ELENA:

(Annoyed)

There was a terrible rumpus at home.

My mother told my father. And how

could you have mistaken my voice?!

SALVATORE is mortified, on tenterhooks, keeps an eye on ALFREDO and the PRIEST

through a crack in the curtain.

SALVATORE:

Forgive me, Elena. It was stupid of

me. But I had to talk to you.

She looks up at him and her eyes are even more beautiful in the candlelight.

This time SALVATORE finds the courage to speak to her calmly, with

determination. That grille probably helps him, allows him to see without being

seen.

SALVATORE:

You're so beautiful, Elena...That's

what I wanted to tell you. When I

meet you, I can't put two words

together because...you give me the

shivers. I don't know what you do in

these situations, what you're

supposed to say. It's the first time.

But I think I'm in love with you.

ELENA gazes through the grille at the two shining specks of his eyes. She is

bewildered by that flood of passion. At that moment, an OLD WOMAN kneels down on

the other side of the confessional and her face appears behind the grille.

OLD WOMAN:

Father, I have sinned...

(SALVATORE turns lo her,

instinctively.)

SALVATORE:

I absolve you in the name of the

Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost.

Go in peace, my daughter.

(And he slams the panel

shut in her face. ELENA is

barely able to control her

laughter.)

When you laugh, you're even more

beautiful.

She pulls herself together again and puts on a serious, but tender look.

ELENA:

Salvatore, it's awfully sweet of you.

And even though I don't know you, I

like you. But...I'm not in love with

you.

For SALVATORE, it's as if a knife had plunged straight into his heart. He sits

there gazing into her eyes, at the beauty mark on her lip, without moving. Then

through the crack sees ALFREDO and the PRIEST conversing nervously, God knows

what they're saying. And he turns back to her.

SALVATORE:

I don't care. I'll wait.

ELENA:

For what?

SALVATORE:

For you to fall in love with me too.

Listen carefully. Every night, when I

get off work, I'll come and wait

beneath your window. Every night.

When you change your mind, open your

window. That's all. I'll

understand...

He smiles at her. She is upset by those exaggerated words, but also intrigued.

The PRIEST has meanwhile solved the problem that ALFREDO has made up as an

excuse.

PRIEST:

(Exhausted)

You understand now? You see it

clearly?

ALFREDO:

(Hypocritically)

Oh yes, father. Now everything's

clear.

PRIEST:

And the next time don't go around

saying such heresy. You survived the

fire at the movie house. But no one

can save you from the fire of Hell!

62:
SQUARE AND ELENA'S HOUSE. EXT. NIGHT

Sweet poignant music accompanies SALVATORE's long waits beneath the window of

ELENA'S room... A warm early summer night. The last spectators wander off into

the streets. The VILLAGE IDIOT makes his rounds of the square.

SALVATORE is beneath her window. He waits. The shutters are open,

but not the windows with the curtains. ELENA peers at him through a

dark crack...

Fade to:

A rainy night. SALVATORE is back there again. Determined,

headstrong. A dog keeps him company, taking shelter under an

overhanging roof. The window is shut...

Fade to:

SALVATORE'S hand adds another check to an endless row of checks on

the calendar. A check a day...

Fade to:

Another night. Wind. The window is still shut. SALVATORE's eyes are

the eyes of a lovesick man prepared to face the hardest battles, just to

win, just to conquer his loved one. She peeks at him through the crack,

but he can't see her...

Fade to:

The paces of the calendar are covered with checks. Several months

have gone by. SALVATORE adds a check on the last page, on 30 December. Tomorrow

night will be...New Year's Eve. The streets are empty. Loud merry voices can be

heard coming from the houses. Old discarded objects hail down from balconies.

Firecrackers explode here and there. SALVATORE is there in the same old place,

as usual. The shutters are open, but not the windows, and all is darkness

inside. SALVATORE is wrapped in a large overcoat and stamps his feet to keep

warm...

63:
SALVATORES HOUSE. GIANCALDO. INT. NIGHT

Toasts are being prepared in SALVATORE's house. MARIA is there

with her daughter, LIA, then ALFREDO with his wife, ANNA.

SALVATORE is the only one missing for the "family" to be complete.

The bottle of spumante and the Christmas cake are ready. The radio is

on with the New Year's Eve programme.

MARIA:

(Nervously)

But why hasn't Toto shown up? The

movie house is closed at this hour!

ALFREDO has a know-all look. He tries to put her mind at rest.

ALFREDO:

He had to do something for me...

Over the radio, music and merrymaking

64:
ELENA'S HOUSE.EXT.NIGHT

More sounds of merrymaking, coming from ELENA's house. SALVATORE listens to it,

sees the shadows of her parents and relatives, maybe even hers, ready to

celebrate, welcome in the New Year. But further on, that window remains dark and

shut. SALVATORE gazes at it again.

There is a new look in his eyes, like a gleam of hope. Maybe it's the

specialness of that night, maybe it's the fire crackers, the festive atmosphere,

but something tells him that's going to be the right night. The night when

she'll open her window. In fact, a light suddenly goes on in the room.

SALVATORE'S eyes sparkle, have already taken on the hue of victory.

The window is pulled open, and his heart starts pounding like a drum. The music

reaches its climax. Two hands come out. SALVATORE shuts his eyes for a moment,

to hold back the flood of feeling. He opens them again and sees......The hands

reach out and take hold of the shutters and pull them shut. The light goes out.

It is midnight. An echoing voice does the countdown.

RADIO VOICE:

Six, five, four, three, two, one,

zero! Happy New Year! Happy New Year!

And a roar of voices, shouts, explosions, fills the air. SALVATORE has remained

standing there immobile, speechless. Disappointed. Defeated.

65 SALVATORE S HOUSE. GIANCALDO. INT. NIGHT

At his house, glasses are about to be raised. There is a strange, tense

merriment. MARIA is unable to conceal her concern, her presentiment. She glances

at the door, hoping to see SALVATORE appear.

ALFREDO:

(To Maria)

There's nothing to worry about. He's

probably with his friends.

(To all)

Let's toast!

EVERYBODY:

(Toasting)

Here's to you! Here's to you! Happy

New Year!

MARIA:

For Toto too, here's to you!! Happy

New Year! !

Everybody echoes MARIA'S toast...

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