The Music of Silence Page #2

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You see? My son doesn't let

a little discomfort get to him.

There is something at the

bottom here, in Braille.

It's his name.

Let me feel it.

Strange. I feel him so close.

[children singing "Va Pensiero"]

[signora] Amos, come here a moment.

Did I do something wrong, signora?

No. No, no. You did nothing wrong.

Let me listen to your voice a moment.

Sing me the next verse by yourself.

[Amos sings "Va Pensiero"]

I don't think in my life I've

heard anything like that.

Ladies and gentlemen: Amos Bardi.

[boys yelling]

That's it. All the way across the pitch.

Shoot!

- Yeah!

-[coach] Bravissimo!

The score is still one all.

Amos Bardi stands.

Now he leaves the penalty area,

and rushes to intercept Pardini

who now heads straight

for the goal and shoots!

Oh, my God.

[indistinct chatter]

Amos?

Amos!

It's dark in here.

[boy] It's your dark glasses.

- Babbo, can I go out on Amos' horse?

- No, Babbo gave it to me.

But I would be happy if you

let your brother have a go.

- Only when I say so.

-[sighs]

Amos, the milk.

Is something wrong?

No, stop worrying, Mama. It's OK.

Is the sun not up yet?

Amos, are you stupid or what?

Can't you see the sun?

- Yes, I see it.

- Let's go.

Wait a minute.

Help me, Mommy! Please, help me!

The sun has gone! Where has it gone?

["O giovinetta bella" plays]

[Bocelli narrating] I had

never seen my mother cry.

She was so lost she didn't

seem herself any more.

Amos, tell me, what do

you see? ls it all dark?

No, it's not all dark, Mama.

What I see isn't darkness,

I can't really explain.

What I see is everything and nothing.

I don't understand.

I see what I want to see:

I see the room, the cupboards, the beds.

I see you as well, Mama.

I see you because I know you are here.

[Bocelli narrating] Over and

over I repeated silently to myself

that nothing had changed,

that I would do exactly as before

and that I needed no one else's help.

SUMMER 1971

Now, all together, let's sing a song.

Amos, you lead.

- I'm not in the mood.

- Come on!

- That Neapolitan one, "O Sole Mio".

- No!

Amos, start singing,

or I'll swear to God...

ls there a God, uncle?

- What do you mean, Amos?

- Nothing, just a question.

Amos, no one in our family

has ever those kind of doubts.

Well, someone's got to start!

You shouldn't even think those things!

Too late, I've already thought them.

Who's coming in?

- Don't be crazy, Amos!

-[Amos] Let's do it.

Amos! Daddy said no!

- Amos!

- Amos!

Amos!

Amos!

- Are you sure they went in?

- Yes.

Amos!

Look!

Don't you realize what

could have happened?

It could have happened to anyone.

Yes, to anyone stupid enough to

go swimming is such a rough sea.

But apparently the

only idiot here is you.

And what about the others?

I didn't force them to go in.

I don't care about the

others, you are my son.

And you should be

smarter than the others.

Dad, you don't understand.

If the others jump over an obstacle,

I have to jump over a mountain.

If they ride a horse, I

have to ride a tiger.

Amos...

If I want to be like other people,

I have to do better than them.

And you know who taught me that?

YOU!

Mind if I take the young buck with me?

Sure.

Can't you tell me where we're going?

I don't want to see

anyone or do anything.

[girl singing "Amazing Grace"]

- Want an ice cream?

- No, I want to go home.

OK.

Maestro?

- Anyone else?

- Amos Bardi.

- What?

- Just shut your mouth

and open it only when

you start singing, OK?

- Let me go, uncle!

- Please, Amos.

So, Amos, what are you going to give us?

- Amos, let him hear "Reginella".

- But uncle!

- Do you know "Reginella"?

- Yes, yes, of course.

Amos, go on. Go for it.

Ready?

[piano plays]

[Amos sings "Reginella"]

Maestro?

Amos...

What just happened?

You got into the finals of

the Coppa Margherita.

The biggest prize in

Tuscany. Feel better?

[boy singing "Anema e Core"]

You stand no chance.

[cheering]

[presenter] Thank you, thank you.

A lot of support for our young friend.

Take care, Gabriello

Congratulations, thank you.

He's good.

Not as good as you.

And now, please, for the bold young man

who'll sing a Neapolitan song:

Amos Bardi.

[applause]

You'll be fine, don't worry.

"O Sole Mio." I dedicate this

song to my Uncle Giovanni.

[Amos sings "O Sole Mio"]

-[applause]

- Bravo! Bravo!

- Bravo!

- Bravo!

[presenter] Thank you.

Thank you so much.

And now, Maestro Meraviglia,

president of the jury,

will give us his choice.

Maestro.

And the winner is...

Amos Bardi.

[cheering]

Bravo!

Next stop:
Sanremo!

Sanremo! Sanremo! Sanremo!

He's right, I saw it in my crystal

ball, one day you'll win Sanremo!

I am so proud.

[Bocelli] I couldn't work out whether

the woman's face was covered

with tears or with sweat.

But I remembered Oriana

and the moment I decided

to become a singer.

Amos! Fantastic Amos!

This is my friend Adriano.

I'm from Lajatico. I'm a musician, too.

- It would be great

to get to know each other. -Great!

My boy, I'm promoting you to corporal.

Uncle, I was already a

sergeant two years ago.

Well, you can't expect me

to remember everything.

Uh... alright, I'm making you

field marshal right away

so that we're up to date, OK?

But in return, you have

to do something for me.

In a few weeks an old friend of mine,

a military colonel, is getting married.

THREE MONTHS LATER

[priest] I pronounce you man and wife.

You may kiss the bride.

[singing "Ave Maria"]

Didn't I tell you?

You couldn't have

given them a better gift.

[out of tune]

[panting]

Go, Giovanni. Go!

[crowd murmuring]

[sobbing]

Amos, what's wrong?

Come on.

I let everyone down.

Is Uncle Giovanni still going

to make you field marshal

now that you're tone deaf?

I'm not tone deaf, you idiot!

Hey, stop it you two. Amos, sit up.

I told you, it's normal at your age.

Boys' voices change.

Will I still be able to sing?

Nobody knows, but you

have learn to be patient.

How can I? It was the most

important thing in my life.

In your life. You don't

even know what life is yet.

In the meantime maybe you

can study an instrument.

- The piano, for example?

- No, not an instrument.

Every blind person plays an

instrument or gives massages.

Where did you get that nonsense from?

Antonio. He wants to be a lawyer.

Great! A lawyer!

[Bocelli narrating] My father

wouldn't hear of anything else.

In order not to disappoint him, I

enrolled in the Liceo Classico,

convincing myself that eventually

my destiny was to study law.

LAJATICO HIGH SCHOOL, 1973

Boys and girls, I want you to be aware

that you are the future

elite of our country.

We do not tolerate hotheads,

nor revolutionary ideas.

No strikes, no demonstrations.

Here, in the Liceo Classico,

we study, and that's it.

You may sit down.

We shall begin immediately.

Page ten, first exercise.

Let's see... Bardi. Bardi?

I don't have a book, ma'am.

Alright...

No, actually, it's not alright at all.

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