Men and Wolves

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Men and Wolves

In Abruzzo, with the first frosts, when

flocks and shepherds leave the high ground

over which is about to stretch out

the white blanket of winter,

the mountain gorges resound

with the mournful echoes of the howls

heralding the raids

of the ravenous beasts.

Only defense against them,

the wolfers.

Professional hunters,

descendants perhaps, in the tradition,

of those warriors to whom

the ancient inhabitants would entrust

the protection of their lives and their

property in exchange for maintenance.

Even now, when they kill a wolf,

they take it with a cart

around the villages of the mountain

to gather the poor things that

the shepherds can give them as payment.

Silent and strong, like the mountains

among which they grew up,

wolfers a bit by need,

and much by atavistic passion,

these men have preserved intact,

of their precursors,

an indomitable spirit of independence

that prevents them from having a master.

They are nomads.

They appear at first frosts,

and mysteriously disappear

at the melting of the snow,

like the beasts with which

they have supported through the winter

the relentless struggle.

Go straight,

and you're right in the square.

Thank you.

And excuse the disturbance.

Teresa!

We arrived. Wake up, Pasqualino!

Let him sleep, I'll carry him in my arms.

- Better if he walks, so he warms up.

Pasqualino, wake up.

Come on, Pasqualino!

You see how much snow?

You felt cold, kid?

- No.

I dreamed I was at the beach!

See how grueling it is?

It was better

if you'd stayed at the village.

You would have sent for me

after 10 days, as you always did.

I know you don't like

to always come after me.

Ah, sometimes I think

I have two children instead of one!

The City of Vischio

makes known to all citizens that

it will pay the sum of 20,000 lire

to who will kill a wolf.

If it is a female,

this will yield 5,000 lire more.

Because females are worse,

they give birth to other wolves.

They're always up against females!

- 20,000 lire!

It's little.

Let's try at Corvino!

Maybe they pay more.

They won't pay more!

They weigh more than a cow.

- Come on! Well, they eat more than us!

Take it easy,

they're not sacks of potatoes.

Excuse me,

is still alive Nazareno the wolfer?

He's over there, just past the corner.

- Thanks.

Try to buy a sheep for the leghold traps.

Dad could send them

when they could go on foot,

we wouldn't spend

all this money on trucks.

They live the ladies' lives!

Winter at sea and mountains all summer.

Better off than me.

Better than you? You are the daughter

of the owner! What do you lack?

Everything!

You always arrive when it's done!

Fortunately Dad's not there. Listen.

Mind you, the sheep are counted. - So?

- Don't sell them along the road!

Then, you have some money

to lend to your little brother, huh?

You think I don't know

where this is going to end?

But I want it back, got it?

And mind the sheep, don't be stupid!

Yes, I know! Close.

Excuse me, can you sell me a sheep?

Maybe ill, a reject.

We need it to lure

the wolves to the traps.

We have only good animals.

And the sheep, we buy, we don't sell.

Oh, our craft is over, my man!

But I... I have the passion.

Today, if you want to earn on a wolf,

you must take him alive.

And then you sell it to a zoo.

If only!

I'm here about ten days.

If there are no wolves, I'll go farther.

There are, there are... and you know it.

Come on, you're a brigand more than your

dad, can tell by your face. Come in.

You can settle here.

It 's just what I wanted.

We're three.

- Three wolfers?

No! But I have my wife and my son.

- And you take along the wife?

In my time, the women,

we sought them in the mountains!

But at least, your wife is beautiful?

That's why I married her!

She had not even a blouse!

Bravo!

Bravo!

Bravo, so you did sooner to undress her.

And for the rent?

- What rent, you fool!

Come on, leave this stuff and

go call your wife. Come on, go on! Go!

Are you wolfers?

Yes. - And can't you send

these blessed wolves elsewhere?

But you can't control the wolf!

When there are wolves,

our shepherds run away like hares!

To each his own trade!

If your husband agrees,

I give you lodging,

I give you 3 quintals of flour,

plus wine and cheese.

I'll give you like him!

And even pasta twice a week.

And the meat for the traps,

who will provide it?

I want to go broke,

I'll give it, if you come with me.

What's up? - We bargained

with your wife to have a wolfer.

The place I have it already.

I don't need anyone.

Wow! What nasty temper!

- With that wife, he's right.

At least there's the bed.

What do women think about, first of all?

The bed!

Give me a hand!

This is fine as bait, dad?

- No.

The wolf is hungry for meat,

not for cheese.

The wolf always walks

against the wind, and sniffs the air.

And, if he doesn't smell meat,

he doesn't come close.

Run to the tobacconist's and get me

a cigar. Teresa, give him the money.

But I, when do I start smoking?

Ah yes, she's a beautiful wife.

And works hard, even!

Of course!

He does the artist!

How sorry I am

that you have to make do in here!

What could we find better?

A more human job, you could find.

But it's a bad time!

No.

It's that you like better this one.

I'm not going back home, for sure!

Tell him I'm dead! - And you leave me

all alone? - It's your problem!

My God, how sad!

- Poor beasts!

Luckily I didn't let go mine!

Go call Don Pietro.

- No, no, I don't have the guts!

See how many they are.

- Ours too will end up this way?

Not even with dogs

they can be saved this year!

I heard them, the wolves, last night.

- I told them not to go!

Poor beasts, they're still warm.

- To attack a truck, they must be hungry!

Of course! It's too cold.

This year, the wolves

are worse than in past years.

How many wolves were?

- Five.

But look what precision.

All at the throat.

Oh, yeah! Wolves never fail.

But who's that guy?

I think is the surveyor

who came last year.

But, a surveyor has a rifle?

- Hush, here comes Don Pietro!

Amerigo!

Amerigo!

What's the matter? Go away, okay?

For a few sheep,

it's not the end of the world!

Beppino, Fausto!

Take away this stuff!

Amerigo, you're here!

You've been afraid of wolves, huh?

What ugly beasts!

Hush, hush, Dad.

Don't talk about it, for God's sake!

I knew it would end up like this.

- If he were my son!

You left the truck in the street

to go to Carmela, huh?

And what should a young man

do in this town?

The monk?

Well...

Luckily I shot!

- Who are you, what do you want?

If I hadn't arrived,

not one sheep would be saved.

Shut up, you!

I'm not afraid of wolves,

let alone of him!

Nice gratitude!

You're a wolfer, you?

Why, don't you see?

We too are here for the wolves!

Damn, a cartridge belt like an organ!

Not like yours, Dad!

Pasqualino!

Come, we still have to find

the meat for the wolves.

You already caught any?

- Here, not yet.

Goodbye.

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