Stromboli Page #2

Look, even Guido's family went to the mainland

when Anzio died. In the war.

They all leave.

This is our house.

-Where are the keys?|-The door is open.

Aren't you coming?|Come on, move it.

Soon we'll have it as good as before.

-How was it?|-We have a lot of furniture.

Come here.|This is our bedroom.

Its marvelous, the sea.

Karin, come here.

-Where is my furniture?|-In my house.

Help me bring the furniture.

If you don't break anything,|I'll give you a gift.

All that is lava that the volcano spewed forth.

I see.|There's nothing else.

Naturally. Houses, fields...

The lava covered it all.|But the people of Stromboli

we're very strong, you know?

We rebuilt everything.|Even the land.. Like...

Look, this earth is new, they brought it from outside, its new.

We replanted everything.

Fields, vineyards...

Leave me alone.

What do I care about...

vineyards?|Or that your land is good?

I want to go far away|from this damned island.

Even those born here|look for somewhere else

to live.|What's gotten into you?

What's going on?

Listen, this is my home|and you are my wife,

and you are here because I am.

-That's all?|Yes.

-What will you do?|- Nothing.

I am your wife,|and this is your home, I know.

You slept very well last night.

But not me.

I am different. Very different.

I belong to another race.

This is no life for|civilized people.

Count it, count your|19,000 liras.

A woman like me needs something else.

-Relax!|What do you mean?

You call this money?|This is nothing

for a woman like me.|I am a civilized person

and I'm used to a different way of life.

What are you going to do with that money?|Everything here must change.

-Of course it will.|But when?

It has to be now. I am your wife,|this is your home.

I have to live here,|and I am no animal.

-Everything will work out, you'll see.|-Yes, I'll see..

Was it you who was crying?

What's wrong?

-Are you crying?|-No.

It's not you.

What's your name, boy?

-Say something, anything.|-No.

No, please. Speak to me.

-What are you doing here?|-Your husband sent us.

-And who are you?|-We are the Americans.

We returned from America|several months ago.

Your husband asked us|to fix up the house.

We worked a long time in New York.

My son stayed.|I was a shopkeeper

in Brooklyn and made quite a bit of money.

We even had the luxury of|going fishing

on Sundays with the car.

Imagine it, going by car

even to collect the subsidy.

In America, everyone travels by car.

Yes, but we've come back to Stromboli...

Have you seen that hole?|That volcano demands respect.

Many times it erupts|and throws out stones

with such force it destroys our poor houses,

and devours all it finds. Like in '44.

-And why did you come back?|-Because America is for

the young. I'm old now, and

-... I want to die on Stromboli.|-My friend is old,

but also half-crazy.|I don't want to die here.

I want to go back to Brooklyn,|with my son.

My son is saving up to pay for my voyage.

I will be able to return to Brooklyn|in ten years.

-How old are you now?|-Seventy-three.

Miss!

Father, here is Missus...!

-Good day, how are you?|-Good day, Father.

I was wondering how you were doing.

-You've noticed I'm always outside.

My house is full of old men|who pass the time

-... talking about America.|-Sit down.

Don't you worry, with time|and patience everything will be alright.

-Do you think so? The island and the volcano too?|-I was speaking of the house, and of you.

Perhaps I can help.|I have told your husband that

he can use the bricks from the Moletta's house.

They left the island 26 years ago.|I don't think they will return now.

Here, I'm like some kind of repository

of the goods of the families who've left.

Those bricks will have more use in your house

and no one will complain of the small garden.

That way, those who left help those who stay.

And I am the go-between.

Then please help us.|I can't live this way.

Antonio is just a boy.|I love him, but he can't

understand a woman like me.

I think he can..

I know all he has done to find work.

The fishing season had already begun|when you arrived.

The fishermen were already hired.

Did you know there are only four boats on Stromboli?

The others come from nearby islands.

But Antonio has found a job.

He swallowed his pride. He once had his own boat.

He changed and he did it for you.

I know because I spoke with him.

I know he does what he can,|but don't you understand that...

I cannot live here, that we must go?

To emigrate you need a lot of money and a place to go.

Even those born here want to escape.

Imagine me, a foreigner.

These horrible rocks, this desolation...

that terror...

This island is driving me crazy.|Please help me, I beg you.

-You are both so young...|Convince Antonio

to save money and not spend it.|Help him and perhaps

you both may get away.

But while you are here,|make a good home

and be patient. The wait will be easier on you.

-"Help yourself and God will help you."|-God has never helped me.

Look, we've caught thousands like this one.

All the boats have returned full. We are rich.

It's been many years since anything|like this happened.

-What are you saying?|-Don't you understand?

Its incredible, I'm going to change, I'm soaked.

I wanted work so badly.|We will sell them ourselves.

Right away.

See you later.

-Miss.|-Yes?

-We've finished. Would you like to see?|-Yes. I'm coming.

-Do you like it?|-Yes, its very good.

-What do you think?|-Magnificent, beautiful.

Thank you very much.

Have you finished painting that bench?

I would like you to put it|here, on this side.

-Do you like how it came out?|-What did you do?

I told you to cut down the legs, remember?

-Yes, of course, I cut them all...|-No, listen... I want all the chairs

the same way.|So they have the same height.

-Yes, Miss. Of course.

Good day.

Would you like to come and see my house?

Its very nice of you to come and see me.

Please come in. Don't stay there.

Dear Lord, do come in.

Listen, please ask them if they'd like to come in.

The lady invites you to see her home.

-Why are they leaving?|-How should I know?

What's wrong with them?

Good day, Aunt Rosario.|Come in and see the house.

-No.|-What's wrong?

Everyone is against me.|I have done nothing.

-Why do they treat me so?|-You are behaving badly.

You are a brazen woman.

I did nothing wrong.

I can't help being different.|I feel, I act, I think in another way.

I am trying to make a good home|for my husband,

Tell me, what's wrong with that?

You lack modesty, my child.

-So? Is the weather improving?|-No, its blowing too strongly from there.

My husband won't be able to make it home early.

-No, I don't think so.

Could you do me a favor?|Take me to the house

of the woman with the sewing machine?|The one who did my curtains?

I want to make a new dress. To pass the time.

That woman is no good, she has a so-so reputation...

a "so-so" reputation doesn't matter to me.|I'm old enough to take

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