Fade to Black Page #4

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better than we are.

So, one day

I go on leave...

...get a little drunk...

...and I don't come back.

Here we are.

So Dellere was

blackmailing these people?

Let's take a

closer look.

That's where

we part company.

Joe.

Thank you.

Wait.

Come on.

Come.

Okay.

What's in those boxes?

Tommaso!

Wait, I wanna see.

Let's go.

Orson. Orson!

I'm telling you, Pete, there were

enough guns to start a revolution.

Phone call from

Washington, sir.

Not now.

You think it's

the Communists?

First the hit

list, then this?

I guess they're not happy with

the occasional assassination.

Maybe they're

looking for civil war.

You really think

they're that organized?

Sure.

Now they've hooked

up with the Russians...

wouldn't surprise me if this whole

thing wasn't cooked up in the Kremlin.

L-I don't think

it's the Communists.

Yeah, that guy with Mainardi, I mean,

you know, he could have killed me.

Do something for me.

I don't care who does what

to whom in this country...

...but you're an American citizen.

That means you are my responsibility.

And you're so lucky not to be floating

face down in the Tiber right now.

So, please, finish

your lousy movie.

...and try to stay out of

trouble for five minutes.

Maybe you're right.

I know I'm right.

It is a lousy movie.

I'm only kidding.

Sweet of you to care.

Don't kid yourself.

You die on my turf...

...you foul up my report. Some

people have got work to do.

Will you do

something for me, Pete?

If it's sensible.

This guy, Joe Black...

I made him a promise that

he could get back home.

It would mean

a lot to me.

Joe Black?

I'll get on to it.

Thanks.

Orson.

Behave yourself.

No!

He saved me, you know,

my mother and me.

Maybe he got caught up with bad people.

Okay, the truth.

I always felt there

was another side to him.

A side even my

mother did not know.

A kind of shadow.

But I never dreamed.

I'm so tired.

So tired.

You're beautiful.

It gives me wonder,

great as my content.

To see you

here before me.

O, my soul's joy.

I think I'm in love.

I think you're confused.

Oh, no.

As I look

into your eyes...

I begin

to understand myself.

Is that a

quotation, too?

Oh, no.

Maybe some day.

It's okay.

I probably

won't slap you.

If you say go, I go

without argument...

without complaint.

Go then.

Now.

Okay.

Lorenza.

That's a wrap.

Now is the time for

serious business.

Now is the time to give the

world your noble Moor, Othello.

Yes. Actually, I've,

um, begun casting.

May I introduce you.

...my Desdemona.

Of course.

The genuine article.

Marco.

You are serious?

Yes, of course.

And you will be a

wonderful Desdemona.

We will be

wonderful together.

For I fear my soul hath

her content, so absolute.

Good evening, Mr. Welles.

Word is, Mr. Welles, you've been snooping

about the place. Asking too many questions.

Is that right?

What kind of questions?

Now, that's what

I mean, see?

You're planning to do your next

picture in his country, I hear.

A Shakespearean tragedy.

Yeah. Othello.

I guess the real tragedy

would be it didn't happen.

Maybe not such a great idea mixing

with your Commie pals in public.

It's terrible.

You see what I'm saying?

Look how much

weight I've put on.

But you see the

ramifications, I think.

They say there's a new

era dawning in the States.

There's gonna be a major

shake-out, they say.

Names are gonna be named.

Careers are gonna be ruined.

And if these were to end up in

the hands of the wrong people, huh?

You're ahead

of me, Mr. Welles.

You're a very

persuasive man, Mr...

Luciano.

Luciano?

Yeah. So, hey...

...be a good boy, stop

with the snooping...

...just do your

little magic act...

...and maybe you and the Bard will

get to do business after all.

And the good news is we've got even more

stars from back home to make an appearance.

Tyrone Power, no less.

Mr. Welles, do you have everything

you need for the performance?

Let me see. Hopefully

a captive audience.

A beautiful assistant.

The finance

for my next picture.

Who needs a stage? I

should be walking on air.

It is an alliance

of some kind.

The Mafia, the Fascists,

the Christian Democrats.

A conspiracy.

Those weapons in Tombolo,

it isn't a Communist plot.

It's a plot against the Communists.

It's a plan to destroy them.

In case they win

the elections, huh?

Yeah.

It has the ugly

ring of truth.

We gotta do something.

Elections are next week. Orson,

you have to go to the newspapers.

Now, just a second.

We have to blow this wide

open. They won't listen to me.

No. Tomasso, I can't.

What?

Your country,

it's... it's a tragedy.

It's tearing itself apart. It's not

as if I haven't done my bit to help.

What are you saying?

You gotta draw

the line somewhere.

It's-it's your

career? Is that it?

You-you're afraid of losing

the money for your movie?

It's not just

a career, Tomasso.

Because of your big Mr. Welles career you're

gonna sit on your fat ass and do nothing?

What I'm trying to do is avoid being rubbed

out by one of your homicidal compatriots!

We're this far

because of you.

Jesus, you-you people...

...you come over here, you-you piss with

our country, you piss with our women.

Piss?

Now you're gonna go

and suck Democrat d*cks.

The truth is, is that this is your own

private little war that you're fighting.

Finally, what's it

got to do with me?

You're right. F***ing

American. I quit.

Crazy Italians.

That include me?

Absolutely.

I have a reputation, a

responsibility as an artist.

You understand?

I understand. Maybe it is not your fight.

Look, I sympathize, but...

if Othello goes down the pan...

...it's not good for

either one of us.

Who knows?

Maybe your movie is not the most

important thing in the world.

What? It's our movie.

Look, I was wondering, do you

have time for a cup of coffee?

Uh, a little

busy right now.

I've just got the costume

designs for Desdemona.

I thought you might wanna see

them. You're gonna look great!

Orson, I'm

really not sure.

But they're wonderful. You should take a

look at the set designs. They're fantastic!

Understand this. Italy is not

a location. She's my country.

She has suffered enough.

Yes, but...

Yes?

No, please, Signor Borghera, come in.

So?

They never

found the killer?

That's right.

Maybe they weren't looking

in the right places.

Look at the third mirror.

There.

Watch for the figure

in the cloak.

Who's behind that mask?

I thought the set

would block the cameras.

But your specialty, Mr.

Welles, this low angle.

He could be so tender.

He nursed me...

...brought me opium

for the pain.

I thought maybe

he loved me, too.

Maybe a little.

But then, one day, I found the

needle with enough in it to kill me.

Seems he could wait

no longer for my money.

And, so, I ran to the studio,

and I ran to the set and...

I ask you

only one thing.

Please, let me

tell my daughter.

Very well.

Will you go to

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