Magnifica presenza (Magnificent Presence) Page #3

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...I'll kick you out, understand?

- You can explain later.

- Maria, what am I like when I sleep?

Get lost!

Want to ride it?

- Sorry, is it yours?

- Yes.

- I was just standing it up.

- Thanks. - I live up there.

I know, I'm below you, I hear you.

I'm doing some DIY.

- My name's Pietro.

- Nice to meet you, Paolo.

- Sorry once again.

- No, no...

- Bye.

- Bye.

What are you doing?

- Sticking in the duplicates.

- Want to trade?

I'll give you these shells

in exchange for these chocolates.

I stole them from Livia's dress,

but don't tell Filippo.

- Livia Morosini?

- Yes.

Can we trade?

- No.

- Nitwit.

- Nitwit?

- You heard me, you're a nitwit.

Wait. Where are you going?

Good, take your positions,

light, and keep the beat.

You are actors!

Beatrice, up.

- I'm an actor too.

- I hope you at least have a voice...

...and can move more gracefully.

Don't look at your feet,

you're distracted!

Ambrogio, louder!

- What's the name of the company?

- Apollonio.

- You haven't heard of us?

- No, but...

What's the name of the show?

- "Forbidden Dream".

- We dance, we sing, we act!

- It's a musical.

- Stop, stop, stop.

It's not a musical, it's something

more, at least I hope so.

- Would you leave us, please.

- Sorry for disturbing you.

Thank you.

Filippo Apollonio,

born in Italy in 1905.

Founded the company in '39,

in '43 he vanished mysteriously.

The Apollonio Company...

An outstanding tour abroad.

Known for satirical adaptations

of classical works.

Absolutely

no trace of them since 1943.

Livia Morosini, actress, made

her debut as a vaudeville dancer.

Adored by audiences and the press,

famous for her outlandish costumes.

Seems to have vanished, perhaps fled

to Buenos Aires using a new identity.

It's late, shouldn't you wake up?

Yes, you're right.

Thank you.

I was awake.

Were you writing?

I get ideas at night...

...but by the morning

they're always disappointing.

People meet, love...

...then they break up

and find one another again.

I usually stop at the break-up.

When I leaned over you

as you slept...

I blew on your eyelids

to wake you.

You were so handsome,

So...

Close.

You have to get up, it's late.

It's late.

Yes.

Good morning.

Coming to work on your day off?

Are you alright?

I've felt better.

Do you need anything,

some disinfectant?

Some cognac.

I don't understand

why they had it in for me.

Why did they beat me up?

I knew leopard skin was out of

fashion, but to do this...

Three against one, cowards.

- Did you know them?

- One, but only from the waist down.

And only to the touch.

That park's so dark, your fingers

are your eyes, it's like braille sex.

- Ever been there?

- Who is this nympho?

- Are you listening?

- Yes, it's just that...

You were saying?

It's like when you have

a rough stone in your hands...

...and then you realize it's valuable.

Trust me,

I'm an expert in this field.

With that make up, those clothes...

Cut it out now.

Sorry, I'm talking too much,

and you're a bit distracted.

No, I wasn't...

I was listening

to what you were saying...

...that you're a nympho...

You're getting me mixed up.

Excuse me, continue.

- I'll tell you what happened.

- Please.

He was rather ugly,

but there wasn't much around...

I like the ugly ones, they feel

they owe you, so they give you more.

And this one had a huge dick!

- So vulgar!

- So vulgar...

- Can't I even say dick?

- Right, it's him that...

- Him?

- Me!

Of course!

Him.

- Do you see him too?

- Frankly?

No.

He's a ghost,

although he thinks he's still alive.

What are you saying?

- Would you please leave?

- No, I'm staying.

Goodbye.

It's been...

Goodbye, it's been a pleasure.

Thank you, I'm staying.

- He won't leave.

- He's crazy about me!

- No way.

- No way.

That's what they all say.

What role is she playing?

I don't understand.

- What part's she playing...

- Me?

I play only myself.

What could be more natural

than real fiction?

Ugly, old...

- But intelligent... good!

- What did he say?

He said you're intelligent...

...and that you're unique...

- Unique.

- Yes, as a woman.

- So, ugly and old.

- No!

Pietro, careful!

Careful of what?

Is there anyone else I should know

about in this house?

There might be someone else.

I just love this game of yours.

We all fight solitude

the best we can.

You know what I was thinking

as they were beating me up?

I thought how much Marlene Dietrich

suffered that night in Sydney...

...when she fell on the stage

and remained there...

...waiting for 3,000 people

to leave before she got up.

Such dignity, such style!

What exactly do you see? Ghosts?

Poor things.

Poor things...

Just imagine being trapped

forever in this house.

Okay, but me too...

So, you believe me?

Darling, look at me.

If I still believe in myself,

how can I not believe in ghosts?

I'll call you,

so you can tell me how you are.

"I have always depended

on the kindness of strangers."

Blanche DuBois.

Hello there...

Hello there!

Excuse me.

What happened to Marlene?

How is she?

She must have turned

her accident into a show.

Why are you whispering?

Has something happened?

No, just trying not to disturb you.

We wanted to know

if your friend who knows Marlene...

...knows Livia Morosini too.

Who's Livia Morosini?

She's the greatest actress

in Italian theater!

She's the greatest whore

in Italian theater.

Don't speak about Livia like that,

you're obsessed.

If she were the only one! She was

just the latest, the youngest.

What an idiot you were

and what a mistake you made!

My mistake was

keeping you in the company.

How dare you say that to me?

It's no use arguing

among yourselves now.

- Don't butt in.

- I'm butting in?

I'm taking a bath in my own house,

in my own tub.

You're the ones

who should leave this house!

You don't understand a thing,

we can't leave here.

Do you think we wanted to stay

in this rat hole?

This isn't a rat hole!

That's enough.

For us it's a matter

of life and death...

...every minute is vital for us.

Life and death...

Try to find out

what happened to Livia...

...if they caught her, if she escaped.

Let her know we're here.

I don't think that's too much to ask.

Fiction, fiction...

This is our code word.

Not fiction, reality.

That's the counter code word.

It's a disaster.

We'll think of something.

There are lots of ways now...

...we could get the saliva

from one of the lawyers analyzed...

...and if he's not the father,

it's the other one.

What if it's the one after that?

Three?

Then we'll get him legally recognized

by the whole office.

Yeah.

Go ahead and cry.

That's what we'll do.

Cry, let it out.

Will you stop

ripping those packets open?

Pietro, relax.

These are the duplicates, this is

the album I use for the duplicates.

I'll give them to you, so you can

stick them in, carefully.

Let's start, what did you find?

- This one?

- I have it.

A duplicate!

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