Eager to Live Page #4

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Come in, come in.

So, 800,000 on the usual conditions.

Until tonight.

I want it cash and now. - Wait, it's..

- Cut it out, I can't wait!

What does it mean to you?

- 800,000? One million.

For 12 hours?

Then, no surprise. - You're a stinker.

- I'll give it tonight, at the track.

We agree, that's fine.

You write me two lines?

How many times did I turn to you?

I've always returned. - Yes.

- Look at me! I'm the kind to screw you?

No, but some black on white...

- Cut it out. Gimme the money and scram.

Alright.

There. It's 800,000. Count it.

Tonight the surprise.

How you doing, Rossi?

Everything okay?

What're you up to?

- I get by.

Want to call Bero?

I must speak to you both.

Go call Bero. Quickly.

You'll admit it's ridiculous

being told by a third party!

You really needed to go...?

- But I'm not sure yet! - Nice mess!

I don't know how I got to tell Sandro.

- Sandro my ass!

I was miserable.

I was...

And you?

You're so weird these days.

- Now it's me the weirdo!

You're not weird, huh? Trumpeting to the

four winds... - But I only told Sandro.

And Sandro is like a brother to me.

Yes? - Is that you, Massimo?

Say, are you crazy? Are you crazy?

Why?

The marathon's prize.

The prize of the marathon?

No, look, Massimo.

I come to give it back.

Maybe! Do come!

I'm joking.

Please, I enjoyed it.

- I don't know what happened last night.

I think I got pretty boozy.

I'm not used.

Maybe I said some nonsense,

and you thought...

No, there must be a misunderstanding.

Please, let's meet. It was an

evening so strange. All a strange day.

I was glad to see you.

I too was glad to see you.

And I wanted to prove it.

I'll call you tomorrow. No, I can't,

I'm at the races with Daniele.

It's not enough to turn me off.

You know, after we forgot him last night.

Well, then I'm coming too, OK?

Really?

I'll call you back. Alright, bye.

Oh, no, no.

Tragedy?

What's there to cry, now?

Nothing. Did I say anything maybe?

- Come on, Elena!

It was the girl from last night, right?

I understood immediately.

But I'll go to that girl,

and I'll tell her everything!

But, you got the craze

to talk nonsense to people?

Come on! What's going on?

- Get off! Get off me!

She's Daniele's girlfriend.

I've met her after many years, okay?

Or shall I bring

written justification of my parents?

We can't go on like this. Everyday

a scene more stupid than the other.

I'm in a dire situation.

You get it? Do you understand that?

If tonight I can't fix it,

I'm in trouble indeed.

But the young lady just thinks I don't

devote her enough of my time! This is..!

Forgive me...

Forgive me!

Please, don't be upset.

It's just that I'm nervous these days.

I was so afraid.

For the matter of the child, you know?

I don't know why, love,

but I was afraid. Afraid to tell you.

Afraid of me?

I wanted anyone knowing.

Massimo, you don't know my folks.

They're good people!

Big deal! With my troubles, I lacked

the news of a child. - That's why, see?

Say...

You're not upset, are you? You love me?

- Yes, yes.

I'll go with you tonight. - No, I'll be

nervous, and you'll make a scene for...

No, I swear!

But if that girl... - She doesn't count.

Come on, Elena, don't start over, please.

As you wish.

So then...

I'll go to the movies with Sandro.

You mind? - Who, me?

Surely if I were to have a jealousy fit

as you do any time you go with Sandro!

But, if you don't want... - No, no.

Hello?

Is it you?

Bravo Filippo.

You're sure, huh?

See you there. Yes.

Bye.

The time is 1:
28:07.

Totalizator:

Winner:
12.

Placed:
60, 45... - I'll gamble these.

- Want a coffee? - Each-Way:..

Two coffee.

If Clarice doesn't break at the start,

may even win. - And its odds?

Listen...

What are the odds for Clarice?

- 4 to 1. Why don't you bet?

Yes, I will. Where do I find you?

- At the restaurant. - All right.

It makes no sense. Why?

It's a value.

- Two coffee.

Maybe you're rich enough

not to mind these things. But I do.

I am a small-bourgeois,

prudent and calculating.

A gift like that must have a why.

One which I don't like.

Don't worry, there isn't a why.

It made me cheer.

I saw it at Bulgari's and it looked

just fit for you. Look how wonderful.

If you wish, I can say it's a gift

in the name of our old friendship.

Or a wedding gift in advance.

But I don't care about

the old friendship.

And as for your wedding...

- Massimo...

Yes?

Massimo, I...

So then?

Bet on Peter. - But... - Go.

Hey!

Hey!

Forgive me for everything.

Even for the brooch, but keep it.

It is the memory of an amazing evening.

At least for me.

Clarice winning, 2,000 lire.

- It's an oddball horse, you'll lose.

Dick's for sure. - Forget it! Okay at 3.5?

Can we give it to him at 3.5?

- Sure! Peter 175 to 50!

The ticket! - I'll give it, don't worry.

- Excuse me, please.

Tomorrow at 15:
30,

at the hippodrome of Vallelunga,

flat racing and Championship

of 'Butteri' from Latium.

All services available.

The favorite is Dick, no. 6,

but I've bet on Peter, no. 1.

But then, why you made me bet on Clarice?

- For good luck.

Why do you deal with racing?

It seems like a game, not a real job.

A game that won't let you sleep.

For Fontana. This on Peter.

- I'll be damned!

Third race. Trevi Prix.

The 8 competitors are called to the tapes.

In order, will start:

Peter, Barone, Arco, Clarice,

Dick, Amelia, Coccio, Zolla.

What's wrong?

- Nothing.

It's not true.

Starts to be humid, at night.

- You're right, watch my breath.

Remember when as kids we smoked paper?

- What are they doing? They don't start?

All done.

- 500,000? - Yes.

- Ready!

- Zolla, no. 11, led by Saraceni.

Side by side,

the sulkies pass the starter,

while the tapes are about to snap.

- Ready, set, go!

They're off!

Peter soon takes the lead,

followed by Barone, Arco and Clarice.

And then Dick,

then the others further back.

At the first bend, Peter, Arco and Barone.

Dick reaches Clarice, tries to flank it,

but lags behind.

Outdistanced, Amalia, Coccio, Zolla.

At the first straightaway, in order,

Peter, Barone, Arco, then Clarice, Dick.

Dick flanks Clarice and passes.

We're not far from the stables bend.

The sulky No. 3, Arco, led by Bero,

is alarmed because Dick, No. 6,

is gaining ground on him.

Hey! Here it is.

Go on. Go on.

Bero widens and cuts off Dick, that had

come alongside Rossi, leading Barone.

Clarice has accelerated...

Beautiful that brooch. I hadn't noticed.

What a race!

If it goes well, tonight we party.

...overtaking the bend and passing

quickly in front of the grandstands.

Peter is still ahead by two lengths

on Barone and Arco at the rope.

But now Dick attacks wide,

trying to approach Bero,

who whips and fights back

for a few meters,

but he can't hold on,

and breaks stride, rearing up.

The crowd echoes the action of Dick,

that takes the place of No. 3,

disqualified,

almost alongside Barone, No. 2.

But here is that Rossi, No. 2,

compels Dick, No. 6, to go wide,

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