Diversa (2026) Movie Script
1
Ladies and gentlemen, we're
experiencing a bit of turbulence.
Please stay seated
with your seatbelts fastened.
Good morning.
Good morning, Don Cataldino.
Good morning, Don Cataldino.
The usual.
Right away.
Don Cataldino's espresso is on me.
MUNICIPAL POLICE
VETERINARY CLINIC
DR. LONORE GAGNON
Good morning, doctor.
Good morning.
Good morning.
Good morning, doctor.
Good morning.
What do we have?
A neutering.
You can go.
I'll take care of it.
Nora?
The cat's owner is here.
Shall I tell her to wait?
No need.
Bring her the cat.
Who is she?
Ms. Gaia Marsella.
Actually, no. Let her in.
Good morning.
How's my little Tommy?
Good morning.
Everything went well.
He won't chase the ladies anymore
and he'll stop spraying around the house.
And hopefully he won't fight
with other males anymore.
My garden had turned into a battlefield.
Cats tend to defend their territory,
even if they're neutered.
Everything's taken care of.
She can go.
That's very kind of you,
but I can't accept.
It's out of the question.
I didn't do anything.
I'm here if you need me.
Thank you so much.
How can I ever repay you?
No need.
Goodbye.
Goodbye, doctor.
Doctor?
The local health authority called to
confirm
the livestock inspection
at the Manigrasso estate.
Thank you. I'll be there this afternoon.
Still going on about that!
You can do what the fuck
you want when I'm dead!
Be reasonable!
What difference does it make
if it's today or in a few years?
I decide what to do with
my assets while I'm alive.
Anyway, Simone will inherit them.
My grandson.
And my son.
Of course.
You only remember he's your son
when it suits you, you filthy bastard!
Your cruelty drove Alberto and Emanuela
to their deaths.
I won't allow you to hurt him too.
Oh, come on, Dad!
Still going on about that!
That was a long time ago!
Don't call me "Dad."
You're just my son-in-law.
Actually, you're not even that anymore,
since Emanuela died.
All right. We'll talk it
over in the next few days.
May I help you?
I'm looking for Mr. Gaetano Manigrasso.
I'm the veterinarian.
The local health authority sent me.
Oh, excuse me, doctor.
I didn't know anything about it.
The vet from Guagnano usually comes.
Yes, I'm new here in San Pancrazio.
I'll call Don Gaetano immediately.
So, you're the new veterinarian.
Cataldo Marsella.
Nora Gagnon.
Pleased to finally meet you.
My sister told me about her cat.
Thank you for being so kind to her.
You're welcome. It was a pleasure.
May I invite you to dinner, doctor?
Just a simple dinner by the pool.
I'd like to return the favor.
That's not necessary.
Please,
it would mean a lot to me.
If you insist...
How about Sunday at 8:00 p.m.?
It's easy to get to my villa.
It's on the road to Manduria.
You can't miss it.
It's the most imposing villa around.
Very well.
Then I'll see you on Sunday.
Good morning, doctor.
Good morning.
Nora Gagnon.
Grandpa?
Dago's n-not feeling well.
He kee-keeps on scrat-scratching himself.
The vet is here.
After she's seen the other animals,
she'll take a look at him too.
All right?
N-nice to meet you. I'm Simone.
Nice to meet you. I'm Nora.
This is Tommaso.
He doesn't trust anyone.
He'd only let my grandson
Alberto approach him.
What's with all this fuss over animals?!
Go do something manly!
Enough!
Leave the boy alone!
I'm done.
I'll have someone show you out.
Don't worry. I know the way.
Thank you. I hope to see you soon.
What a shitty day.
Fern?
Keep going.
Good morning, Don Cataldino.
To what do I owe the honor?
Lawyer Gerardi and I need to talk to you.
Can we come in?
Of course. This way, please.
Your plots of land are
worth around 30,000 euros.
The problem is
that no one will ever buy them.
Not even if you sell them off.
You know that, don't you?
I know, Don Catald.
Unfortunately, no one is interested
in arable land anymore.
Exactly.
Well said.
And we're aware that you're in debt.
This is for now.
Upon signing the contract,
I'll give you fifty more.
What's under those plots? Crude oil?
This is the preliminary contract,
which you will sign now.
Read the amount of the penalty carefully
in case you fail to honor your commitment.
100,000 euros.
The signing of the deed should be
around mid-July.
Anyway, we'll let you know in good time.
I'm counting on you, Fern.
I think you overdid it.
You could have given him less.
You're right, Ern.
But I wanted to make
sure he wouldn't hesitate.
Those plots are worth their weight
in gold for what I have in mind.
Have you heard about the French vet?
Yes.
They say she's good at her job
and a beautiful woman too.
I met her at my father-in-law's place.
She's smokin' hot.
I took advantage of the fact
that she didn't charge anything
for examining my sister's cat,
and invited her to dinner on Sunday.
They also say she's not even 30.
And you're 60, Cat.
Besides, you have Katia.
Katia, Katia...
She's a slut.
She's only with me for my money.
Anyway, I just want to
thank her and repay the favor.
And then, who knows?
One thing leads to another...
Apparently, she's single.
By the way,
did you talk some sense
into your father-in-law?
I wish.
He's a stubborn mule.
But I'm not giving up.
Good evening.
Welcome, doctor.
What a lovely house, Mr. Marsella.
How about we call each other
by our first names?
Agreed.
I hate formalities too.
Nora, may I introduce
you to Katia, my partner?
Good evening.
I'll show you in.
I've been living in Paris for a few years.
And what brought you here? Loved ones?
A change of scenery for a while. I've
always heard good things about Salento.
The sea, ancient olive trees, the cuisine.
I think it's the ideal place to recharge.
But why San Pancrazio?
There are so many more attractive places.
I was persuaded by the fact
that there was no vet here.
I see our doctor is well-informed.
I have my sources.
You combined business with pleasure.
But now give her a break. We didn't invite
her here to interrogate her, did we?
Excuse me, I need to go to the bathroom.
It's upstairs, at the end
of the hall, on the left.
Show her the way.
Don't trouble yourself.
I'm sure I won't get lost.
Don't you think you're drinking too much?
Fuck off.
What's your problem?
Jealous?
She could be my daughter.
"She could be my daughter".
You were devouring her with your eyes.
It's disrespectful to me.
I'm sorry.
I didn't want to scare you.
Forgive me.
I was intrigued by the music box.
Still going on about that music box!
When are you going
to do something useful?
Give it to me!
May I ask who they are?
My son, Alberto, and my wife, Emanuela.
They're both dead.
I'm sorry.
I didn't want to upset you.
It doesn't matter.
It's all in the past.
Shall we go?
Dessert is already on the table.
If I can acquire some
plots of land in Punta Prosciutto,
I want to build a tourist resort
with a hotel complex,
spa and swimming pools
the likes of which have never
been seen in all of Apulia.
That sounds quite challenging.
I can't imagine
how much it's costing you.
You see,
the fact is, I'm counting
on some influential friends.
In other words, I've got people
watching my back.
Cataldo Marsella knows what he's doing.
Then let's keep our fingers crossed.
What about you?
They say that you're well off too.
I have what I need.
Anyway, if you need anything, such as
authorizations, inspections, permits,
just give me a call.
Everyone here is at my feet.
Excuse me, Don Catald.
Please, come in.
No, no. Don't worry.
I'm in a hurry.
Have you made up your mind?
To be honest,
I'm not convinced about the deal.
Ant, there's nothing to think about.
Your land is worthless!
Do you understand or not?
It might be worthless now.
But one day, who knows?
What do you mean, one day?!
What do you mean, one day?!
My dear Fernando!
Don't you recognize me?
I'm Ennio Fiorentino!
Dearest lawyer!
Please forgive me.
Oh, don't worry.
You're in great shape!
What brings you here, lawyer?
Please, let's have a seat.
What a surprise!
Punta Prosciutto is a protected area.
Building isn't allowed here!
I understand.
But why are you so interested in them
if you can't build on them?
The only structures that can be built
are tourist accommodation facilities.
That's the only way you could
get a building permit.
But that requires money
and influential connections.
And only Cataldo Marsella
can pull that off.
Ant, in your hands, this land
ain't worth shit!
A real estate company, a client of mine,
is interested in buying
your land in the
"Pietra del Salento" district.
I'm sorry, lawyer.
I made a deal with Cataldo Marsella
just a few days ago.
I even signed a preliminary agreement.
Here it is.
Listen,
I'll give you 50,000 euros
and it's settled.
That's 10,000 euros
more than my last offer.
Come on, Ant.
You're a dumbass if you don't accept.
Don Catald, I need some time.
I can't bring myself to say
yes or no on the spot.
Well, it's surely a lot of money,
but we'll pay you double.
Double?!
Yes.
That's a lot of money, lawyer.
A hell of a lot.
But bear in mind that I'll have to give half
of it to Cataldo Marsella as a penalty.
So, what will I have gained?
The same amount
and, on top of that, Don Cataldino's
lifelong resentment,
since he'll certainly never forgive me
for what I'll have done to him.
Lawyer,
what's in it for me?
You're right.
I didn't explain myself properly.
We'll give you 200,000 for the purchase,
plus 100,000 for paying
the penalty to Marsella,
assuming a clause imposing
a penalty of that amount is valid.
As far as Cataldo Marsella is concerned,
don't worry,
he'll have to come to terms with it.
All right.
We'll meet again in about ten days.
But I warn you, Ant:
If you say no,
I swear to God you'll never
build anything on those plots!
And not because the municipality
or the regional authorities will stop you,
but because Cataldo Marsella will!
Have I made myself clear?
But you need to decide today
because if you accept the offer,
we'll close the deal immediately.
Bye, Fern.
TEN THOUSAND EUROS
Your donation is a real breath of fresh
air.
Your gesture gives us strength and hope.
Everyone opposes us in Albania.
We still have to fight
against so much prejudice,
not to mention indifference.
Being able to continue paying
the rent for our offices regularly
is a big step forward for us.
And it's all thanks to you, doctor.
If you need anything,
you can always count on me.
We just left the notary's office.
Fernando Congedo has signed.
It's done.
My father-in-law doesn't understand
that if he'd let me manage his assets,
I could triple them in a year.
You know,
older generations are stubborn.
But he's also very possessive.
Just as he was with Emanuela.
Your wife?
Yes.
She was his only daughter.
She was beautiful when I first met her.
But never as beautiful as you.
Isn't that Dr. Gagnon?
That's not possible.
How come Katia isn't with them?
Certain scenes are disgusting,
especially when you're at the table.
What are you talking about?
Do you really let just anyone
into this restaurant?
What do you mean?
What's the problem?
The problem is that nothing
surprises anyone anymore.
Everyone turns a blind eye.
And the world has gone to shit!
Bring me the bill.
It has already been paid.
By whom?
A gentleman.
A distinguished gentleman.
He was here just now.
I'm going to the bathroom.
I'll be right back.
Watch where you're Excuse me.
You?
Mario Venneri!
What a surprise!
Quite a step up. Congratulations!
You've come a long way.
Thank you.
It was nice to see you again.
Did you enjoy your evening?
Yes, I did.
What about you?
Me too.
What about Nora?
Did she also enjoy the evening?
Let me guess...
It was one of your gossipy friends.
Touch?
Go ahead.
Go ahead and leave.
If it weren't for me, you'd
be nothing but a retired slut.
And you even have the courage to lecture
me?!
Two gilthead bream, please.
Right away.
Doctor!
You don't recognize me?
I'm Gino Quartano.
I was one of your patients.
Yes, I remember.
How are you?
What can I tell you, doctor?
The usual liver and bronchial problems.
No wonder.
Alcohol, smoking...
You'd better cut back,
or you won't live long.
Mom?
Look who's here!
Mario Venneri, our doctor.
Oh! Doctor!
Do you recognize me?
Of course, ma'am.
Doctor, since you left,
I haven't been happy with any doctor.
The young doctors here now
don't understand a thing.
Ant!
Antonio!
Good morning, Don Cataldino.
Excuse me, but I wasn't expecting you.
I know.
I should have called.
But I'm here now.
Have you made up your mind?
Let's have a seat.
Would you like something cold to drink?
No, thank you, Ant.
Let's get down to business.
I have a 50,000-euro check with me.
Shall we close the deal?
You should have called me.
You would have saved yourself
a wasted trip.
I sold my plots of land the other day.
Ant,
now is not the time to joke around.
I'm not joking.
I sold them to a company in Taranto.
It's called Dimora lonica.
A lawyer from Lecce came to see me.
I thought he wasn't serious,
but he took me to the notary
and we signed the deed.
You shouldn't have, Ant.
You'll regret it.
You shouldn't have done this.
Not to Cataldo Marsella!
They recognized me today:
An old patient of mine and her son.
Apparently, I made an
impression as a doctor
and they don't only remember
me for that other matter.
I can't take it anymore.
My father... is a monster.
I need to find a solution.
Stay strong.
Soon you'll turn 18
and finally you'll be able to leave.
I'll help you.
I already talked to a friend in the U.S.
Here.
Forget about the past.
We need to focus on our plan.
Cataldo will pay for what he did.
By the way,
he invited me on a boat trip tomorrow.
Good.
Work on him properly.
To our revenge.
Have you ever seen such magnificence?
It's truly enchanting.
"Lu Salento: Lu sule, lu mare, lu ientu."
It means...
The land of sun, sea and wind.
Easy, right?
Is something wrong?
What are you thinking about?
How different you and Katia are.
You're like the devil and holy water.
And which one am I?
The holy water, obviously.
If I were you, I wouldn't bet on that.
Anyway, I'm sure there's more to it.
No, nothing.
A deal gone wrong.
But I don't give it too much thought.
The other night, at your house,
in front of the music box,
you mentioned your wife and son.
You said they were dead.
You seemed a bit cold.
You avoided the subject.
Why?
Alberto was a problem for me.
A real disgrace.
Why?
Well,
he was different.
Different from whom?
From the others.
He was gay.
And you consider that a disgrace?
Well,
given my way of thinking
and my view of life, it is.
Besides, I have a reputation to protect.
He was an embarrassment to me.
Don Cataldino's son,
a faggot.
Come on. What the fuck!
Hey, pansy!
You didn't tie your hair today!
Albertina!
You know you have to look
pretty for the tournament, right?
Oh, Albertina is angry!
What are you doing?!
Sweetheart, let's hide them!
Mom!
If Dad sees them, there'll be trouble!
And how did you react?
What did you do to
overcome your discomfort?
Everything that had to be done.
Come on!
Still playing with dolls!
Be quiet!
Dad! Please!
Believe me,
I tried everything to straighten him out.
I couldn't allow that
pervert to ruin my reputation.
And I would have succeeded
if it hadn't been for that damn doctor.
He was our family doctor.
My wife, Emanuela, had been engaged
to him before she got together with me.
He's the man I ran into at the restaurant.
He encouraged Alberto not to be afraid
to show himself for who he was.
And it was also he who helped him
organize his departure for the U.S.
He had recommended him to a friend,
an American colleague who had promised
to take care of him.
I discovered everything
a few months later.
When I was rummaging through
Alberto's personal belongings,
I found a note with the name of a doctor
and the address of a hospital in Buffalo.
It was Mario Venneri's handwriting.
And then what happened?
After landing in New York,
he took a connecting flight to Buffalo.
But the plane crashed
into a lake while landing.
The passengers were initially
reported missing,
but after days of fruitless searching,
they were all declared dead.
Alberto was among them.
What a sad story.
You must have suffered a lot.
My wife, Emanuela, did.
She never recovered
and died two years later.
To be honest,
I've always come to terms with it.
Actually,
that accident was an act of Providence
that put an end to a situation
that could no longer continue.
I gave Mario Venneri
the lesson he deserved.
I had his medical license revoked, insinuating
there was something between him and my son.
Then I made sure he was shut out everywhere,
to the point that he was forced
to leave San Pancrazio
to find work elsewhere.
One thing I don't get:
If, as you said, Alberto's accident
was a relief for you,
why take it out on the doctor?
He shouldn't have gotten involved.
Alberto and my family were my business.
I always believed he did it
to maintain a bond with Emanuela,
whom he was still in love with.
He had to disappear from our lives!
End of story.
It was only right for him to pay.
It's getting late.
Shall we head back?
All right.
He said the accident
was an act of Providence.
I can't stand seeing him anymore.
We're this close to delivering
the final blow.
He'll still feel strong as long as
he can rely on the family assets.
Gaetano's assets,
which Simone will inherit.
But Simone is legally incapacitated.
And as his legal guardian,
Cataldo will manage his assets.
The plan needs to be
carried out, and fast.
Come on.
Let's get to work.
Dimora lonica, in Taranto.
The company was established
about a year ago.
That's quite a short time
for a company that suddenly
comes up with investments of this size
for land worth next to nothing.
Doesn't that seem fishy to you?
It certainly does.
But listen to this, because here's
where it gets interesting:
Guess who the sole director is?
Who?
Mario Venneri.
Him?!
But there's more.
I went to Congedo to tell him
the date for signing the deed,
and he told me that he too had sold
to the same company a few days earlier.
Cat, this Dimora lonica beat you
to it with Congedo too.
That's not possible!
Wait, wait, wait!
We made our deal with Congedo
before they did.
So this "Dimora lonica"
can go fuck itself!
We only signed a preliminary contract.
The agency, or rather, Mario Venneri,
since we know he's behind this,
signed a final contract,
which was then officially recorded.
And what does that imply?
That we can't even contest it.
It would be a lost cause.
Moral of the story:
You're the one who can go fuck yourself.
What?!
You mean that rat has the guts
to steal those plots from under my nose
and I have to take it up the ass
without even saying "ouch"?!
Ern, what the fuck are you saying?!
I'm saying Mario played it smart
because he offered him,
for the sale alone,
200,000 euros.
Holy shit!
Perfect timing.
Congedo also told me
that he'll pay us the penalty.
How much sugar?
Never mind. I'll do it.
Get lost.
You wouldn't have made that much
even by speculating on the stock market.
Ern,
this isn't about making a little extra.
It's the losses I'm worried about.
I signed contracts worth
several million euros.
I even went into debt with the banks.
What a fucking screwjob!
They really fucked me over!
You there?
Yes, I'm here.
I was trying to figure out
how that scumbag
got his hands on all that money.
Just a few years ago he was practically
starving, because I'd ruined him.
What do you intend to do?
Find out who's backing him.
That money obviously isn't his.
Someone is helping him.
And I'm going to find out who it is.
Doctor, you must have
something very special
to earn these animals' trust.
Good morning. Excuse me.
I didn't notice you were here.
I took the opportunity to
check the livestock.
Please, let's go inside.
Let me offer you a coffee.
Gladly.
No, no, no!
Maybe I didn't make myself clear.
I can't authorize anything!
The land doesn't belong to me!
My daughter, Emanuela.
A unique woman,
an extraordinary mother.
The other one is my grandson, Alberto.
Does he remind you
of someone dear to you?
Yes.
Good morning, doctor.
Your coffee, Don Gaetano.
And the pastries, as you asked.
Please.
They were Alberto's favorites.
I'm asking you to wait!
Mario Venneri.
It would be a pleasure
to see him again after so many years.
I don't have much time left to live.
The doctors say there's
not much hope for me.
Trust me.
It's the best solution.
For Simone too.
And to keep that bastard Cataldo
from getting his way too.
If only my Emanuela
were still here with us!
I would have liked to
introduce her to you.
I have to go now.
See you soon.
I don't know how to resolve
this right now.
Yes, I know. I understand...
You have every right...
But I can't right now!
I don't have the money!
Then sue me!
Do whatever the hell
you want and fuck off!
I'm leaving.
You're leaving?
Just like that? Out of the blue?
It's over.
You've gone too far.
You're always humiliating
me in front of others.
I can't take it anymore.
You liked being with me
as long as it was convenient for you.
Now that I'm in trouble,
you're looking for greener pastures.
Do you already have someone
in mind to replace me?
Speaking of replacements:
Watch out for Nora.
There's something about her
that doesn't add up.
I think she's hiding something.
Admit it.
You're blinded by jealousy.
Oh, my God! Cataldo,
you can't think straight.
Have you ever wondered why a wealthy,
radical chic Parisian would come live here?
And why does she speak Italian so well,
with an accent so similar to ours?
Ask yourself these questions
once in a while!
I don't know, maybe it's just female intuition,
but there's something about her I don't trust!
But I won't insist.
Once you get something into your head...
I knew you liked the countryside,
but I never imagined you'd
have such a bucolic passion.
I also knew you were a pain in the ass,
but I never imagined you'd come
all this way to bother me on a Saturday.
What do you have to tell me?
My father-in-law's firm and country estate
are worth at least ten million altogether.
And you should see
how much he has in savings!
I was thinking it's time to cash in.
What makes you think
he's going to help you?
He doesn't exactly worship
his son-in-law.
I'll try to convince him next week.
I'll tell him that if I go bankrupt,
Simone's future will also be compromised.
All right,
at this point, you have nothing to lose.
But you need to act now.
The banks won't wait.
By the way, yesterday I was notified
that your boat has been seized.
I forgot to tell you.
Now, if you don't mind...
Everything went well.
I told him you'd drop by.
He's expecting you.
Fine.
I'll go and see him.
Try to keep Cataldo busy.
At least until this evening.
I wouldn't want him
to show up at the farm
while I'm with Gaetano.
You know what to do.
Good morning. Am I disturbing you?
You never do.
Are you busy this afternoon?
Yes, I'd like to visit my father-in-law.
Oh, that's a shame.
Some of my appointments were cancelled,
so I thought it might be interesting
to take a tour along the coast
and... I don't know...
take a few pictures.
But I don't want to go by myself.
I was wondering if...
All right then.
Tell me when and
where, and I'll pick you up.
All right. At my place, at 2:00 p.m.
All right. See you later.
Don Gaetano!
Good morning.
Excuse me, but I don't recognize you.
You're...
Mario Venneri,
the son of Mastro Salvatore.
Yes! Now I remember!
I was expecting you.
I was told that all you do
around here is eat.
Everything is so delicious.
And this is nothing.
Once I've taken you to some places,
you'll appreciate our cuisine even more.
You're already making plans
without asking me.
You're moving a bit too fast.
Yes, that's true.
But when I'm with you, I get carried away
and start building castles in the sky.
And lately...
By the way,
I haven't asked you yet why
you speak Italian so well,
without the slightest French accent.
Excuse me.
I need to check.
I haven't been at the clinic all day,
and they might need me.
ALL GOOD WITH DON GAETANO
Just as I feared.
I'm sorry, but they've brought in
a dog in critical condition.
I really have to go.
Thank you for today.
See you soon.
Can I... give you a ride?
Believe me, Don Gaetano.
We did the right thing.
Thank you.
I'm sorry. Your card was declined.
How much is it again?
Keep the change.
And next time, make sure
your card terminal works.
"Dear customer..."
despite our multiple reminders...
"your name has been reported to
the Central Credit Register."
Damn bastards!
Filthy loan sharks!
I've been filling their coffers
with my money all my life
and now that I'm going through
a moment of hardship, what do they do?
They treat me like the lowest of beggars!
Are you out of your mind?!
How could you sell everything
overnight to that spineless Venneri?!
I admit that I never really considered it.
I resigned myself to the idea
that all of this would have
ended up in your hands.
Then
Mario and the veterinarian
opened my eyes and...
The veterinarian?
Which veterinarian?!
I asked you a question! Answer!
Apparently, you know her well.
Rumor has it that
you have a crush on her!
Nora?!
What does Nora have to do with this?!
Tell me!
Mr. Gaetano, any problems?
Kick him out, please!
He's tormenting me!
Don't you dare!
You have no idea who you're dealing with!
Kick him out!
He's nobody!
It doesn't end here!
You caused my daughter's
and grandson's deaths!
And now you were planning
to screw me out of my money too?!
Please, come in.
Have a seat.
What are you playing at?
Do you mean...
Yes, precisely!
What does Nora have to do with you?
Do you think you frighten me?
No one respects you.
No one ever really did.
People fear you.
Because of your arrogance,
which comes from your money.
But now you don't have shit.
Don't push it too far.
Or what?
What other slander are you
going to make up?
You interfered in our family matters.
You did it back then
and you're doing it again.
Did you come to lecture me in my house?
You know what you did to me.
I'm just getting even.
I admit it.
It feels good to watch your
enemy sink in the mud.
Answer me, you scum!
What does Nora have to do with this?!
You'll find out soon enough.
I certainly will.
How long will it take him to find out?
Not long.
I'm sure.
And when he does,
we'll enjoy the show.
When is Dr. Gagnon arriving?
Dr. Gagnon is very busy lately.
Don't worry. We're here.
I need to talk to Dr. Gagnon.
She's not here.
Where can I find her?
She's not answering her phone.
I don't know what to tell you.
Do you have any other way
of contacting her?
We don't have any other contact details,
and even if we did, I wouldn't be
authorized to give them to you.
What do you mean?
Stop wasting my time, miss.
You know I'm Cataldo Marsella, right?
I need to speak with Dr. Gagnon urgently!
Maybe I didn't explain myself:
As I just said, Mr. Marsella,
Dr. Gagnon isn't here.
If you don't mind,
we have work to do here.
Make sure you mind your tone next time.
Don't you dare talk to me like that again.
How rude!
He's fallen so low.
SALENTO TODAY - CATALDO MARSELLA,
SAN PANCRAZIO'S WEALTHY ENTREPRENEUR
ON THE BRINK OF RUIN
The usual, Don Catald?
What's wrong with them today?
They're giving me strange looks.
Didn't you read the papers?
Wait.
I need to show you something.
"Well-known entrepreneur Marsella
on the verge of bankruptcy!"
"Cataldo Marsella, the rich entrepreneur
from San Pancrazio
on the brink of ruin."
"The harsh law of karma comes crashing
down on San Pancrazio's 'Don Rodrigo'!"
This is outright libel!
We can sue them, right?
That wouldn't solve anything.
Venneri must have spread the news.
All right, I get it.
But they can't call me "Don Rodrigo"!
Everyone was staring at me at the bar.
"Cataldo Marsella is finally ruined"
it was written all over their faces.
You're a well-known figure.
You've always been the talk of the town
for your risky financial transactions.
And you've never minded
being labeled "the bad guy" or "cynical."
Besides,
a clash with the press wouldn't
be good for business. Let it go.
You know,
it's a paradoxical situation.
I just found out that Mario
and Nora are in cahoots.
In life, you have to expect
the unexpected.
Yes.
I'm not surprised about Mario.
But Nora?
She seems to have disappeared.
She's not answering her phone.
And there's a wall
of silence at her clinic.
Either they don't know themselves,
or they won't tell me anything.
Then keep trying.
Mario is playing games.
He wants me to find out on my own.
At least he's right about that.
Then stop wasting time here and find out.
But do it on your own.
Please, don't involve me anymore.
I'm very busy, and you didn't pay me.
And let's be honest:
I'm afraid you won't be able
to pay me anymore.
But...
Ernesto...
Are you abandoning me?
Cat...
I've backed you up for far too long.
You've never listened to me
and now you're paying the price.
I'll be going.
And remember,
I'm saying this for your own good:
Don't do anything else stupid.
What you're asking
me is a delicate matter.
I'm doing this to repay
that old favor I owe you.
But we've never met.
Is that clear?
Understood.
Dimora lonica, Taranto,
Viale Magna Grecia.
Deutsche Bank.
There are two recent transactions.
A bank transfer to Fernando Congedo
and another to Antonio Manieri.
Then you asked me about Mario Venneri.
Same bank. There's an incoming payment
of ten million,
followed shortly after by a transfer
of the same amount to Gaetano Manigrasso.
Does it say where
that last payment came from?
Yes.
Le Gurisseur,
with headquarters in Hamilton, Canada.
The company belongs to
a certain lonore Gagnon,
resident in France.
That's impossible!
She lives in San Pancrazio.
She's a vet.
We even go out together!
Look.
Is that her?
Yes.
It's her. It's her.
Who is lonore Gagnon?
And where does she come from?
Buffalo.
Dr. Roger Tamboi.
At the Niagara Gender Center in Buffalo.
This is Tommaso.
He doesn't trust anyone.
He'd only let my grandson
Alberto approach him.
I'm sorry.
I didn't want to scare you.
I was intrigued by the music box.
Still going on about that music box!
When are you going
to do something useful?
Give it to me!
No...
That's not possible...
How many times do I have to
tell you to use your right hand?!
The left hand belongs to the devil!
Is that clear?!
That's not possible...
Who is Nora?!
Answer me! Damn it!
You know who I am,
otherwise you wouldn't be here.
Look at me carefully.
Aren't you going to hug your son?
Aren't you happy to see me?
To know that I'm alive?
As I imagined.
Prejudice,
prudery,
have always ruled your life,
like when you used to beat me up,
humiliate me,
take comfort in my death,
because you couldn't accept that a woman
you now find so extraordinary
that you've fallen in love with her,
had the appearance of a man,
and that this man was your own son.
Touch me.
You're afraid...
or rather...
I disgust you.
Yet just the other day,
you couldn't wait to fuck me.
How...?
How...?
How am I still alive?
Ladies and gentlemen,
we're experiencing a bit of turbulence.
Please stay seated
with your seatbelts fastened.
Please do not move around the cabin.
The toilets are closed for now. Thank you.
After the plane crash...
somehow...
I survived.
I was unconscious.
When I came to,
I was hurt and covered in blood.
I walked through entire nights,
exhausted by the cold,
until I reached the hospital
that Mario had told me about.
Here, Dr. Tamboi performed a delicate
gender-affirming surgery on me,
which gave me a female body.
Then, cosmetic surgery did the rest.
In Buffalo, I met Philippe Gagnon,
a billionaire from Hamilton,
an extraordinary man.
He was the only person
who saw me as I really am.
It was love at first sight.
We got married two weeks later.
Then he died in a tragic car accident.
I inherited everything
and I kept his surname.
I found myself in charge of his
companies scattered all over the world.
Two years ago, I relocated to Paris
to manage the companies based in Europe.
But I never neglected my passion:
My veterinary studies.
But there's one thing
I never stopped thinking about:
Going back to the place where I was born
and settling a score with the past.
No. I can't accept it.
I can't!
Will you go back to practicing medicine?
I'm not sure yet.
I'd like to try out something different.
If you come to Paris, I'll offer you a
director's position at the pharma company.
It would be an honor,
but my ties to this land are too strong.
I want to stay here.
How about taking care of animals?
Why not?
I like animals.
They're better than human beings.
The keys to the clinic.
Take them.
It's yours now.
What about your father?
What will become of him?
I can picture him working as a waiter.
He'd learn what dignity means.
Anyway, I don't consider him
my father anymore.
In any case, I've already taken care of
him.
You see, I'm...
different,
though that's not necessarily
a good thing.
Let's just say I've condemned him
to be unhappy forever.
Even the bank.
What the fuck do you still want?!
You took everything from me!
Notification of an international
bank transfer order
in your favor.
Dear Mr. Marsella,
We hereby inform you
that today the following amount
was credited
to your bank account:
10 million euros?
Fuck.
Le Gurisseur,
lonore Gagnon.
Your current account balance
is 10 million euros,
while your available balance is
4,739,850.00.
lonore Gagnon.
I'm old and ill,
but I'm not stupid.
Your eyes
are a different color,
but I know that look very well.
It's the same look your mother had.
And Tommaso...
would only allow you to pet him.
Ladies and gentlemen, we're
experiencing a bit of turbulence.
Please stay seated
with your seatbelts fastened.
Good morning.
Good morning, Don Cataldino.
Good morning, Don Cataldino.
The usual.
Right away.
Don Cataldino's espresso is on me.
MUNICIPAL POLICE
VETERINARY CLINIC
DR. LONORE GAGNON
Good morning, doctor.
Good morning.
Good morning.
Good morning, doctor.
Good morning.
What do we have?
A neutering.
You can go.
I'll take care of it.
Nora?
The cat's owner is here.
Shall I tell her to wait?
No need.
Bring her the cat.
Who is she?
Ms. Gaia Marsella.
Actually, no. Let her in.
Good morning.
How's my little Tommy?
Good morning.
Everything went well.
He won't chase the ladies anymore
and he'll stop spraying around the house.
And hopefully he won't fight
with other males anymore.
My garden had turned into a battlefield.
Cats tend to defend their territory,
even if they're neutered.
Everything's taken care of.
She can go.
That's very kind of you,
but I can't accept.
It's out of the question.
I didn't do anything.
I'm here if you need me.
Thank you so much.
How can I ever repay you?
No need.
Goodbye.
Goodbye, doctor.
Doctor?
The local health authority called to
confirm
the livestock inspection
at the Manigrasso estate.
Thank you. I'll be there this afternoon.
Still going on about that!
You can do what the fuck
you want when I'm dead!
Be reasonable!
What difference does it make
if it's today or in a few years?
I decide what to do with
my assets while I'm alive.
Anyway, Simone will inherit them.
My grandson.
And my son.
Of course.
You only remember he's your son
when it suits you, you filthy bastard!
Your cruelty drove Alberto and Emanuela
to their deaths.
I won't allow you to hurt him too.
Oh, come on, Dad!
Still going on about that!
That was a long time ago!
Don't call me "Dad."
You're just my son-in-law.
Actually, you're not even that anymore,
since Emanuela died.
All right. We'll talk it
over in the next few days.
May I help you?
I'm looking for Mr. Gaetano Manigrasso.
I'm the veterinarian.
The local health authority sent me.
Oh, excuse me, doctor.
I didn't know anything about it.
The vet from Guagnano usually comes.
Yes, I'm new here in San Pancrazio.
I'll call Don Gaetano immediately.
So, you're the new veterinarian.
Cataldo Marsella.
Nora Gagnon.
Pleased to finally meet you.
My sister told me about her cat.
Thank you for being so kind to her.
You're welcome. It was a pleasure.
May I invite you to dinner, doctor?
Just a simple dinner by the pool.
I'd like to return the favor.
That's not necessary.
Please,
it would mean a lot to me.
If you insist...
How about Sunday at 8:00 p.m.?
It's easy to get to my villa.
It's on the road to Manduria.
You can't miss it.
It's the most imposing villa around.
Very well.
Then I'll see you on Sunday.
Good morning, doctor.
Good morning.
Nora Gagnon.
Grandpa?
Dago's n-not feeling well.
He kee-keeps on scrat-scratching himself.
The vet is here.
After she's seen the other animals,
she'll take a look at him too.
All right?
N-nice to meet you. I'm Simone.
Nice to meet you. I'm Nora.
This is Tommaso.
He doesn't trust anyone.
He'd only let my grandson
Alberto approach him.
What's with all this fuss over animals?!
Go do something manly!
Enough!
Leave the boy alone!
I'm done.
I'll have someone show you out.
Don't worry. I know the way.
Thank you. I hope to see you soon.
What a shitty day.
Fern?
Keep going.
Good morning, Don Cataldino.
To what do I owe the honor?
Lawyer Gerardi and I need to talk to you.
Can we come in?
Of course. This way, please.
Your plots of land are
worth around 30,000 euros.
The problem is
that no one will ever buy them.
Not even if you sell them off.
You know that, don't you?
I know, Don Catald.
Unfortunately, no one is interested
in arable land anymore.
Exactly.
Well said.
And we're aware that you're in debt.
This is for now.
Upon signing the contract,
I'll give you fifty more.
What's under those plots? Crude oil?
This is the preliminary contract,
which you will sign now.
Read the amount of the penalty carefully
in case you fail to honor your commitment.
100,000 euros.
The signing of the deed should be
around mid-July.
Anyway, we'll let you know in good time.
I'm counting on you, Fern.
I think you overdid it.
You could have given him less.
You're right, Ern.
But I wanted to make
sure he wouldn't hesitate.
Those plots are worth their weight
in gold for what I have in mind.
Have you heard about the French vet?
Yes.
They say she's good at her job
and a beautiful woman too.
I met her at my father-in-law's place.
She's smokin' hot.
I took advantage of the fact
that she didn't charge anything
for examining my sister's cat,
and invited her to dinner on Sunday.
They also say she's not even 30.
And you're 60, Cat.
Besides, you have Katia.
Katia, Katia...
She's a slut.
She's only with me for my money.
Anyway, I just want to
thank her and repay the favor.
And then, who knows?
One thing leads to another...
Apparently, she's single.
By the way,
did you talk some sense
into your father-in-law?
I wish.
He's a stubborn mule.
But I'm not giving up.
Good evening.
Welcome, doctor.
What a lovely house, Mr. Marsella.
How about we call each other
by our first names?
Agreed.
I hate formalities too.
Nora, may I introduce
you to Katia, my partner?
Good evening.
I'll show you in.
I've been living in Paris for a few years.
And what brought you here? Loved ones?
A change of scenery for a while. I've
always heard good things about Salento.
The sea, ancient olive trees, the cuisine.
I think it's the ideal place to recharge.
But why San Pancrazio?
There are so many more attractive places.
I was persuaded by the fact
that there was no vet here.
I see our doctor is well-informed.
I have my sources.
You combined business with pleasure.
But now give her a break. We didn't invite
her here to interrogate her, did we?
Excuse me, I need to go to the bathroom.
It's upstairs, at the end
of the hall, on the left.
Show her the way.
Don't trouble yourself.
I'm sure I won't get lost.
Don't you think you're drinking too much?
Fuck off.
What's your problem?
Jealous?
She could be my daughter.
"She could be my daughter".
You were devouring her with your eyes.
It's disrespectful to me.
I'm sorry.
I didn't want to scare you.
Forgive me.
I was intrigued by the music box.
Still going on about that music box!
When are you going
to do something useful?
Give it to me!
May I ask who they are?
My son, Alberto, and my wife, Emanuela.
They're both dead.
I'm sorry.
I didn't want to upset you.
It doesn't matter.
It's all in the past.
Shall we go?
Dessert is already on the table.
If I can acquire some
plots of land in Punta Prosciutto,
I want to build a tourist resort
with a hotel complex,
spa and swimming pools
the likes of which have never
been seen in all of Apulia.
That sounds quite challenging.
I can't imagine
how much it's costing you.
You see,
the fact is, I'm counting
on some influential friends.
In other words, I've got people
watching my back.
Cataldo Marsella knows what he's doing.
Then let's keep our fingers crossed.
What about you?
They say that you're well off too.
I have what I need.
Anyway, if you need anything, such as
authorizations, inspections, permits,
just give me a call.
Everyone here is at my feet.
Excuse me, Don Catald.
Please, come in.
No, no. Don't worry.
I'm in a hurry.
Have you made up your mind?
To be honest,
I'm not convinced about the deal.
Ant, there's nothing to think about.
Your land is worthless!
Do you understand or not?
It might be worthless now.
But one day, who knows?
What do you mean, one day?!
What do you mean, one day?!
My dear Fernando!
Don't you recognize me?
I'm Ennio Fiorentino!
Dearest lawyer!
Please forgive me.
Oh, don't worry.
You're in great shape!
What brings you here, lawyer?
Please, let's have a seat.
What a surprise!
Punta Prosciutto is a protected area.
Building isn't allowed here!
I understand.
But why are you so interested in them
if you can't build on them?
The only structures that can be built
are tourist accommodation facilities.
That's the only way you could
get a building permit.
But that requires money
and influential connections.
And only Cataldo Marsella
can pull that off.
Ant, in your hands, this land
ain't worth shit!
A real estate company, a client of mine,
is interested in buying
your land in the
"Pietra del Salento" district.
I'm sorry, lawyer.
I made a deal with Cataldo Marsella
just a few days ago.
I even signed a preliminary agreement.
Here it is.
Listen,
I'll give you 50,000 euros
and it's settled.
That's 10,000 euros
more than my last offer.
Come on, Ant.
You're a dumbass if you don't accept.
Don Catald, I need some time.
I can't bring myself to say
yes or no on the spot.
Well, it's surely a lot of money,
but we'll pay you double.
Double?!
Yes.
That's a lot of money, lawyer.
A hell of a lot.
But bear in mind that I'll have to give half
of it to Cataldo Marsella as a penalty.
So, what will I have gained?
The same amount
and, on top of that, Don Cataldino's
lifelong resentment,
since he'll certainly never forgive me
for what I'll have done to him.
Lawyer,
what's in it for me?
You're right.
I didn't explain myself properly.
We'll give you 200,000 for the purchase,
plus 100,000 for paying
the penalty to Marsella,
assuming a clause imposing
a penalty of that amount is valid.
As far as Cataldo Marsella is concerned,
don't worry,
he'll have to come to terms with it.
All right.
We'll meet again in about ten days.
But I warn you, Ant:
If you say no,
I swear to God you'll never
build anything on those plots!
And not because the municipality
or the regional authorities will stop you,
but because Cataldo Marsella will!
Have I made myself clear?
But you need to decide today
because if you accept the offer,
we'll close the deal immediately.
Bye, Fern.
TEN THOUSAND EUROS
Your donation is a real breath of fresh
air.
Your gesture gives us strength and hope.
Everyone opposes us in Albania.
We still have to fight
against so much prejudice,
not to mention indifference.
Being able to continue paying
the rent for our offices regularly
is a big step forward for us.
And it's all thanks to you, doctor.
If you need anything,
you can always count on me.
We just left the notary's office.
Fernando Congedo has signed.
It's done.
My father-in-law doesn't understand
that if he'd let me manage his assets,
I could triple them in a year.
You know,
older generations are stubborn.
But he's also very possessive.
Just as he was with Emanuela.
Your wife?
Yes.
She was his only daughter.
She was beautiful when I first met her.
But never as beautiful as you.
Isn't that Dr. Gagnon?
That's not possible.
How come Katia isn't with them?
Certain scenes are disgusting,
especially when you're at the table.
What are you talking about?
Do you really let just anyone
into this restaurant?
What do you mean?
What's the problem?
The problem is that nothing
surprises anyone anymore.
Everyone turns a blind eye.
And the world has gone to shit!
Bring me the bill.
It has already been paid.
By whom?
A gentleman.
A distinguished gentleman.
He was here just now.
I'm going to the bathroom.
I'll be right back.
Watch where you're Excuse me.
You?
Mario Venneri!
What a surprise!
Quite a step up. Congratulations!
You've come a long way.
Thank you.
It was nice to see you again.
Did you enjoy your evening?
Yes, I did.
What about you?
Me too.
What about Nora?
Did she also enjoy the evening?
Let me guess...
It was one of your gossipy friends.
Touch?
Go ahead.
Go ahead and leave.
If it weren't for me, you'd
be nothing but a retired slut.
And you even have the courage to lecture
me?!
Two gilthead bream, please.
Right away.
Doctor!
You don't recognize me?
I'm Gino Quartano.
I was one of your patients.
Yes, I remember.
How are you?
What can I tell you, doctor?
The usual liver and bronchial problems.
No wonder.
Alcohol, smoking...
You'd better cut back,
or you won't live long.
Mom?
Look who's here!
Mario Venneri, our doctor.
Oh! Doctor!
Do you recognize me?
Of course, ma'am.
Doctor, since you left,
I haven't been happy with any doctor.
The young doctors here now
don't understand a thing.
Ant!
Antonio!
Good morning, Don Cataldino.
Excuse me, but I wasn't expecting you.
I know.
I should have called.
But I'm here now.
Have you made up your mind?
Let's have a seat.
Would you like something cold to drink?
No, thank you, Ant.
Let's get down to business.
I have a 50,000-euro check with me.
Shall we close the deal?
You should have called me.
You would have saved yourself
a wasted trip.
I sold my plots of land the other day.
Ant,
now is not the time to joke around.
I'm not joking.
I sold them to a company in Taranto.
It's called Dimora lonica.
A lawyer from Lecce came to see me.
I thought he wasn't serious,
but he took me to the notary
and we signed the deed.
You shouldn't have, Ant.
You'll regret it.
You shouldn't have done this.
Not to Cataldo Marsella!
They recognized me today:
An old patient of mine and her son.
Apparently, I made an
impression as a doctor
and they don't only remember
me for that other matter.
I can't take it anymore.
My father... is a monster.
I need to find a solution.
Stay strong.
Soon you'll turn 18
and finally you'll be able to leave.
I'll help you.
I already talked to a friend in the U.S.
Here.
Forget about the past.
We need to focus on our plan.
Cataldo will pay for what he did.
By the way,
he invited me on a boat trip tomorrow.
Good.
Work on him properly.
To our revenge.
Have you ever seen such magnificence?
It's truly enchanting.
"Lu Salento: Lu sule, lu mare, lu ientu."
It means...
The land of sun, sea and wind.
Easy, right?
Is something wrong?
What are you thinking about?
How different you and Katia are.
You're like the devil and holy water.
And which one am I?
The holy water, obviously.
If I were you, I wouldn't bet on that.
Anyway, I'm sure there's more to it.
No, nothing.
A deal gone wrong.
But I don't give it too much thought.
The other night, at your house,
in front of the music box,
you mentioned your wife and son.
You said they were dead.
You seemed a bit cold.
You avoided the subject.
Why?
Alberto was a problem for me.
A real disgrace.
Why?
Well,
he was different.
Different from whom?
From the others.
He was gay.
And you consider that a disgrace?
Well,
given my way of thinking
and my view of life, it is.
Besides, I have a reputation to protect.
He was an embarrassment to me.
Don Cataldino's son,
a faggot.
Come on. What the fuck!
Hey, pansy!
You didn't tie your hair today!
Albertina!
You know you have to look
pretty for the tournament, right?
Oh, Albertina is angry!
What are you doing?!
Sweetheart, let's hide them!
Mom!
If Dad sees them, there'll be trouble!
And how did you react?
What did you do to
overcome your discomfort?
Everything that had to be done.
Come on!
Still playing with dolls!
Be quiet!
Dad! Please!
Believe me,
I tried everything to straighten him out.
I couldn't allow that
pervert to ruin my reputation.
And I would have succeeded
if it hadn't been for that damn doctor.
He was our family doctor.
My wife, Emanuela, had been engaged
to him before she got together with me.
He's the man I ran into at the restaurant.
He encouraged Alberto not to be afraid
to show himself for who he was.
And it was also he who helped him
organize his departure for the U.S.
He had recommended him to a friend,
an American colleague who had promised
to take care of him.
I discovered everything
a few months later.
When I was rummaging through
Alberto's personal belongings,
I found a note with the name of a doctor
and the address of a hospital in Buffalo.
It was Mario Venneri's handwriting.
And then what happened?
After landing in New York,
he took a connecting flight to Buffalo.
But the plane crashed
into a lake while landing.
The passengers were initially
reported missing,
but after days of fruitless searching,
they were all declared dead.
Alberto was among them.
What a sad story.
You must have suffered a lot.
My wife, Emanuela, did.
She never recovered
and died two years later.
To be honest,
I've always come to terms with it.
Actually,
that accident was an act of Providence
that put an end to a situation
that could no longer continue.
I gave Mario Venneri
the lesson he deserved.
I had his medical license revoked, insinuating
there was something between him and my son.
Then I made sure he was shut out everywhere,
to the point that he was forced
to leave San Pancrazio
to find work elsewhere.
One thing I don't get:
If, as you said, Alberto's accident
was a relief for you,
why take it out on the doctor?
He shouldn't have gotten involved.
Alberto and my family were my business.
I always believed he did it
to maintain a bond with Emanuela,
whom he was still in love with.
He had to disappear from our lives!
End of story.
It was only right for him to pay.
It's getting late.
Shall we head back?
All right.
He said the accident
was an act of Providence.
I can't stand seeing him anymore.
We're this close to delivering
the final blow.
He'll still feel strong as long as
he can rely on the family assets.
Gaetano's assets,
which Simone will inherit.
But Simone is legally incapacitated.
And as his legal guardian,
Cataldo will manage his assets.
The plan needs to be
carried out, and fast.
Come on.
Let's get to work.
Dimora lonica, in Taranto.
The company was established
about a year ago.
That's quite a short time
for a company that suddenly
comes up with investments of this size
for land worth next to nothing.
Doesn't that seem fishy to you?
It certainly does.
But listen to this, because here's
where it gets interesting:
Guess who the sole director is?
Who?
Mario Venneri.
Him?!
But there's more.
I went to Congedo to tell him
the date for signing the deed,
and he told me that he too had sold
to the same company a few days earlier.
Cat, this Dimora lonica beat you
to it with Congedo too.
That's not possible!
Wait, wait, wait!
We made our deal with Congedo
before they did.
So this "Dimora lonica"
can go fuck itself!
We only signed a preliminary contract.
The agency, or rather, Mario Venneri,
since we know he's behind this,
signed a final contract,
which was then officially recorded.
And what does that imply?
That we can't even contest it.
It would be a lost cause.
Moral of the story:
You're the one who can go fuck yourself.
What?!
You mean that rat has the guts
to steal those plots from under my nose
and I have to take it up the ass
without even saying "ouch"?!
Ern, what the fuck are you saying?!
I'm saying Mario played it smart
because he offered him,
for the sale alone,
200,000 euros.
Holy shit!
Perfect timing.
Congedo also told me
that he'll pay us the penalty.
How much sugar?
Never mind. I'll do it.
Get lost.
You wouldn't have made that much
even by speculating on the stock market.
Ern,
this isn't about making a little extra.
It's the losses I'm worried about.
I signed contracts worth
several million euros.
I even went into debt with the banks.
What a fucking screwjob!
They really fucked me over!
You there?
Yes, I'm here.
I was trying to figure out
how that scumbag
got his hands on all that money.
Just a few years ago he was practically
starving, because I'd ruined him.
What do you intend to do?
Find out who's backing him.
That money obviously isn't his.
Someone is helping him.
And I'm going to find out who it is.
Doctor, you must have
something very special
to earn these animals' trust.
Good morning. Excuse me.
I didn't notice you were here.
I took the opportunity to
check the livestock.
Please, let's go inside.
Let me offer you a coffee.
Gladly.
No, no, no!
Maybe I didn't make myself clear.
I can't authorize anything!
The land doesn't belong to me!
My daughter, Emanuela.
A unique woman,
an extraordinary mother.
The other one is my grandson, Alberto.
Does he remind you
of someone dear to you?
Yes.
Good morning, doctor.
Your coffee, Don Gaetano.
And the pastries, as you asked.
Please.
They were Alberto's favorites.
I'm asking you to wait!
Mario Venneri.
It would be a pleasure
to see him again after so many years.
I don't have much time left to live.
The doctors say there's
not much hope for me.
Trust me.
It's the best solution.
For Simone too.
And to keep that bastard Cataldo
from getting his way too.
If only my Emanuela
were still here with us!
I would have liked to
introduce her to you.
I have to go now.
See you soon.
I don't know how to resolve
this right now.
Yes, I know. I understand...
You have every right...
But I can't right now!
I don't have the money!
Then sue me!
Do whatever the hell
you want and fuck off!
I'm leaving.
You're leaving?
Just like that? Out of the blue?
It's over.
You've gone too far.
You're always humiliating
me in front of others.
I can't take it anymore.
You liked being with me
as long as it was convenient for you.
Now that I'm in trouble,
you're looking for greener pastures.
Do you already have someone
in mind to replace me?
Speaking of replacements:
Watch out for Nora.
There's something about her
that doesn't add up.
I think she's hiding something.
Admit it.
You're blinded by jealousy.
Oh, my God! Cataldo,
you can't think straight.
Have you ever wondered why a wealthy,
radical chic Parisian would come live here?
And why does she speak Italian so well,
with an accent so similar to ours?
Ask yourself these questions
once in a while!
I don't know, maybe it's just female intuition,
but there's something about her I don't trust!
But I won't insist.
Once you get something into your head...
I knew you liked the countryside,
but I never imagined you'd
have such a bucolic passion.
I also knew you were a pain in the ass,
but I never imagined you'd come
all this way to bother me on a Saturday.
What do you have to tell me?
My father-in-law's firm and country estate
are worth at least ten million altogether.
And you should see
how much he has in savings!
I was thinking it's time to cash in.
What makes you think
he's going to help you?
He doesn't exactly worship
his son-in-law.
I'll try to convince him next week.
I'll tell him that if I go bankrupt,
Simone's future will also be compromised.
All right,
at this point, you have nothing to lose.
But you need to act now.
The banks won't wait.
By the way, yesterday I was notified
that your boat has been seized.
I forgot to tell you.
Now, if you don't mind...
Everything went well.
I told him you'd drop by.
He's expecting you.
Fine.
I'll go and see him.
Try to keep Cataldo busy.
At least until this evening.
I wouldn't want him
to show up at the farm
while I'm with Gaetano.
You know what to do.
Good morning. Am I disturbing you?
You never do.
Are you busy this afternoon?
Yes, I'd like to visit my father-in-law.
Oh, that's a shame.
Some of my appointments were cancelled,
so I thought it might be interesting
to take a tour along the coast
and... I don't know...
take a few pictures.
But I don't want to go by myself.
I was wondering if...
All right then.
Tell me when and
where, and I'll pick you up.
All right. At my place, at 2:00 p.m.
All right. See you later.
Don Gaetano!
Good morning.
Excuse me, but I don't recognize you.
You're...
Mario Venneri,
the son of Mastro Salvatore.
Yes! Now I remember!
I was expecting you.
I was told that all you do
around here is eat.
Everything is so delicious.
And this is nothing.
Once I've taken you to some places,
you'll appreciate our cuisine even more.
You're already making plans
without asking me.
You're moving a bit too fast.
Yes, that's true.
But when I'm with you, I get carried away
and start building castles in the sky.
And lately...
By the way,
I haven't asked you yet why
you speak Italian so well,
without the slightest French accent.
Excuse me.
I need to check.
I haven't been at the clinic all day,
and they might need me.
ALL GOOD WITH DON GAETANO
Just as I feared.
I'm sorry, but they've brought in
a dog in critical condition.
I really have to go.
Thank you for today.
See you soon.
Can I... give you a ride?
Believe me, Don Gaetano.
We did the right thing.
Thank you.
I'm sorry. Your card was declined.
How much is it again?
Keep the change.
And next time, make sure
your card terminal works.
"Dear customer..."
despite our multiple reminders...
"your name has been reported to
the Central Credit Register."
Damn bastards!
Filthy loan sharks!
I've been filling their coffers
with my money all my life
and now that I'm going through
a moment of hardship, what do they do?
They treat me like the lowest of beggars!
Are you out of your mind?!
How could you sell everything
overnight to that spineless Venneri?!
I admit that I never really considered it.
I resigned myself to the idea
that all of this would have
ended up in your hands.
Then
Mario and the veterinarian
opened my eyes and...
The veterinarian?
Which veterinarian?!
I asked you a question! Answer!
Apparently, you know her well.
Rumor has it that
you have a crush on her!
Nora?!
What does Nora have to do with this?!
Tell me!
Mr. Gaetano, any problems?
Kick him out, please!
He's tormenting me!
Don't you dare!
You have no idea who you're dealing with!
Kick him out!
He's nobody!
It doesn't end here!
You caused my daughter's
and grandson's deaths!
And now you were planning
to screw me out of my money too?!
Please, come in.
Have a seat.
What are you playing at?
Do you mean...
Yes, precisely!
What does Nora have to do with you?
Do you think you frighten me?
No one respects you.
No one ever really did.
People fear you.
Because of your arrogance,
which comes from your money.
But now you don't have shit.
Don't push it too far.
Or what?
What other slander are you
going to make up?
You interfered in our family matters.
You did it back then
and you're doing it again.
Did you come to lecture me in my house?
You know what you did to me.
I'm just getting even.
I admit it.
It feels good to watch your
enemy sink in the mud.
Answer me, you scum!
What does Nora have to do with this?!
You'll find out soon enough.
I certainly will.
How long will it take him to find out?
Not long.
I'm sure.
And when he does,
we'll enjoy the show.
When is Dr. Gagnon arriving?
Dr. Gagnon is very busy lately.
Don't worry. We're here.
I need to talk to Dr. Gagnon.
She's not here.
Where can I find her?
She's not answering her phone.
I don't know what to tell you.
Do you have any other way
of contacting her?
We don't have any other contact details,
and even if we did, I wouldn't be
authorized to give them to you.
What do you mean?
Stop wasting my time, miss.
You know I'm Cataldo Marsella, right?
I need to speak with Dr. Gagnon urgently!
Maybe I didn't explain myself:
As I just said, Mr. Marsella,
Dr. Gagnon isn't here.
If you don't mind,
we have work to do here.
Make sure you mind your tone next time.
Don't you dare talk to me like that again.
How rude!
He's fallen so low.
SALENTO TODAY - CATALDO MARSELLA,
SAN PANCRAZIO'S WEALTHY ENTREPRENEUR
ON THE BRINK OF RUIN
The usual, Don Catald?
What's wrong with them today?
They're giving me strange looks.
Didn't you read the papers?
Wait.
I need to show you something.
"Well-known entrepreneur Marsella
on the verge of bankruptcy!"
"Cataldo Marsella, the rich entrepreneur
from San Pancrazio
on the brink of ruin."
"The harsh law of karma comes crashing
down on San Pancrazio's 'Don Rodrigo'!"
This is outright libel!
We can sue them, right?
That wouldn't solve anything.
Venneri must have spread the news.
All right, I get it.
But they can't call me "Don Rodrigo"!
Everyone was staring at me at the bar.
"Cataldo Marsella is finally ruined"
it was written all over their faces.
You're a well-known figure.
You've always been the talk of the town
for your risky financial transactions.
And you've never minded
being labeled "the bad guy" or "cynical."
Besides,
a clash with the press wouldn't
be good for business. Let it go.
You know,
it's a paradoxical situation.
I just found out that Mario
and Nora are in cahoots.
In life, you have to expect
the unexpected.
Yes.
I'm not surprised about Mario.
But Nora?
She seems to have disappeared.
She's not answering her phone.
And there's a wall
of silence at her clinic.
Either they don't know themselves,
or they won't tell me anything.
Then keep trying.
Mario is playing games.
He wants me to find out on my own.
At least he's right about that.
Then stop wasting time here and find out.
But do it on your own.
Please, don't involve me anymore.
I'm very busy, and you didn't pay me.
And let's be honest:
I'm afraid you won't be able
to pay me anymore.
But...
Ernesto...
Are you abandoning me?
Cat...
I've backed you up for far too long.
You've never listened to me
and now you're paying the price.
I'll be going.
And remember,
I'm saying this for your own good:
Don't do anything else stupid.
What you're asking
me is a delicate matter.
I'm doing this to repay
that old favor I owe you.
But we've never met.
Is that clear?
Understood.
Dimora lonica, Taranto,
Viale Magna Grecia.
Deutsche Bank.
There are two recent transactions.
A bank transfer to Fernando Congedo
and another to Antonio Manieri.
Then you asked me about Mario Venneri.
Same bank. There's an incoming payment
of ten million,
followed shortly after by a transfer
of the same amount to Gaetano Manigrasso.
Does it say where
that last payment came from?
Yes.
Le Gurisseur,
with headquarters in Hamilton, Canada.
The company belongs to
a certain lonore Gagnon,
resident in France.
That's impossible!
She lives in San Pancrazio.
She's a vet.
We even go out together!
Look.
Is that her?
Yes.
It's her. It's her.
Who is lonore Gagnon?
And where does she come from?
Buffalo.
Dr. Roger Tamboi.
At the Niagara Gender Center in Buffalo.
This is Tommaso.
He doesn't trust anyone.
He'd only let my grandson
Alberto approach him.
I'm sorry.
I didn't want to scare you.
I was intrigued by the music box.
Still going on about that music box!
When are you going
to do something useful?
Give it to me!
No...
That's not possible...
How many times do I have to
tell you to use your right hand?!
The left hand belongs to the devil!
Is that clear?!
That's not possible...
Who is Nora?!
Answer me! Damn it!
You know who I am,
otherwise you wouldn't be here.
Look at me carefully.
Aren't you going to hug your son?
Aren't you happy to see me?
To know that I'm alive?
As I imagined.
Prejudice,
prudery,
have always ruled your life,
like when you used to beat me up,
humiliate me,
take comfort in my death,
because you couldn't accept that a woman
you now find so extraordinary
that you've fallen in love with her,
had the appearance of a man,
and that this man was your own son.
Touch me.
You're afraid...
or rather...
I disgust you.
Yet just the other day,
you couldn't wait to fuck me.
How...?
How...?
How am I still alive?
Ladies and gentlemen,
we're experiencing a bit of turbulence.
Please stay seated
with your seatbelts fastened.
Please do not move around the cabin.
The toilets are closed for now. Thank you.
After the plane crash...
somehow...
I survived.
I was unconscious.
When I came to,
I was hurt and covered in blood.
I walked through entire nights,
exhausted by the cold,
until I reached the hospital
that Mario had told me about.
Here, Dr. Tamboi performed a delicate
gender-affirming surgery on me,
which gave me a female body.
Then, cosmetic surgery did the rest.
In Buffalo, I met Philippe Gagnon,
a billionaire from Hamilton,
an extraordinary man.
He was the only person
who saw me as I really am.
It was love at first sight.
We got married two weeks later.
Then he died in a tragic car accident.
I inherited everything
and I kept his surname.
I found myself in charge of his
companies scattered all over the world.
Two years ago, I relocated to Paris
to manage the companies based in Europe.
But I never neglected my passion:
My veterinary studies.
But there's one thing
I never stopped thinking about:
Going back to the place where I was born
and settling a score with the past.
No. I can't accept it.
I can't!
Will you go back to practicing medicine?
I'm not sure yet.
I'd like to try out something different.
If you come to Paris, I'll offer you a
director's position at the pharma company.
It would be an honor,
but my ties to this land are too strong.
I want to stay here.
How about taking care of animals?
Why not?
I like animals.
They're better than human beings.
The keys to the clinic.
Take them.
It's yours now.
What about your father?
What will become of him?
I can picture him working as a waiter.
He'd learn what dignity means.
Anyway, I don't consider him
my father anymore.
In any case, I've already taken care of
him.
You see, I'm...
different,
though that's not necessarily
a good thing.
Let's just say I've condemned him
to be unhappy forever.
Even the bank.
What the fuck do you still want?!
You took everything from me!
Notification of an international
bank transfer order
in your favor.
Dear Mr. Marsella,
We hereby inform you
that today the following amount
was credited
to your bank account:
10 million euros?
Fuck.
Le Gurisseur,
lonore Gagnon.
Your current account balance
is 10 million euros,
while your available balance is
4,739,850.00.
lonore Gagnon.
I'm old and ill,
but I'm not stupid.
Your eyes
are a different color,
but I know that look very well.
It's the same look your mother had.
And Tommaso...
would only allow you to pet him.