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don't trust genius.

They may respect it...

...may envy it.

They may use it for their own

purpose, but don't trust it.

When I first went to Hollywood,

I might as well been a Moor.

I had a legion of lagos,

all plotting my downfall.

It's a waste of their

time, of course.

I'm perfectly capable

of destroying myself.

Stop the car.

Wait, wait.

No!

No!

Down, down!

Brasciatti.

At least this time we can be

sure it wasn't an overdose.

Yeah, and if you give to us

sooner the list, Signor Brasciatti.

...he might still be

walking around.

Maybe. And maybe ifyou looked a

little closer at the Dellere case...

...you would have found

the list yourself.

Gentlemen.

I owe you my life.

No big deal.

You know my informer?

Yes.

She's got a

lead on Nero.

Mr. Welles, do you believe

it's a Russian plot?

Is it true you were working

undercover, Mr. Welles?

Maybe it was

the Russians?

How does it feel

to be a hero?

A hero? Well, I don't know about that.

The American Government

is paying you, Signor Welles?

Surely not.

Must be good to be back on

the front pages, Mr. Hayworth.

You could have got

yourself killed.

Y eah, and saved somebody else

the trouble. What did I do exactly?

You just foiled

a Communist plot.

Plot? What plot?

Remember these guys?

Yeah, from the funeral.

Ugo, Ugo, that Communist guy.

Seems they'd do just about

anything to win the elections.

Really?

Everyone on the list is either

Christian Democrat or Democrat supporter.

What's it got to do with me?

Why do they wanna kill me?

'Cause you're a Yank.

We're backing them, too.

These people hate that.

Your assassination is a neat way

of making these feelings known.

The higher the profile,

bigger the headline.

Haven't they ever

heard of Tyrone Power?

You'll be fine.

Good morning,

Mr. Welles.

James Dunn, your

Ambassador here in Rome.

Allow me to introduce Signor Cava

of the Christian Democrat Party.

And Monsignor Pressner

of the Vatican.

Signor.

The great and the good. I'm honored.

We must thank

you, Mr. Welles.

You have done this country

a truly great service.

I'm only too pleased

to see justice done.

We are hoping you might also

honor us, uh, with your magic show.

Uh, Mr. Brewster, he

tell us so much about it.

Strengthen the bond

between nations.

For the election campaign?

Part of the Friendship

Programme, exactly.

Friendship, yes. You

help us win the election...

we help you make

your wonderful films.

Oh. You mean financing?

Why not?

You don't like them, huh?

What? Christian Democrats?

Yeah.

Nice shiny suits.

Meaning?

They still have their

black shirts in the closet.

My guess is half of them

were Fascists in the war.

Tell me something, Tommaso. Were you born

cynical or did you have to cultivate it?

So, back to the hotel?

What do you think?

Uh, I think we still

have a loose end.

Tombolo? What

happens in Tombolo?

You don't want

to go there.

Well, you don't seem

too keen yourself.

So much of the art of cinema

died when sound as introduced.

You really think so?

Oh, yes, I know so.

But a great performance

always survives.

And here's the finale.

Messalina. The Joan Crawford of ancient Rome.

And how like

your daughter.

Same profile.

Ribbons of dreams.

So, Marco, I hear you are to make a film

of Othello with Mr. Welles. Is it true?

Yes, indeed. The preparations have begun.

I hope you gentlemen are

considering my daughter.

She would make

the perfect Desdemona.

Mother, please.

I'm only saying what it's obvious.

You are the genuine article, after all.

I'll certainly

keep her in mind.

Good evening,

everybody. Aida.

Hello.

Lea, have

you forgotten?

No, I'm ready.

Excuse me, everyone.

Mother, I'm sorry,

I did tell you.

I know, I know.

Enjoy yourselves.

Where are you going?

We're going dancing.

You want to come?

You should take Signor Welles.

Show a bit of the town. Hm?

Uh, I don't think so.

Of course, why not?

You must come.

She isn't seeing Glenn

Ford, she's seeing Aly Khan.

Of course, my even greater

star is Veronica Lake.

Do you know her?

Yes.

Oh, she is

so, so, so...

Short.

Like a ray

of sunshine.

Her skin is like cream

and her hair is pure gold.

Your Desdemona, she should

have the golden locks.

Did Lea say

we saw your films?

No!

And?

Um, they surprised me.

Surprised you? Good surprise or bad surprise?

Well, if they were bad, I

wouldn't have been surprised.

Come on.

I have to go.

Could you see Stella

gets safely home?

Yes, of course.

Is Rita?

No.

No, it's...

It's not Rita.

I got you, Mr. Welles.

You make a lot of trouble.

Big f***ing trouble.

I think maybe it's time for you to die, yes?

Is no the Communists.

We no make this list.

We no make those killings.

If we want you dead,

you'd be dead long time.

Orson?

Tombolo.

Is they who is

trying to kill you.

Orson, are you okay?

Tombolo.

After the war, all the outlaws,

the gangsters, collaborators...

...the prostitutes, deserters,

they moved out of Rome.

They took refuge

in the woods.

They call it

Tombolo but...

...this is not a town.

It's a disease.

So, tell me.

In the war.

...the Fascists brought

people here to torture them.

People, huh?

Only ghosts.

Only ghosts.

Some of these ghosts,

they won't lay down.

They still breathe

the same air we breathe.

You're out of your

f***ing depth.

That may very well be where

I'm most at home, Tomasso.

The name Nero? No.

Can I help you, gentlemen?

My name is Joe.

Follow me.

Hey, baby!

We got company.

This here is Flavia.

Yes, I believe

we've met.

So, where's Nero?

That's me.

Giuseppe Nero.

Joe Black.

So, gentlemen,

what's the deal?

Have you ever heard of,

uh, Alessandro Dellere.

You got some kind

of accusation to make?

Down! Get down!

You bring the cops?

You set me up?

No.

What's happening?

A raid. Military

Police. Stay quiet.

Rounding up deserters. Ain't

never gonna catch Joe Black.

Thank you.

Why would I kill Mr. Dellere when he

was gonna get me back to the States?

He was?

Sure. He was gonna get me

a passport and everything.

I heard he prepared fake

papers for Jews during the war.

For a price, yeah.

What's more...

...after you got it, you might

have to keep on paying.

He saved Jews

to blackmail them?

I'm telling you, Mr. Dellere was

into all kind of monkey business.

Got into some bad sh*t.

Wanted me to go in with him.

Even threatened to turn me in if I didn't.

I politely

threatened him back.

What kind

of deep sh*t?

Hell, man, why

should I tell you?

Look, Joe, I...

I know

important people.

Ambassadors, State

Department people.

People that can help

you get back home.

We got a deal?

You could give

me your word.

You got it.

Follow me.

What is it made

you run, Joe?

I was in Transpo,

fifth Army.

Seen a bunch of my friends

get blown into little pieces.

Then they pulled us

back behind the lines.

...and I see the Nazi son of

a b*tches been killing us.

...getting treated

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