Cronache di poveri amanti Page #2

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Morning, Margherita!

Gesuina! Tell the Signora

I'm coming up to see her now.

The Signora thanks you!

Bring the Cecchi account up to date.

Come on, pet!

And be a good girl, bring me

the book. Ten, twenty, thirty...

sixty...

Ah, that'll do.

This month we couldn't do

any better.

Antonio hasn't worked much, and so-

They are 59 lire

short, Signora.

Well, don't worry. Next time

you'll try harder, eh?

Signora, you have our word.

You've always been

so good to everyone.

They should have a monument to you

in Via del Corno.

Let's hope not.

Monuments are for the dead!

Signora, it's Alfredo Campolmi

and his wife, Milena.

Oh, how nice!

Show them in!

Hello Leontina.

Signora, how are things?

Now then, tell me everything.

Did you enjoy Rome?

You had other things on your mind.

I've brought you a little gift.

It's silly but I hope you'll like it.

Thank you!

What a nice thought!

Oh, how sweet!

Look at this, pet.

Put it on the dresser.

Thank you! Ah, Rome, Rome...

The last time I went

"Aida" was showing at the Costanzi.

I remember the finest carriage

on the Pincian promenade

was mine, back then.

All water under the bridge now.

Thank you. And maybe it's the same

for us too, Signora.

Eh, a young man like you,

with your initiative,

with the profits from the

grocery in your hands...

I'm sure you'll be back

on your feet in no time.

And now with your dear wife

here to help you.

Well, Signora, I too

have to speak up.

If you could just come through

with the help you promised...

You know, to get the business going,

to give it some life again.

In short, to help us get

a bit of custom...

I see, I see. Besides, we made

an agreement, no? And so?

Gesuina, bring me the book.

Let's see...

Campolmi:
C, C, C...

Ah! Here it is!

Well well well...

We can open a new account.

It's important to put trust in youth.

Anyway, how could I refuse you anything,

coming in here freshly married.

How could I refuse?

Your head's screwed on,

but you're being too cautious.

Honestly, it seems to me

we're pulling our pants down

with our own hands!

We're not here to be witty,

we need to face up to reality.

Fascism can't be fought with

pranks and games.

It's something quite different!

Don't mind him. Our Ugo has always

been an impulsive one!

Our duty, for the moment,

given the situation,

as we see it in the

current climate...

Oh! Sorry, I didn't realise.

I just wanted to get some water.

- Go ahead! Just do it!

- Thanks.

- Good evening!

- Ciao!

- Good evening, Signora!

- Good evening!

Who's that?

He's my new tenant.

The truth is, it's up to us

to make ourselves heard.

We can cling to the law,

to democracy,

but then our hands are tied!

Milena...

- Yes, Alfredo?

- I'm thinking, we should have

144 lire from the Cecchis,

71 from Clorinda

and that's it...

But how are we going to get paid?

These people live day-to-day!

Milena... I was talking to you

about the business.

That concerns you too,

don't you think?

Everything will sort itself out.

What's important is to love each other!

Well sure. Maybe, but...

we'll need to make some sacrifices.

We need to get this situation

sorted out.

And now, with the new debt

we've taken on...

For starters, we have to draw the line.

We'll make a sign: "Arrears to be paid"

and that'll be that.

Our debtors aren't expecting that.

We could get rid of the busboy too.

Turn off the light in the dining room.

You could work on the till.

It's not hard.

You press the keys, the machine goes:

"trin, trin"...

and the drawer comes out.

- Good night, Alfredo!

- Good night, darling!

Trin, trin...

Trin, trin...

I like that, "trin, trin!"

Ah, well done!

Good! Good, Milena!

Thank you!

- Happy, Signora Clorinda?

- Yes...

- Can I get my butter?

- Isn't she good? Here I come!

- Morning, Signora! How's life?

- Good morning!

- Morning all!

- Morning!

Morning, Signor Alfredo!

- Fresh butter for Signora Leontina!

- Thank you.

Who's next? You?

Serve him first, he needs to get

to the printing house.

Thank you, Signora!

Do you mind...?

The usual mortadella, 150 grams

and maybe a slice of fennel.

Fennel for Signor Mario!

Hunger doesn't wait!

One... fifty.

- Here!

- Please tell me something:

Tomorrow's Saturday,

everything's on sale right?

But... Signora... no...

That's not even a snack!

I'd need another three of them!

- Well, ok.

- Thanks, Milena!

- There you go!

- Thanks!

- Welcome!

- Bless you, Signora Fidalma!

- Cherry jam for me.

- Coming right up!

That one's a rooster

but I haven't figured out

which hen he wants to catch!

Oh, sorry!

- Aren't you the blacksmith's

new tenant? - Yes.

- And your name?

- Mario Parigi, at your service.

- Nice! Have you signed up with

the local union? - No, not yet.

Stop by the Federation

in the next few days!

- I won't miss it, good day!

- Bye! Things are changing, eh?

Rosettes in the window, a cute cashier.

Things are looking up!

How can I help, Ragioniere?

Just passing, doing the rounds.

I wanted to have a quick word.

- Ok! Milena, will you take care

of Signora Fidalma?

- Tell me.

- I'd rather we were alone.

Well, alright. Come into the

back room.

This way!

- It's no trouble.

- Please.

Sixty for the sauce,

thirty for the olives.

Here you go.

Tell your husband to keep a close eye

on those people.

They'll have you at

the sharp end of the knife.

I know.

I know, Signora.

Have you heard? The Ragioniere

is talking with her husband.

- The Ragioniere?

- Yes.

- See you again!

- Bye!

- And?

- He just wanted to scare me.

He wanted money for the union.

He said that in the Federation

they've noticed that I'm not paying

my share like my father did.

They think I'll just roll over like Dad.

I told him quite firmly "no".

- Can you change fifty lire?

- Sorry, no.

Is that ok with you?

Yes, it's ok, but...

they could hurt us.

What are they going to do?

It's not 1921 any more.

They don't beat people these days.

It's enough to present

a strong image.

Oi! Listen!

This time they're really going at it!

- Oh! What's all the racket?

- Another new act!

Via del Corno has turned

into a theatre!

You're drunk before noon,

I'm not seeing anyone!

- Nothing ever happened with me and Ugo!

- Oh yeah?

- He's just a tenant!

- You think I wanted him as a tenant?

It wasn't your idea by any chance?

- You both agreed beforehand!

- Yes, but the 35 lire rent

he kept for himself!

Now Maciste is holding back Beppino.

Maria must have put up a real fight!

She's all scratched!

- And Ugo? - Ugo's not there.

Maybe he's already at the market.

One more happy couple in the

world. Hallelujah!

Face up to your actions,

you and your lover!

- Don't run away from me!

- He wanted to strangle me! Coward!

- What's going on?

- Maria's been having it on with Ugo!

Holy cow!

This morning Beppino

caught them at it!

You don't want to miss this!

- I've done nothing wrong!

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