Magnifica presenza (Magnificent Presence)

---

My friend says she's never

seen so many handsome men.

- Please, please come in.

- Thank you.

I can believe it.

After a 20-day march

only the fittest make it to Santiago.

The slow ones, the ugly ones

die early on, right?

Look at all this space!

And so charming!

Sure, but this room has no windows.

- Yes, but there's a sunny balcony

over here. - It's wonderful.

My mother inherited the house...

...from Countess Casanova,

a great lady!

She helped so many poor souls

during the war.

- She was a true noble woman.

- May I? - Please, look around.

How did your mother

know this woman?

She was her lady's companion.

The maid!

- What a big kitchen!

- Maria, come and see.

Excuse me.

- This house is awful.

- What? It's beautiful.

Are you kidding? It's a wreck.

It's lovely and it's in great shape.

The maid inherited everything:

house, furniture and jewels.

I see...

What a loony!

- What?

- What's in here, ma'am?

Sorry, I store all

the useless items in that room.

- Please forgive me.

- Pietro!

What is it? What happened?

What are you shouting for

you gave us a scare!

It's a storage area, but could

be considered another room.

It's huge, 1.40 meters high.

- That's convenient.

- Yeah, for gnomes!

What are you doing here again?

- I just came back to get...

- No!

The contract doesn't provide

for repayment of the deposit.

- We were here first. - I just want

to get the things I left behind.

Well, if that's all...

You can go in.

I can't.

I'll go.

Excuse me.

Another nutcase.

What?

Here, goodbye.

So, where were we?

Oh yes, I wanted to say...

...if you have four months deposit

on the rent for me...

...we could wrap it up now.

- No!

- Yes.

Hold on to your hat,

I have great news: I found it!

In the old Monteverde area,

it's amazing!

It's big, beautiful.

I don't know how I did it.

That's all I wanted to tell you.

Massimo,

I never catch you at home.

I can't wait to show it to you.

Let me know, I'm here.

Did you know I found a place?

In the Monteverde area.

It's old, but won't take much

to get it in shape.

I don't even have

to touch the bathroom...

...just fix a tile or two,

but I can do that later.

And it's convenient.

I can get there by tram...

...and a short walk.

It's even got a balcony.

Good for hanging out the washing.

Do you have a balcony?

Balcony!

- Will it get through?

- Go.

It's a beautiful house, I still

can't figure out how I did it.

I can't afford a house like this!

I was lucky.

Can you make it?

Come over, we'll spend some

time together, have something to eat.

We can talk about us, our future.

For the first time

we have a place all to ourselves.

What do you say?

Tell me when you can come.

I know you're busy.

Well then?

Hey, I mean you.

Have you moved in?

Yes, almost. I'm almost done.

How come you didn't bring

your girlfriend for breakfast?

- Girlfriend?

- We saw you with that girl...

No, that's my cousin.

Your cousin.

- We're always together.

- Bye, girls. - Bye, Paolo.

- Bye.

- So, you're in Gea's house?

Yes, Mrs. Gea,

do you know her?

- Do you live alone?

- I do for the moment.

- What do you do?

- I make croissants at night.

You should try ours

they're delicious.

No, I make them but I don't eat them.

Is everything alright in the house?

- Why, is something wrong with it?

- No!

Why are you leaving?

Have you really thought about it?

I don't think you're ready.

You don't know what it means

to cook alone, eat alone, sleep alone.

Do you realize

you'll be sleeping alone?

Yes, I think about it every night.

I can't sleep because

you snore like a fog horn.

I'm worried,

all alone in that house...

I won't be alone,

Massimo will be there too.

This Massimo!

I don't see you together.

Actually,

I've never seen you together.

- When can I meet him?

- You will.

Maria...

Come here.

- I'm sorry to leave too.

- Very sorry.

But don't worry.

- Maria!

- What?

- You went there on purpose.

- Where?

Maria, I can't handle being gay...

...let alone straight!

From one to ten?

- Seven.

- Praise from a pastry chef!

- I'm not a pastry chef, I don't make

cakes. - You make croissants.

- It's not the same thing.

- That's true.

Actually, if all goes well,

I won't be making anything.

- Meaning?

- I have an audition.

- For what?

- For an acting job.

- Why, are you an actor?

- Trying to be.

- Why, huh?

- Yeah, why?

- It's the best job in the world.

- No way!

I was an extra for one day,

it was super-boring.

They didn't even pay you.

- If you're famous, okay...

- That's why I came to Rome.

- It is?

- Good luck, then.

Really?

Pietro Pontechievello.

Well?

- If Pontechievello doesn't come forward

I'll call the next one. - I'm here.

Well.

- My name is Pietro Pontechievello.

- Pontechiavello?

- Pontechievello, with an "e".

- I'd suggest Pietro Ponte.

- It sounds better.

- We'll cut the 'chievello'.

Like a stage name?

- Pietro Ponte.

- Pietro Ponte, smile.

My name's Pietro Ponte.

I'm an Aquarius with Gemini rising,

and from the province of Catania.

- Serious now, Pietro Ponte. - I've

always dreamed of being an actor.

Pietro Ponte, be surprised.

Although it's always been a thing

I've done in secret.

Pietro Ponte, laugh!

Because my father didn't approve.

He always said:

"If you want to be an actor...

...you have to wait till I m dead"

- Then? - And then he died.

I meant...

professional experience?

I've done small local ads.

Pietro Ponte is afraid.

Like, for instance,

Resilio Jewelers in Catania.

Maybe you know it, it's famous.

Now he's sad.

Then the Rizzo Car Dealership...

...in Ragusa.

- Show me your right profile?

Left! - And then I came to Rome.

Thank you.

- Pietro Ponte's finished, thank you.

- Already?

Okay, thank you.

- It's for a laundry powder, right?

- A softener.

Pietro Ponte is afraid.

Pietro Ponte is very afraid.

Pietro Ponte, be surprised.

Pietro Ponte

be a little more surprised.

Pietro Ponte, you're not surprised!

Smile now, Pietro Ponte.

Smile more.

Pietro Ponte...

...will never make it.

Pietro Ponte is tired.

Very tired.

Mommy.

Mommy, is that you?

No sign of a break in,

the windows are fine...

...the door was locked

Let's check in here.

Go in.

It's so cold in here!

There's no one here either.

Stop saying I was dreaming...

...and it was dark.

Maria?

Maria!

- You're a b*tch!

- Sorry.

At least tell me what they look like...

...how they talk,

if they're violent, ragged, smelly.

- I bet they're illegal immigrants.

- How would I know!

- They were all made up, dressed...

- They're made up.

Trannies! They're trannies.

That's odd, because they earn a lot.

Maybe you had a beer and...

Yeah, a guy drinks a beer

and people come in his house!

You, with the gay, will let anyone in.

Idiot!

You're tickling me, Maria,

that's so nice!

No, hold my hand...

I like it, makes me feel secure.

Thank God you're here.

Hug me tight.

Your hand's a bit cold.

Cold hand, warm heart.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes