Fade to Black

---

Oh, yes.

The Second World War had been

quite a disaster for poor old Italy.

Their Fascist leader, Mussolini,

had teamed up with Hitler.

...and thought he was

on a winning ticket.

Then, Benito was

shot by partisans.

...and strung up by his

heels in the local square.

Now, in 1948, the country

is still leaderless...

...broke and

heading for chaos.

Sure, the rich

are still rich.

If you're not in

furs, you're in rags.

People are starving

and disillusioned...

...and getting

angrier by the day.

Meanwhile, the black

market is booming.

With a fistful of lire you can get

yourself just about whatever you want.

And if you still harbor a grudge or

two from the war, it's a fine time.

...to lay your

mind to rest.

Certainly.

Passport.

Here.

My, uh, slimming pills.

Slimming?

We have to take these.

That will be all.

Welcome to Roma, Mr...

Welles. Orson Welles.

Thank you.

So, there I was,

Orson Welles.

The great actor-director

hitting the eternal city in '48.

I just landed a lead role in

a picture called Black Magic.

So you see, by now I'd grown

pretty accustomed to the spotlight.

Tyrone Power!

Hey, Tyrone Power.

It's true. Perhaps the

light had dimmed a little.

But don't worry. I wasn't quite

ready to relinquish my crown.

Signor Welles, has

she broken your heart?

Eh, is there

another man?

Signor Welles, do

you know who is he?

I assume you're

speaking of Rita.

Sure. The divorce

is finished, no?

The marriage is finished,

the divorce is in the works.

Are you planning to visit the Vatican

while you're here, Mr. Hayworth?

I'd hoped to get away, to forget

for a while my private pain.

But she...

...my God, she

was everywhere.

This damn costume.

Is there a problem?

It's too small.

No, no, it's fine.

You sure it's all right?

It feels tight.

No, no, no, no, no.

It's terrific. No?

Absolutely.

Absolutely.

Signor Wells.

Signor Wells.

Your Rita, she's

so beautiful, so sexy.

Isn't she?

She's my favorite

of them all.

It is such a tragedy you've

been abandoned by her.

I think you'll find it

was the other way round.

Marco, delighted to see you've

drummed up so many extras.

Well done.

No, no, no. These are not

extras, Orson. They are refugees.

Refugees, really?

Yes, of course. The city

is still full of them.

Your Occupation Army has no other

place, so I let them use my studio.

We are shooting

synch sound?

A little noisy.

Oh, don't worry. I make it quiet

when the cameras, they roll.

Let's make a picture!

Okay, hard facts. My heart was

broken and my career was on the slide.

Right now this was

all I could get.

A second-rate film with

a third-rate director.

Nefter zufu,

thousand blessing.

Oh, and the script.

From the darkness

beyond night...

...from the forbidden mountains.

...on the secret side

of the moon, behold!

Cagliostro.

See what I mean?

It's wonderful, Orson.

It's perfect.

Moby Dick. No.

The whale doesn't have to be

huge and neither does the budget.

But, you see, I had plans, many of them.

To direct a host of movies that

even now are running in my head.

Another masterpiece

was waiting in the wings.

And the chance to return

home the conquering hero.

There is my,

my Othello, of course.

Who's that by?

By William... Look, could I please

speak to Mr. Korda in person?

How could I know then

the chain of events...

...the danger,

deception and murder.

...that was about to unfold?

I'm sorry to intrude...

...but we shall be working together

this afternoon, Mr. Welles.

And I must say what a

great honor it is for me.

Please, sit down.

And, you know? We have a passion in common.

A magician.

My card.

Alessandro Dellere.

Oh. Bravo.

Oh, yes, and I hear you had a

little trouble at the customs.

Yes.

My slimming pills.

How did you...

Remarkable.

All the movie is in my head. I have

one master, one close-up on you.

Yes, but you need

to go low and wide.

You have to give it some

power when the dragoons attack!

Alessandro.

I am the director, no?

The director that commands the most

respect is the one who listens the most.

But, Orson,

wait a minute.

When you direct, you never

listen to the actors. Never.

It is my great weakness.

And have them put an

18-mil-lens on the third camera.

And add some torches to the

background to deepen the focus. Yeah?

What third camera?

I think she

recognizes me.

He looks like the Queen.

Who is she?

One of our players.

Lea Padovani.

She's temperamental.

She's magnificent.

Orson, are you ready?

They're coming. They're coming. The army.

No, no, stop,

stop, stop, stop!

Alessandro.

Ne... Ro.

Nero.

You know Signor

Dellere how long?

I only met

him yesterday.

At the studio, we know. And we

know he gave you something, yes?

What? Oh, yes.

He gave me my, uh,

slimming pills.

Clearly a very

well connected man.

You have?

Yes.

And what did

he say to you?

He was very pleasant.

Nothing really.

How did he die?

Was it his heart?

He takes too

much drugs.

Really?

We find this in his coat.

In the dressing room.

It was opium. Very strong, very pure.

Well, he didn't seem under the

influence when I spoke to him.

He was addicted

many years.

It's an overdose.

What?

Overdose.

When he was dying, did

he say something to you?

Did he whisper

something, yes?

What did he say

to you, Mr. Welles?

Mr. Welles?

I couldn't

make it out.

Okay, Tomasso, let's go.

Back to the hotel,

Mr. Welles?

Be right there.

You in next?

Because there's definitely

something tricky going on.

Why you say that?

I got this bit player

dying in my arms.

...and he didn't look

like an addict to me.

And he was definitely

trying to tell me something.

He was whispering.

What do you mean?

What did he say?

Perhaps I owe you

an introduction.

I know who you are.

You are the

Army Occupation.

You have

invaded Cinecitta.

Ah, the camera.

I would have apologized, but I

was struck dumb by your beauty.

Americans think the world is

made so they can play with it.

The Italians own

everything worth having.

The best wine,

the best food.

Except when

we are starving.

In that case, may I

invite you to dinner?

You may not!

The bit player,

he was my stepfather.

Oh, I'm...

I guess you'll be dining

alone, Mr. Welles.

I wouldn't bet

on it, T omasso.

What's your story

with the cops?

Fat one an old flame?

I used to work here. Criminal

Investigation Department.

You're a little

young to be a cop.

Ex-cop.

Ex-cop?

I made life difficult

for the wrong people.

So, cop, what kind

of fellow was Dellere?

Take my advice. Italy is a

very dangerous place right now.

Anger from the war.

Don't get involved.

So you think it was

a vendetta of some kind?

You have a problem

understanding my English?

No. What's going on?

Communist demonstration.

Hey, hey, wait!

T ogliatti,

T ogliatti.

Hey, wait.

Mr. Welles, come back.

Hey, wait.

Hey, what the hell

are you doing?

Get out of the shot.

Never know when it

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