My House in Umbria Page #6

- Yes, I am.

I'll walk upstairs with you.

My books.

- Your...

- Books.

My own books.

You're an author, Mrs. Delahunty?

You might like to call me Emily.

The books they had at the Cafe Rose...

were the complete works of Shakespeare...

and the collected poems

of Alfred, Lord Tennyson.

That was my education

when it came to writing English.

I know The Lady of Shalott by heart.

And the part of Lady Macbeth and

"Shall I Compare Thee To A Summer's Day?"

You're a Capricorn.

The moment I heard your voice

on the phone, I guessed Capricorn.

Most interesting.

Your ants are interesting, too, Tom.

I used to find it so easy to write.

You know, like escaping

into my own private world.

It became more difficult as I grew older.

Sometimes impossible.

Since...

carrozza 219...

I feel it coming back.

An energy.

And do you know why...

I see you are putting those in full sun.

- Yeah, I think they need it.

- Yes, they do.

A little water wouldn't hurt.

What have you found, Tom?

Visitors from Argentina.

Linepithema humile.

They came here by boat in the 1920s.

They appear to be thriving.

Italy certainly has that effect on people.

Ants, too, it seems.

Glorious day, huh?

It is indeed.

He greeted me so pleasantly

that I was tempted...

to forgive his rudeness

of the previous evening.

The truth is I'd already had a drink or two...

and I may have misinterpreted his response.

He is a scientist, after all.

Perhaps fiction isn't his forte.

You're leaving tomorrow.

Yes, we are.

How sad. You had breakfast?

No, not yet.

I thought I'd go for a walk

before it gets too hot.

That's a good idea.

Do you mind if I come with you?

As you wish.

Such a shame you couldn't stay

a little longer.

I'm afraid...

I was a nuisance to you

when we talked yesterday evening.

Not at all.

You were tired, and I delayed you.

I think I offended you...

by calling you by your Christian name,

I'm truly sorry.

It is perfectly all right.

- You weren't offended?

- Not at all.

It's just, it's friendlier to call you Tom.

"Professor" makes you sound so ancient.

Look at those clouds.

They're like the clouds in the painting.

Is that Werner?

Say what?

I thought I saw Werner.

That's a memorial to an American soldier.

The people were starving,

and he gave them his food.

All of it, even though they were the enemy.

And he died in some pointless skirmish.

But they didn't forget him.

They thought it was a miracle

that a soldier should do such a thing.

I don't believe in miracles.

Let me tell you something, Tom.

There's been a terrible evil, but here...

in this little corner of Italy,

there's been again a miracle.

Three survivors,

out of all the world's survivors...

have found a place in my house.

One to another, we're a source of strength.

The miracle of that...

I do not believe in miracles, Mrs. Delahunty.

I told you that already.

Nor do I believe in fate, destiny, astrology...

Whether you believe it or not,

a miracle has happened.

It's happened here.

Suddenly he was cross...

and I thought he was going to shout,

as other men have in my presence.

But he didn't.

Perhaps you should get back to the house.

I'm sure you could do with a drink.

I do not drink at 9:00 in the morning.

- Quinty, I wanted to ask your advice.

- About what, sir?

Mrs. Delahunty. The situation, as it were.

My staying here.

The point is, should I stay or should I go?

I thought you was planning

to finish the garden.

I know, but with the child going,

and the whole group is breaking up...

I was wondering whether it's not time for me

to pack my bags.

- Do you want to go?

- No.

Definitely not. I mean, who would?

Beautiful surroundings, the comfort,

the sheer joy in being here.

Let me tell you something.

I met her in Marrakech.

I was ill. I was dying, in fact.

She nursed me back to health.

In her own way,

she's been looking after me ever since.

I felt a bit guilty about it at first,

but then I realized...

that's her function in life,

looking after people.

Despite all the sadness and pain...

she's been happier these past few weeks

than I can ever remember.

That's it. She likes...

She needs to look after people.

So if you want to stay on, sir,

you'd be doing her a real favor.

That's my opinion, anyway.

Werner, why didn't you ask your friends

to come to the house for a drink?

My friends?

It's your home, after all.

What friends?

The two men you were talking to

this morning.

Mrs. Delahunty,

I talked to no one this morning.

Didn't I see you?

You were down in the valley.

Two men in a big car.

I'm sorry, but you're mistaken.

I saw no one this morning.

Don't be afraid, Werner.

- Afraid?

- So often I see fear in your eyes.

Mr. Riversmith, the telephone. It's your wife.

Thank you, Quinty.

Forgive me, Werner.

I was only trying to reassure you.

...till I see you?

- Yes, if it's not delayed.

So I should wait outside?

Wait in the car and I'll find you,

otherwise we're gonna miss each other.

Miss each other for two hours, like last time.

So I'll look for you outside,

by Baggage Claim, okay?

And if they give me a hard time,

I'll just drive around till I see you.

Her voice was unpleasant, harsh,

devoid of expression.

Exactly as I had imagined it.

I pictured her without difficulty:

A skinny, weather-beaten face...

myopic eyes beneath a lank fringe...

eyebrows left unplucked.

Guess what she does.

She writes romance novels.

- You're kidding.

- Bodice-rippers.

She's got a bookcase full of the stuff,

all the trash she's published over the years.

God, how funny.

She told me about some guy

who'd taken her to Africa...

selling bathroom fixtures.

Do you believe that?

She sat there, talking on and on...

getting sloshed on this disgusting drink

called grappa.

I tell you, Francine...

the whole evening was truly grotesque.

What will I not do to continue

To find myself during dusk like this

If it starts like nothing was

But it bothers me constantly

I'm looking for the young German.

Have you seen him?

No, I didn't see him. Can you please ask

Quinty? You'll find him on the terrace.

Thank you, Rosa.

But it bothers me constantly

- Buongiorno, Signor Quinty.

- Buongiorno.

I'm looking for the young German.

He went into town to buy some more plants.

What time do you think he'll be back?

I have no idea.

Ask him to telephone, please.

I need to check something.

So, the little girl leaves soon for America?

Tomorrow morning.

She has become part of your family?

She has that.

I wonder if I'll ever come back.

I certainly hope you do, Aimee.

I'd be awfully sad if you didn't.

Just because you're going to America...

doesn't mean you're going to spend

the rest of your life there.

I might.

You might.

But it's unlikely.

Look at me. I've led an English life...

an American life, a Moroccan life,

now I'm leading an Italian life.

There may be many more.

Who knows?

It's like reading a wonderful book.

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