Madonna of the Seven Moons Page #5

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- The red-headed beauty who passed?

- Yes, Rosanna.

- If I asked her very nicely,

do you think she'd let me sketch her?

- You don't know Nino.

- Who's Nino? Never heard of him.

You're lucky. He has a bad temper

and he's very quick with a knife.

Well, he can't murder me

for being polite to a lady in public.

- No law against that, is there?

- Here, Nino is the law.

I see. Er... Thanks.

I don't know what's happened to me.

No other woman would dare treat me

the way you do.

Walking in and out of my life

as though it were an open door.

- You've never shut me out yet.

- Mo... More fool me, perhaps.

I nearly went mad those lastfour years.

Was it four years? What does time matter?

I only live when we're together.

That's the same for me too.

When you went away, I could have killed you.

- Could you kill me now, Nino?

- Yes.

No. No, the madness has passed.

Loving makes it easy to forgive.

It seems as ifwe've been dead for four years.

But we're alive now. Both of us.

Wonderfully alive!

But will it last?

Or shall I wake up to find you gone like...

like a puff of smoke in the night?

Does it matter?

Love like ours can't be measured by time.

Nino, I've just remembered something.

Look on the table.

What? This?

- What is it?

- It's for you.

For me?

Rosanna!

- You're pleased?

- Pleased?

I believe they mean more to you than I do.

I love you when you laugh, Nino.

It's like ice and fire. I love you!

Then this is the third time she's disappeared?

Yes.

- When did she first leave you?

- A few days after our marriage.

- She was, as you know, very young.

- A quarrel?

Oh, of course not.

I didn't even know she was unhappy.

She stayed away how long?

- Six months.

- Tell me about the second time.

It followed my sending Angela to England.

- Maddalena was against that?

- She wanted her to go to a convent.

- You quarrelled?

- How could anyone quarrel with her?

No. She was hurt by my attitude.

She seemed to draw away, within herself.

And then, as before, she disappeared?

And I blamed her for not writing to me.

When she returned, still no clue?

No.

She asked why the dustsheets

were over the furniture.

And who had moved a vase of lilies

that she had arranged that morning.

That morning was a year before.

Nothing to explain that symbol -

the seven moons?

Once in her sleep she cried out "Rosanna".

"Rosanna ofthe seven moons. "

But apart from that and the marking

on the mirror... nothing.

Then that's all we have to help us find her.

Ifwe ever do.

I'll leave him with you.

Don't worry.

Angela! I came as soon as I could get away.

I don't know quite how to tell you this.

My chief is sending me back to England

on a special job.

- Oh, Lyn, for how long?

- Two weeks. Three at most.

It would happen now, just when I need you.

Father can't do anything.

If Mother is to be found, it's up to us.

- That's what I was thinking.

- I tell you what.

Why not advertise for some ofthat jewellery?

The Cellini pendant, for instance.

That's a grand idea.

I'll advertise in every newspaper in Italy.

And I'll take a plane back

as soon as I'm through.

Yes, please do. I'm going to need you.

When you do, I'll be there.

Don't worry too much, darling.

It will all work out.

- Nine on the ten, Nino.

- Right.

- He's coming out.

- Yes, coming out.

- We're all here, Nino.

- Six on the five.

Hmm.

Are we gonna hang about

while he plays cards with himself?

Nino's the best judge ofthat.

I came here to say something

and I'm gonna say it now.

Since when were you made spokesman?

What's it matter who's spokesman

as long as it gets itself said?

We're not satisfied, Nino.

Love's young dream's all very well

so long as it doesn't interfere with business.

It's her that keeps him here.

He's afraid to let her out of his sight

in case he loses her again.

Vittoria, come here.

- What were you whispering about?

- I was saying you were all right.

You forgot to make the bed this morning.

Go and do it.

Bed! That's about all you're fit for.

All right, Scorpi, let's have it.

Well, I've been thinking.

We stood by you solid in the past

but things are different since she came back.

While you worked, there was no complaint.

Even if your share was bigger than ours.

But we're not satisfied to do all the work

while you sit at home, smelling roses.

You're doing fine, Scorpi. Go on.

- I said all I want to say.

- You said all you want to say, huh?

Are you sure?

You know, you're a useful fellow, Scorpi.

In some ways.

Many's a time our Scorpi's hands

have been a great help.

But Scorpi thinking? Scorpi using his head!

Doesn't make sense somehow.

Wait a minute. I'm wrong.

We did use his head once. As a battering ram!

Don't misunderstand me. I like you.

I like you a lot.

But you stick to using those. And don't use that!

Nino!

That wasn't friendly.

Anyone else want to say anything?

All right, then.

Now, you listen to me.

I've given up this small-time business.

A purse here, brooch there.

It's all you idiots are good for.

Rosanna came back with more sparklers

than you've seen outside a jeweller's window.

That's the class of stuffwe're going

to deal with in future.

Big st - that's worth risking our necks for.

But where we get it and when we get it

is my affair, and you take your orders from me.

Understood?

All right, get out.

All of you.

Oh, Daddy, darling,

I hate to see you just sitting here,

holding the cross Mother gave you

and looking so unhappy.

I know, my dear. I'm sorry.

Why don't you go away for a complete change?

On a cruise, perhaps.

One doesn't escape sorrow

by running away from it.

No.

I think a better idea would be for you to go away.

Would you mind if I did? Just for a little while?

There's something I want to do.

This morning, I had a letter about...

- Mrs Fiske has called.

- Mrs Fiske?

- But it was Millie I expected.

- If you don't mind, I'll go for a stroll.

Visitors just now...

Did you tell him you had a letter from Florence

about the pendant?

- I was just going to.

- There you are, my poor child!

Take these into the house, please, Tessa.

- There isn't any news?

- I'm afraid not.

I'm most desperately sorry.

Now, is there anything I can do?

Anything at all?

Everybody says it's a secret.

But I'm sure you know me well enough

to realise I'd never breathe a word.

- Now, tell me, why did she run away?

- We don't know.

How very disappointing!

I was hoping at least to get the truth from you.

I've a bridge party this afternoon

and it would've been so nice to...

- Did Millie get my message?

- Millie? Millie who?

Oh, my Millie! No, she's gone to

Monte Carlo to meet her ex-husband.

I mean, her ex-father... my ex-husband.

We had a row over that amul Sandro

but I paid him and sent him away.

Millie's gone away to console herself.

Mrs Fiske, I've just been able to trace

a bit ofjewellery of Mother's.

I wanted Millie to come to Florence

to make some enquiries.

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