The Big Fake (2025) Movie Script

[rain pattering]
[thunder rumbles]
[typewriter keys clacking]
IN THE '70s AND '80s,
A FORGER WHO LIVED IN ROME
CROSSED PATHS WITH EXTRAORDINARY
CHARACTERS, POWERS AND SECRETS.
THIS IS HIS STORY.
OR AT LEASONE OF THE POSSIBLE VERSIONS OF IT.
[man 1] On the day that I died,
we were supposed to meet.
But I didn't make it.
It wasn't supposed to end like this.
They say when you die,
your whole life flashes before your eyes.
Well, I didn't see shit.
I wanted to be a free man,
but I paid a hell of a price
for that freedom.
- [man 2 screams] No!
- [gunshot]
[unsettling music playing]
[man 1] Because it's always
the same question.
To get where you want to go
What are you willing to do?
DUCHESSA LAKE, THREE YEARS EARLIER
[nostalgic music playing]
The three of us were always
raising hell as kids.
We were the rebels of our town.
But who wants to live in a place
that all fits on one small canvas?
Not me.
[music grows]
[man 3] Guys, I'm telling you.
I'm really late. Let's go. I'm sorry.
[man 1] Now you have to wait
till I'm done.
- You putting anything here?
- I'll shroud it in mist.
- Just the same as I always do.
- Yeah, so?
Well, I'm so fucking sick
of drawing fog, man.
Then let me draw our town for you.
You in a rush to slave at the steelworks?
There's an important mass.
The bishop will be there. We have to go.
- I see, the bishop.
- That's why you're in a hurry.
The bishop's attending.
Whatever. I'm going. Why am I waiting?
It's my car, after all.
We're going, aren't we?
Yep.
Think this junker's even
gonna get us to Rome?
- Of course it'll get us to Rome.
- What?
Immacolata here has never let me down.
And whether you like it or not,
tertium non datur.
- What'd he say?
- How the fuck should I know?
["The Passenger" by Iggy Pop playing]
Who's gonna stop us now?
Who's gonna stop us?
- Who's gonna stop us?
- [man 3] Come on, let's go!
Come on, Vittorio!
[man 1] A priest, a worker,
and an artist head to Rome.
Sounds like the start of a joke, right?
But instead,
we were about to make history.
I am the passenger
And I ride and I ride
Fuckin' shithole.
[man 1] In those days,
Rome was one big party.
Popes, bishops, artists,
criminals, politicians, commies, fascists.
There were all kinds.
And then there was me.
I wanted to become
the best painter in Rome.
You know it looks so good tonight
There wasn't a canvas
big enough for this city.
- [children shouting]
- [bell ringing]
My memories of those first months
were of the smiles I put on people's faces
when I painted them.
Ma'am?
[man 1] Then I remember the hunger,
and I remember the cold.
I'll do your portrait. Come here.
[man 2] Hey. Hey, buddy.
You can't have 'em all.
- What the fuck?
- You've got plenty. Let's share a little.
I gotta eat too.
Go on, sit down. Sit down.
[man 1] And I remember the bodies
in the streets, the bombs.
But what did I care?
I knew that Rome
would come looking for me.
Singin' la, la, la, la, la-la la-la
La, la, la
- Hi there.
- Hello.
- Let's go to my place. Come on.
- [laughs]
The thing about this city
was that you just had to be patient
because sooner or later,
it would drag me to that party too.
Whose house is this?
They call him the "Artist."
Artist? You gotta be kidding.
We're screwed.
That's him.
["The Passenger" continues in background]
[woman 1] The stoned one on the couch.
Oh, the passenger
How, how he rides
Oh, the passenger
THE BIG FAKE
- ["The Passenger" abruptly stops]
- [lively muffled music playing]
[melancholy string music playing]
[The Artist] Donata, it's cold.
[moans, whimpers]
Hey.
[The Artist shivers] It's cold.
It is cold. Get in bed.
It's always cold in this city.
If only you knew
how cold it is in my hometown.
[The Artist] Donata, my love, come here.
[Donata] My beloved.
It can't always end this way.
Hmm.
Here I am, baby.
- What else did you take? Hmm?
- Is all of this stuff his work?
Everything in this room is.
Hmm.
If he only knew how to paint,
he'd be rolling in it.
[Donata chuckles]
- Are you an art critic?
- No, I'm an artist.
Ah.
I'm an art dealer.
Ah, then I can bring you
some of my work sometime.
[Donata chuckles]
Well, if you are better than he is,
I might find the time.
How would you sign your work?
Toni della Duchessa.
Toni with an I.
Not like that runt Little Tony.
- Or Tony Curtis. Or Tony Renis.
- [chuckles]
Listen, can I give you some free advice?
- I'm all ears.
- "I" or no "I," it's not a very good name.
It won't sell.
Huh.
You've convinced me.
I'll change it tomorrow.
[Donata] Okay, so?
Am I gonna get to see
your paintings or what?
[muffled disco music playing]
- So where's your car?
- My car?
Now that's an insult.
We've got the finest ride in Rome.
Come here.
[Donata] Hmm.
- What's that in your hair?
- I don't know. What is it?
- There's something weird. Let me get it.
- Get it out.
[Donata laughs]
Ah, so someone else's finest ride.
Are you a thief or an artist?
What's the difference?
Always quick with a comeback, huh?
The others are just slow. Hop on.
- Hop on, where? How?
- Come on.
- Hop on.
- Where do I sit? Wait, oh!
- There you go.
- Wait a second. You'll hold me, right?
- Yeah.
- Are you pushing me?
- If I don't hold you, you'll fall.
- Take it easy.
You have to go slow,
Toni with an "I." [chuckles]
[dreamy music playing]
[Donata laughs]
[inaudible]
[music fades]
[Toni] I apologize.
I don't know what to say.
I guess the cleaning lady
took the day off.
- Yeah.
- Yeah.
Toni, I'm sorry.
I hate to say it,
but this stuff just won't sell.
There's no market for it anymore.
Now it's all symbolic,
abstract, conceptual.
And you seem more, I'd say, figurative.
[jazz music plays faintly in background]
What?
Are you upset?
What should I be, happy?
Huh?
Well, you've got talent.
Your anatomy work is remarkable.
- What about nudes? Nudes?
- Nudes.
If they're not too conventional,
there's a market.
- Oh, really?
- Mm-hmm.
Do you have any nudes that are unique?
Unique in what way?
In cubes, like Picasso?
Yeah, you wish you were him.
- No, I don't like Picasso.
- No?
At first, I did,
but then he became too commercial.
- Oh, really?
- Yeah, I like you.
[chuckles]
Can I start with a nude of you?
You're not the first one
to ask me that, you know?
- But I've always said no.
- Well, good.
- Mm-hmm. [Chuckles]
- You were waiting for me.
- Waiting for you? Toni della Duchessa?
- Yes, you were.
If you wait until tomorrow,
you'll find out my new name. Hmm?
[jazz music continues in background]
[gentle rustling]
[mysterious music playing]
Make mine cream-filled.
A croissant with cream.
- [chuckles]
- Or a quaresimale.
I knew you were more of a thief
than an artist.
How did you get this one?
Bernini's self-portrait.
How did you get it?
It's a copy.
- A copy?
- It's a copy.
It's perfect.
Where did you find it?
What do you mean? I made it.
[scoffs]
I did.
- I don't believe you.
- Suit yourself.
- Where did you see the original?
- In this book over here.
You think I'm lying?
Huh?
Toni, look at this one here.
- Modigliani. Could you do this one?
- That one?
- Look closely. I don't believe you can.
- I'll make it more real than the real one.
Copying has always come very easy to me.
- This is a piece of cake.
- Yeah?
The lines are quite simple,
but the brushwork
is a bit more distinctive.
Ah.
Hmm?
What's this?
If you pull it off, come see me.
[Toni] Every time my life
was about to change, I knew it.
I knew it right away.
I'd get this feeling in my neck,
like a tingling.
It feels strange.
Every time.
[mysterious music continues]
[knocking at door]
- Come in.
- [door opens]
[Toni] The problem was that life
wasn't just changing for me.
[man] Is this you?
No.
[music fades]
- No hug for me?
- No.
- Ah, no?
- No.
Get outta here.
[both laugh]
- Damn, you're ugly.
- Look who's talking.
I quit the steel mill.
Is that why you're wearing
that expensive coat now?
It's easier to blend in when I wear it.
No one ever fucks with you.
Why do you need to blend in?
Tell me what's going on.
Remember back home
when we would talk about
how we were gonna
beat up our bosses and stuff?
- Yeah, we bullshitted a lot.
- To me, it wasn't bullshit.
The Red Brigades is the only place
where people like me
can make a difference.
- People like you too.
- I don't belong to anyone.
- Yeah, I know.
- Well, just leave me out of it, then.
But
I'm asking for your help.
There's a safe with your name on it.
[stirring music playing]
[Toni] I've always used my hands to do
whatever I had to do to get by.
[man] Keep it down, would you?
[Toni] Whoa. What is this? An armory?
Hey. What the fuck are you doing?
The safe's over there.
[Toni] Ever since we were kids,
Fabione had been dragging me
into his messes.
But how could I say no to him?
[stirring music continues]
[bag unzips]
[music grows tense]
Stop. Hands up.
What are you doing?
Don't move. Keep your hands
[both grunting]
[grunts]
[exclaims]
Toni, let's go! Hurry up!
Get out! Toni, get out!
[Vittorio] Have you lost your minds?
[Fabione groans in pain]
Don't move. Keep still.
- [Fabione grunts]
- [music fades]
[Toni] Look at that cot!
[Vittorio] Yeah, the cot.
I sleep there
'cause that 19th-century bed,
it gives me the creeps.
[Toni] I see, comfort creeps you out.
Why don't you sleep on the floor, then?
[Toni groans]
- Ouch! Vitto!
- Yeah, I know. Uh, gimme a second.
- I thought you said it was no big deal.
- No, that was him.
I just said 'cause my mom was a nurse,
doesn't make me a doctor.
Details, Vittorio.
Yeah, details, details. What are those?
That stuff's
for all of Fabione's new friends.
I'll be taking the rifles and the pistols.
I'll leave you two of them, okay?
Good Lord.
And I'm leaving half the money
from the safe for you as well.
You can keep the money.
It's mine, is it? For the cause?
No.
It's yours 'cause the cause
won't fill your belly.
- [winces] Ow!
- Uh, wait.
- Just cut it, Vitto. It'll be fine. Yeah.
- Leave it like this?
Okay, fine, then. Go ahead and bleed out.
There. I told you I don't
[Fabione sighs]
[Fabione groans]
Hand me the gauze.
The situation is absurd.
You show up with a hole in your arm,
and weapons in a suitcase?
This isn't, uh, who we are, guys.
You are We were altar boys.
Back home, we were altar boys.
- Are you done with your sermon?
- [chuckles]
No, I'm not done, Toni. No, I'm not.
What are you doing in the morning?
Hey.
Yeah. I'm busy.
- [Toni] He's busy.
- [Vittorio] Hmm.
- [Fabione] Vitto, hand me the scissors.
- No.
[choral music on radio playing]
[Toni] Turn this whiny shit down.
Is this it?
Wow. Look at this place.
Places like this kinda, I don't know
they overwhelm me.
Make me feel small. How about you?
[Toni] No, when I look at it,
all I'm thinking about
is how to make it mine, Vittorio.
And that's exactly
what you should be thinking about too.
- Stop here.
- Here?
So how did you meet this art dealer?
I met her in the biblical sense.
Of course. Well done.
I fucked her.
- I got that.
- Yeah.
- No, you didn't, but whatever.
- [chuckles]
- No, no, no, no, no. You'll break it. Oh!
- What's wrong? They're double-glazed.
- Come on.
- Don't do it, or I'm gonna leave.
- [Toni] Donata!
- Sh.
- Well, look who's still alive.
- [Toni] Look what I brought you.
Go on, Vittorio. Bye.
Me and my friend can take it from here.
- You're not gonna introduce me?
- Thanks for dropping me off.
Oh. What the
[softly] Put that thing away!
Pretty good. The signature is the same.
- Get inside! Go over there.
- Huh?
The door is that way. Come in!
[Toni] Bye, Vittorio. Go.
- Wait a minute.
- Come on, Vittorio, please.
I'll say hello just to be polite.
- I'm not showing up with a priest.
- Introduce me.
It's weird if I show up with a priest.
[Donata] It's exactly the same.
[surprised sigh] It's identical.
Check out the signature.
[whispers] Toni.
- What do you want?
- I mean, I'm right here.
- This is Father Vittorio.
- Nice to meet you.
- It's a pleasure.
- He's in charge of transportation.
- Introduce yourself.
- Yes.
- Yes. Donata, nice to meet you.
- Father Vittorio.
[sighs]
[Toni] Hey!
What?
- You know what.
- No, no.
- Don't be doing that.
- I was just
I'll leave you to it.
I'm running late for service.
- Goodbye.
- Goodbye.
That's right.
Go confess. [Blows kiss]
[Donata] So how should we do this?
How about an advance for now? Hmm?
How much How much did you have in mind?
Um, uh I don't know the market value, so
Look, what about 10%
of the purchase price?
300,00 lire?
So that painting's worth
three million lire?
I'd say minimum three million.
- Then we should celebrate.
- [chuckles]
We should go dancing.
Are you a good dancer?
Outstanding.
["Rasputin" by Boney M. Playing]
["Rasputin" continues]
Strawberry daiquiri with extra rum.
- This much rum, right?
- Yeah!
You got it!
You remembered! Very good!
There lived a certain man
In Russia long ago
He was big and strong
In his eyes a flaming glow
Most people look at him
With terror and with fear
But to Moscow chicks
He was such a lovely dear
He could preach the Bible
Like a preacher
Full of ecstasy and fire
But he also was the kind of teacher
Women would desire
Ra-Ra-Rasputin
Lover of the Russian Queen
There was a cat that really was gone
Ra-Ra-Rasputin
Russia's greatest love machine
It was a shame how he carried on
He ruled the Russian land
And never mind the czar
But the kazachok
He danced really wunderbar
[music continues muffled]
[indistinct chattering]
[muffled music fades]
[lounge music playing]
[man] He turns around
and sees a huge bear,
even bigger than the one before.
- A giant white bear.
- [Donata] No way.
So the bear says, "Admit it.
You're not here for the hunting, are you?"
- [all laugh]
- [Toni] Hey.
[Donata] Hilarious.
They were playing our song,
and you just walked away.
Everyone, this is Toni.
Toni, Balbo.
Balbo, Toni.
Hello there. I'll grab a chair.
Toni is an artist.
I met Toni not too long ago at an event.
Toni is a forger.
- Oh, a forger.
- [Toni] Yeah.
[Balbo] Wow!
And
And Balbo gets me some jewelry.
Some rings, necklaces.
He gives me a good price,
and I don't ask where he finds them.
Ah.
Do you happen to have any rings
or necklaces with you tonight?
I wanna give my girlfriend a present.
Oh, really?
Hey, Crocca, what do we got tonight?
How about an engagement ring?
Let me check.
[disco music playing]
[Balbo] Crocca is an athlete, you know?
He does the hammer throw. Can you do that?
- [music abruptly stops]
- [Toni] No.
What's the hammer throw?
[disco music resumes]
Here.
I got these two sparklers left.
[disco music continues in background]
- I'll buy both of them off you.
- [Crocca] Now you're pushing it.
- Those two are worth
- Three million.
- Well, then, what's the problem?
- What's this about?
[Balbo] These are worth ten times as much.
I said I'll take both of 'em, okay?
We make paper planes with checks,
you know?
- Oh, really?
- You want 'em, bring real money tomorrow.
Don't be a fool, Toni. Just drop it.
Donata, relax.
It's not even my money. Come on.
The signature, however,
is as good as the real one.
No problem. We'll take it.
But there's a corollary.
I was stuck on a crossword puzzle
for a week over this word "corollary."
Fuck if I know what it means,
but I like it.
And what is this corollary?
The corollary is
that if you're screwing with us,
The Driver will pay you a visit tomorrow.
Then you'll find out
why they call him "The Driver."
[engine accelerates]
- [disco music playing]
- [laughs mockingly]
The corollary is clear.
[disco music continues]
Here's another joke.
You may have heard it already.
Did I tell you the one
about the African safari?
I think I have.
[music abruptly stops]
Yo.
They took the check. It's all good.
And they handed over a pile of dough.
Marvelous. You could have been
disabled for life. Imagine that.
But instead, you're buying me breakfast.
[Balbo] Yeah, we'll show you our hangout.
[Toni] Balbo, Crocca,
The Driver, and the others
The truth is, I knew who they were.
In Rome, in those days,
everyone knew the gang members' names.
Marcello, pour me a spuma, okay?
Reading about them in the paper
was one thing,
and meeting them face to face was another.
- [Balbo] You always play alone.
- Are these for eating, or just for show?
[Marcello] We've got another comedian.
Balbo, where do you find these guys?
The circus?
- [Balbo] Can you play pool?
- Of course I can play.
[rock music playing on stereo]
Stutty, rack the balls
for Paul Newman here.
Hey, why do they call you Stutty?
[stutters] B because
I get it. Rack the balls.
Let's see if you're better
with a brush or a cue.
Fucking hell.
- [Balbo] An artist?
- [Toni] Yeah.
Meaning? Donata's copies?
[Toni] Not just those.
I do my own stuff too.
I'm versatile, Balbo.
The other day,
my friend and I hit a gun shop.
They're still talking about it.
That was you?
Yeah, and my friend.
Unbelievable. We've been searching
for the sons of bitches
who pulled that job
without authorization for days.
And here you are.
- I just opened the safe, Balbo. I didn't...
- What did you need the guns for, Toni?
I didn't need them.
They were for my friend.
What did your friend need 'em for?
[tense music playing]
The rifles are for politicians.
But he left me two pistols.
Red or Black politicians?
Red.
[sighs]
You chose the wrong color.
But I don't give a fuck about colors.
I support the one that helps me.
Let's go see these masterpieces.
[tense music continues]
[Balbo] Wait here.
Okay.
[Balbo clears throat]
[tense music continues]
[inaudible dialogue]
[car doors close]
It's nice here. Looks like a beaver's den.
No offense,
but I could find you a more decent place.
I don't need a place to live, Balbo.
But what I need is a studio.
A real studio with good light and space.
I need a proper atelier, not a flophouse.
An atelier?
I'll jot that one down too.
I'll find you an atelier.
- Really?
- Where you can live as well.
If you can just spare five minutes
to help me with something.
I'll help you all day long for an atelier.
- [Balbo] These
- Yeah.
I'll buy them off you.
Let's go, Michelangelo.
[Balboa groans] Here we are.
- That's the front door.
- That one?
Yeah.
[Balbo] This used to be the warehouse
of a guy who worked for us.
Then he had the bright idea
to go talk to a judge, you know?
- [pensive music playing]
- It's all here. Electric typewriter, TV.
Toss it all if you want.
It doesn't matter.
Put some plants in the foyer.
Get a dog. Screw a broad.
And voil.
Look at the light in here.
Not like that tomb you were living in.
What do you say?
Could this do for an atelier?
Yeah, it'll do, but I can't afford it.
You don't have to pay.
Just do a job for us
every once in a while.
What kind of job?
Artistic things.
More or less.
Now, you know how to file
the serial numbers off these?
- Yeah, of course.
- Good.
[knocking at door]
That's the former owner of the house.
I'll show you the less artistic side too.
- No, for the love of God!
- [Toni] What should I do?
- [man] Have mercy! Don't hurt me.
- Huh? Which should I take, ear or eye?
You decide. The ear or eye?
Let's take the eye.
- Good choice.
- No, for God's sake!
Maybe I'll take his mouth so he shuts up.
- I'm begging, have mercy.
- [Toni] Come on. Open your mouth.
- Make him open his mouth.
- You don't have to do this! Please!
No, no, no, no, no!
[whimpers] No, no, no, no, no, no!
Please. Please. I'm begging you.
I didn't tell the judge anything.
I won't tell the judge anything.
Mercy.
Please, please.
- [drill stops]
- [whimpers] Don't hurt me. Thank you.
[Balbo] What's the matter?
It just got good.
He said he didn't tell 'em anything.
[man] No.
- He didn't betray us?
- [man cries] No.
- He said he didn't tell them.
- No, you don't get it. He already talked.
- No, no, no.
- Isn't that so?
- [man] No, no, no. I
- [Balbo] Right, little canary?
- Mm?
- [man cries] No, no, I
You already sang,
didn't you, little canary?
- I swear I didn't
- Let's hear you sing.
Come on. Sing us a song, canary.
- I I I No, no!
- I I That's enough.
[dark music playing]
No more singing.
He was a rat. Don't worry about it.
I'll send someone to clean up
so you can move in tomorrow.
[dark music intensifies]
- [music fades]
- Here.
This is for you.
For the Modigliani.
A collector purchased it
for eight million.
You're kidding.
I get 30%.
I kept 2.4 million,
that's 5.6 million for you,
minus the 300,000 I already gave you.
This is what you have to do, Toni.
This is your thing, and yours alone.
You could make all the money
you could ever want.
What do I do?
What do you mean? Paint pictures.
- Copies?
- Copies, of course.
You can do something no one else
can even come close to.
But it's not enough to be good.
You have to know which paintings to fake.
- And I bet you know which ones they are.
- [chuckles]
We have to focus on the early 1900s, Toni.
On those doodles you like so much.
- [pensive music playing]
- [Toni] That tingle.
Someone who finally realizes
I'm the best painter in Rome.
There it is, life changing,
once again, when you least...
- Well?
- [music stops]
What do you say? You in business with me?
What kind of business?
- Huh?
- [chuckles]
- Romantic?
- [chuckles]
- Huh?
- That too.
[feel-good piano music playing]
You're falling in love.
[chuckles]
- I never fall in love.
- You're falling in love.
I told you, I never fall in love.
Neither do I.
["Madame" by Renato Zero playing]
[Toni] Monet, Boccioni, De Chirico.
All of them.
I could paint all of them.
That was my thing.
All of it. We'll fill the whole place up.
We'll have all the paintings
everyone wants, but no one has.
["Madame" continues]
[Toni] I remember everything
about those months.
And I remember being happy.
There's parquet on the ceiling.
- Yes, there's parquet on the ceiling.
- Parquet on the ceiling.
And this.
This one's for me
and you.
Me and you?
Okay.
You said it.
["Madame" continues]
[Toni] This life, my life,
was exactly how I'd imagined it would be.
[Toni] Did he tell you we were altar boys?
- Come on.
- He didn't tell me.
- I haven't had the chance.
- All three of us were.
- No way. [Chuckles]
- Yeah, but then they kicked me out.
Fabione got a job in a factory,
and now he's into politics.
You see what happened to Vittorio.
Excuse me, why did they kick Toni out?
Eat your cake. Go on.
Okay, which which story should I tell?
Anyway, he stole from the collection.
He stole the offerings.
- To buy paintbrushes.
- Sure you did.
I think you're the only one here
who's consistent.
Consistent? Him?
He didn't even wanna be a priest.
- He only did it for the money.
- No, that's not true.
- It's much more complicated than that.
- Tell her what your mom said.
That priests were elegant.
- That's what she said.
- Priests don't starve.
- She'd say priests don't starve.
- Don't listen to him, Vittorio.
All right. So?
Poor family, few prospects.
It was the only way for me
to continue my studies, so here I am.
Anyway, your mother was right.
And he's elegant. He's elegant, isn't he?
- Thank you.
- Extremely elegant.
[Donata chuckles]
You guys kind of look like each other.
- Really?
- Yes. Yes.
- So I'm elegant too.
- Yes, extremely so.
- [Toni] What do you want?
- Another one.
[Toni] No.
[Vittorio] Fabione wants to see you.
- Come to Mass on Holy Thursday.
- Sure.
By the way, I like Donata.
- [vehicle approaching]
- Yeah. You and me.
Now that you've come this far,
please don't blow it, Toni.
Plenty of time for that.
[Balbo] Whose rust bucket is this?
Father, I'll get you a real car.
Why drive this heap?
Everyone picks on her. Oh, well.
Balbo, nice to meet you.
[Balbo] I know I'm late, but I was busy.
To make it up to you,
look what I brought you.
[car engine sputtering]
[Donata] What's this? Franca's tiramisu?
- [car engine sputtering]
- [pensive music playing]
- [Donata] How are you?
- [Balbo] Good. You?
- [Donata] Good.
- [Toni] Who's Franca?
[annoyed chuckle]
[exhales sharply]
[car engine starts]
[Toni] But there's a problem
with happiness.
It's never enough.
[muffled disco music playing]
[Toni] And that was my mistake.
Thank you, sir.
[Balbo] You make good money
as an artist, huh?
[Toni] Very good money.
- How much was the car?
- Less than yours.
Yeah?
Does Donata know you're out here
clubbing on your own at night?
- What are you, nuts?
- Oh, yeah?
There has to be a little mystery.
You can't go and tell women everything.
- Let's go. A guy wants to meet you.
- Who wants to meet me?
A guy.
What the fuck are you wearing?
["Ti Voglio" by Ornella Vanoni playing]
[man] Hey, Balbo.
[Balbo] This is To Toni?
- Hey.
- Sansiro, Toni.
- Very nice to meet you, Toni.
- Pleasure's mine.
He has to travel. He needs a passport.
Okay. A passport for a child?
Yeah, I can make that.
[whimsical laughter]
He likes to joke.
If you were a customs agent,
who would you stop? Me or you?
- Well, I would stop me. Yeah.
- [Sansiro] Yeah. You'd be wrong, right?
Kindness is the weapon of the strong.
Do you have your real passport with you?
Let's go.
- Go.
- You're not coming, Balbo?
No. I'm gonna dance.
[music stops]
SIGNATURE OF THE HOLDER
SIGNATURE AUTHENTICATION
I'm done.
Hey.
Your name's Edoardo now.
It's impeccable.
Well, that's my job.
So what Balbo said was true, huh?
- I owe you a favor.
- Yeah.
Tie a string around your finger
as a reminder.
[Sansiro sighs]
Why do they call you Sansiro?
I believe in two things.
One is Inter.
Inter's my team too.
Altobelli?
Overrated.
Oriali?
Oriali's good.
[sniffles]
Baresi?
The best of 'em all.
[whimsical laughter]
You're the man, Toni.
Goodbye, Sansiro.
You're the man.
Go Inter.
Damn right.
[Sansiro laughing whimsically]
[Gregorian chanting]
[whispers] Fabio.
Look what they make him do.
So you're running
with the Blackshirts now?
Whoever told you that doesn't know shit.
Look at me when I'm talking to you.
You're running with those fascist scumbags
who set off bombs on trains
just to prove a point.
That's bullshit.
I'm not running with anyone.
You're wasting your time with them.
Talking politics with you is pointless.
Hey, are you trying to break his feet?
I'm sorry.
Vittorio told me that you have
a little typewriter shop.
Is that true?
Do you have one for us too?
I've got an IBM with a rotating head.
The R sticks a bit,
but other than that, it's excellent.
All right, do me a favor, then.
Tomorrow, make sure
to put it in the trunk of a gray Ford.
It'll be parked right outside your shop.
Yeah, of course.
Thanks. [Chuckles]
[Fabione sighs]
Look at his face.
He's a mess.
I'll do it. I'll do it.
- I'd like to see you clean bums' toenails.
- Yeah, yeah.
- Okay, I'm going.
- Don't do anything stupid.
See ya.
Bye, Fabio.
[Gregorian chanting continues]
You're old-fashioned.
You think fruit is for kids.
It's not for kids, I'm telling you.
Strawberry and lemon are the best,
believe me.
Then eat strawberry and lemon.
What do I care?
"Dumbfounded. Ass-tuhnished"?
Astonished.
[Crocca] I knew it.
The lemon tastes like soap.
What the fuck took you so long?
I thought they hired you.
- Too many flavors.
- He waited for the lemon.
You waited for lemon.
It took me months to set up this meeting,
and now, you're gonna blow it
because you needed ice cream?
- What are you, seven?
- It was just ten minutes.
Ten minutes.
Ten minutes can cost you everything
with certain people.
Wait a minute. Listen to this.
[reporter on radio] The president
of the Christian Democrats,
the Honorable Aldo Moro,
has just been kidnapped in Rome
by a group of terrorists.
I can't believe it.
How the fuck did they do it?
Louder.
his parliamentary residence
in the Camilluccia District.
The terrorists are reported to
Let's go. Come on.
on the escort accompanying
the Christian Democrat
Jesus. What the fuck?
[man] This kidnapping is great news.
It's at times like this
that you need to invest.
And these buildings
are a great opportunity.
Am I right?
As always, Zu Pippo.
Yeah.
Toni.
Balbo says you can help us
with the documents we need
to get to and from New York.
- At your service.
- Good, very good.
Virginia will give you
everything you need.
- These paintings are very nice.
- This is the avant-garde.
There's a market for these right now.
- [Zu Pippo] Very interesting.
- [Virginia] What about these?
[Toni] That's my stuff.
- [Zu Pippo] Does it sell?
- These not as much.
Well, Virginia?
Do you like them?
- Uh...
- You know what?
Hmm. I'll buy these from you.
How much for them?
I can't name a price.
It's just an honor that you like 'em.
Ah. [Laughs]
- I'm thinking you're the right person.
- What for?
I've got something special
I want you to paint.
It'll be for me.
[pensive music playing]
Napoleon.
- [Zu Pippo] Mm.
- Seems quite fitting.
Can you do it?
This one here? I'll make it a dead ringer.
And it'll be my gift, if you'll allow it.
Well.
Huh.
Balbo.
Do you see Toni's manners?
I wish that you Romans had them, too,
but you often don't.
Oh, well. You have to be a little patient.
We Romans
We've got no history. We just improvise.
You have to be careful though.
Rumors are spreading.
Some people are saying,
"Balbo talks too much."
"He's always talking and talking."
Oh, really? Who are these people?
No one in particular.
Just voices.
Voices? Well, I wouldn't worry.
Rumors are like ghosts.
No one believes in them.
They just float around.
- I'm heading off.
- Mm.
I'm going to the studio.
I'll walk you to the door.
I'll be expecting you
for the documents, okay?
Of course.
Your uncle didn't let you answer before.
- Answer what?
- About the paintings.
- About your paintings?
- You like 'em?
Well, look, I'm not an expert on art,
but compared to the copies,
yours seemed to be more real.
More beautiful.
But again, I'm not an expert,
so don't listen to me.
If you like 'em, then you are an expert.
- Mm.
- Would you like a portrait?
[chuckles]
Goodbye.
Antonio?
Toni.
Toni.
[reporter 1 on radio]
It was around 12:50 p.m.
when a phone call came to the newsroom.
A voice said,
"In a phone booth on Via Teulada,
at the corner of Piazzale Clodio,
there is a Red Brigades flyer."
[reporter 2] We sent one of our reporters
to retrieve the flyer
and found that it contained information
regarding the kidnapping
[Fabione] Vittorio told me
that you have a little typewriter shop.
[Toni] I've got an IBM
with a rotating head.
The R sticks a bit,
but other than that, it's excellent.
[reporter 3] A second message
from the Red Brigade
has been found in Turin, Rome, Milan,
and Genoa, and appears to be authentic.
[Pope Paul VI] Let us pray
for the Honorable Aldo Moro.
[reporter 4] The pope has made reference
to the dramatic moment
[TV reporter] The Red Brigades have issued
another leaflet this evening,
the sixth in their series
on the kidnapping
of the Honorable Aldo Moro.
The leaflet,
bearing similar characteristics
to the previous ones,
states that the so-called
interrogation of Moro has ended.
It goes on to mention a guilty verdict
as well as a death sentence.
[sports reporter on radio]
That was a dangerous cross,
curling back toward the center of the box,
where Oriali was well-positioned.
Collovati is coming in at speed
and has managed
[knocking at door]
sending it out for a corner.
Eight minutes have passed
since the start of the second half
- Hi.
- Hi.
We are well underway here
When is it due?
Ten days or so.
- Mm.
- With the frame aging as well.
Can you do it?
Of course I can do it. Gauguin is easy.
- Who's this for?
- It's for a friend of mine.
What are they paying us?
It's a gift. We're not getting paid.
Then do Gauguin first
since they're paying for it.
- Okay.
- Hmm?
- See ya.
- Bye.
[sports reporter on radio
continues indistinctly]
[door opens]
[door closes]
[knocking at door]
What Oh.
Am I interrupting?
No.
- May I?
- Come on in.
Here are the documents from Zu Pippo.
[sports reporter on radio
continues indistinctly]
Will here work?
- Didn't you wanna do my portrait?
- A portrait, sure. I'll do it.
- Is the light okay if I sit here?
- That's perfect.
Make yourself comfortable. Okay?
- You gotta be comfortable.
- Yeah. I should take my jacket off.
A little more comfortable. [Chuckles]
[sports reporter on radio
continues indistinctly]
[Virginia moans]
[moans]
- You're not very comfortable yet, are you?
- No, I'm not quite comfortable yet.
Taking off your shoes might help.
[softly] Now I am.
[sighs]
Better now?
[sports reporter on radio
continues indistinctly]
Hey.
Are you painting my portrait for real?
- Me?
- Yeah.
We'll do the portrait later.
I like this light.
[car horn honking]
[Balbo] Toni!
[honking continues]
[Toni] Who the fuck is that?
[Virginia sighs]
- [car horn honks]
- They're looking for you.
They're always looking for me.
- What?
- Hurry, we gotta go somewhere.
[unsettling music playing]
[Balbo] The Tailor wants to talk to you.
- [Toni] What does he want?
- [Balbo] How the fuck should I know?
I guess he wants to meet you.
Then let's go meet him.
Hey.
Don't be a dick.
These are the real bad guys in all this.
[mysterious music playing]
Good evening, Toni.
Good evening.
Those pants are one size too big.
I bought 'em
'cause they looked fashionable.
- Mm.
- No?
But if you say so, then I agree.
Toni, we have got a situation
of extreme urgency.
We need a fake statement
from the Red Brigades.
Ah.
You need a fake statement?
But of course identical to the actual ones
they've been leaving in phone booths
or in garbage cans.
Would you be able to do that?
I'm pretty sure.
Pretty sure?
I'll make it identical.
Good.
These are copies of the statements
we've gotten so far.
This is what we need it to say.
The main thing is to say
that the president is dead.
You can make up the rest.
You see this?
What? Is that my down payment?
It's the precise size of the circle
around the star.
That's how we know
if the statement is real or fake.
Hmm?
And why should I do this for you?
Because we need to save
the life of the president.
Isn't it obvious?
Yeah, sure.
The last statement was number six,
so yours has to be number seven.
Don't forget.
[mockingly] "Fashionable."
Guy's a comedian.
[upbeat intriguing music playing]
[TV reporter] Right now,
we're looking down on Lake Duchessa,
the place where the Red Brigades'
seventh statement
declared that Aldo Moro's body
would be found.
Police and firefighters have been
searching since dawn,
but so far, they've found nothing.
What a masterpiece.
[TV reporter] Hundreds of tips
have been coming in to the local,
parliamentary, and finance police
[Donata] I'm just saying
that if we say we'll deliver on the 15th,
then it has to be on the 15th, Toni.
And I'm not gonna make an ass of myself
just because you have to paint Napoleon.
Are you listening,
or am I talking to myself?
Search parties have gathered
in the area near Lake Duchessa
Isn't Lake Duchessa near your hometown?
Yeah. Yeah, it's nearby.
What, you're going out?
- I'm having lunch with Vittorio.
- What about Gauguin?
I'll get it done.
Get dolled up tonight.
I'll make it up to you.
have carried out a search
in the deeper waters of the lake.
I take you out for foie gras,
and you're having soup, Vittorio?
Well, uh, foie gras and caviar
aren't really my thing.
You don't know how to enjoy life.
Why aren't you wearing your collar?
Aren't you obligated to always wear it?
No, it's not mandatory.
The Church asks that we dress
as though we're worthy.
[inhales sharply]
But I understand that in Rome,
they have a very different idea
of what that means.
What's wrong, Vittorio? Hmm?
[inhales sharply]
The outgoing bishop had recommended
that I should be made a monsignor.
But they gave it to someone else.
Someone who has
a lot of friends in the Vatican.
So he was, I don't know,
I guess, worthier than me.
So I'm still stuck here.
You're fine where you are.
Trust me. Don't worry.
You don't need to worry about things.
Imagine the kind of bed they'd give you
if you were a monsignor.
I see you're in a good mood.
What are you up to?
Working for the common good.
I'll pay. I gotta run.
- See you, Vittorio. Take care.
- Where are you going?
[mysterious choral music playing]
[car engine starting]
[music fades]
["Supernature" by Cerrone playing muffled]
["Supernature" continues muffled]
["Supernature" gradually becomes clear]
[Toni] What the fuck are you doing here?
- Huh?
- I came to dance. Is that a crime?
- You can't come here to dance.
- No?
You know that you can't.
What do you care, anyhow?
Doesn't that bother you?
[Donata] That's just how he is.
He's like a kid,
and he can't control himself.
He likes to show off sometimes.
One day it's a blonde,
the next it's a brunette.
I could care less.
As long as they know their place.
Suit yourself, I guess.
Supernature
Supernature
Supernature
Supernature
[music stops]
[tense music playing]
Toni, who are those guys?
Do you know them? Hey.
Wait here.
This better?
Is that fashionable as well?
If you came here to tell me
I did a good job, there's no point.
I already know I did.
- I can confirm that.
- Yeah.
Impressive work.
- But we need something else, Toni.
- Another statement, I suppose?
You need to notify the Red Brigades
that they could make quite a bit of money
in exchange for the president's life.
The pope himself
has pledged to raise the funds.
The pope?
How much, exactly?
Ten billion.
Ten billion?
Inform your friend
that he could save himself.
That they could all save themselves
and take the money.
My apologies to Donata
for taking up her time.
[Toni] Hold on a sec.
Who's telling you all these things?
I have a friend in the Red Brigades,
my girlfriend's name.
Just do what I said, Toni.
[Toni] Is it true they're close to finding
where the president is?
- [The Tailor] It's a matter of days.
- What's gonna happen to the Red Brigades?
Do you want to save your friend or not?
[car engine starting]
[tense music continues]
[Toni] Donata? Hey.
I need you to call Vittorio tomorrow,
but from the gallery.
It's important.
Will you call him?
What's wrong?
They're coming to our house now, Toni?
Who was that?
- Donata, come on.
- No, we're not going to bed.
- Donata!
- I wanna know who that was.
And spare me that nonsense
that you can't tell me for my own good.
I've been running in these circles
by myself for 20 years
and never gotten hurt.
I can tell when shit's gonna hit the fan.
- I got it.
- You don't.
- Yeah, I got it.
- You don't get what I'm saying.
If you're in deep shit, Toni,
then I'm in it with you.
Go that way. The couch is waiting for you.
[tense music continues]
[singing in Latin]
I'm going to the front. See you later.
You gotta explain some things to me.
The pope has ten billion ready.
The government won't negotiate.
Listen to me.
You'll end up six feet under.
[Fabione] I don't give a fuck
how we end up.
Who are you speaking for?
[Toni] I don't know his name.
It's a guy I did a favor for once.
The pope needs some proof
that Moro is alive.
The minute he has it, I give you
the suitcase, and you free Moro.
I'll let you know.
- See ya.
- Be careful.
[tense music continues.]
[knocking at door]
[tense music continues]
[Fabione] Hey.
Hey.
What is this place?
Come on. We don't have much time.
This is the third shelf. You come here.
You move these fabrics.
You put the suitcase there, and you leave.
No one will be in here.
This is the proof that Moro
is still alive right now.
He's holding this morning's paper.
RED BRIGADES
Fabio, what the hell are you doing?
Just drop everything and leave.
Let's get the fuck outta here.
No more Reds or Blacks.
Then we just take off.
Toni.
You fell into this by accident.
I'm exactly where I'm supposed
to be right now.
[suspenseful music playing]
[indistinct chattering]
[radio static crackling]
[man] Subject is in my line of fire.
[man 2] No action
until the exchange has been made.
[man 1] The priest is here.
They're talking.
[The Tailor] Move the microphone closer.
[radio static crackling]
[Toni] I imagined a guy with a duffel bag.
I brought you the pictures of Moro.
Where's the money?
The Holy Father has endured hours
of endless torment,
but in the end, he has decided
not to go through with the exchange.
The Holy Father
doesn't wanna save his friend?
- I'm only here to let you know.
- Let me know? Yeah, let me know, my ass.
- [The Tailor] What's going on?
- [man 1] The priest left.
Subject is in my line of fire,
but he doesn't have the suitcase.
Should I proceed anyway?
[music intensifies]
[man 1] He's leaving. Should I proceed?
[The Tailor] No.
The Vatican must have figured it out
and called off the operation.
Fall back.
[coin clinks]
[rotary phone dial clicks]
- [Vittorio] Hello?
- Vittorio? Hey, Vitto. Vitto.
- Oh, hey. What's up?
- You've gotta call Fabione.
Tell him he better run. Okay?
- [bell ringing]
- [reporter 1] Palermo.
The Christian Democracy party
will address voters
before the upcoming local elections
and will set the date
for the council meeting
to be led by Zaccagnini.
[reporter 2] The Council
has made accusations that the Union
would not act in the interest
of the working class.
- [siren wailing]
- [helicopter whirring]
[reporter 3] Breaking news.
We have just received
important information
coming out of Rome.
The body of a man has been discovered
in the center of the city.
It may be the body of Aldo Moro.
[unsettling music playing]
[reporter 3] There is still
no official confirmation.
The body is said
to have been found in a sack,
I repeat, in the center of Rome,
in Via Caetani,
not far from Piazza Argentina,
just a few meters from
the Christian Democracy party headquarters
as well as those
of the Italian Communist Party.
The uncertainty and bitterness at times
like these is understandable.
We repeat that these reports
remain unofficial.
No news agency has yet confirmed them,
and we are awaiting a statement
from the Ministry of the Interior.
About 70 minutes ago,
vehicles from the Mobile Squad
and the General Investigations
and Special Operations Division
began pulling into Via Caetani.
Already at the scene
is Undersecretary of the Interior,
Nicola Lettieri,
along with political figures,
police forces,
and other governmental organizations.
[indistinct chattering]
There's absolutely no trace.
[unsettling music intensifies]
[reporter continues in distinctly]
[inaudible dialogue]
[reporter continues in distinctly]
[news reports continue indistinctly]
[reporter 3] Police officials
have confirmed
that the man found
near Via delle Botteghe Oscure
is the Honorable Aldo Moro.
[rock music playing on stereo]
The Tailor is all talk.
He promised he'd get
two of our friends out of prison
if we found out where
that fucking Moro was being held.
- Did you find him?
- Of course we did.
But they didn't do shit,
and my friends are still in the slammer.
Yeah, well, my friend disappeared.
[Balbo] He's probably hiding out
in the sewers.
Who is this Tailor?
Someone who's been
very useful up till now.
There's a lot of people in his pocket.
Judges, lawyers, cops.
All folks we've got on the payroll.
But if he doesn't do what we say,
you'll see how bad we'll fuck him up.
- He's even got priests.
- Huh?
Someone from the Vatican.
He, um, uh, was supposed to give me
ten billion in a suitcase
for the Red Brigade in exchange for Moro.
- I bet the whole thing blew up, huh?
- Yep.
You're a lucky bastard.
If you took that suitcase,
you wouldn't be here shooting pool.
The Tailor and his friends
didn't want to save him.
Why would they murder Moro?
Because he wanted to make
a coalition government
with the communists.
Your Red Brigade pals
are all gonna wind up dead
or in prison for life, no doubt.
What a shame.
- Paul Newman sucks compared to you.
- Ah, you finally noticed.
[Balbo] Hey, speak of the devil.
[Toni] We gonna finish the game?
No. Fuckin' sick of losing to you.
- I told you, it's not up to me.
- No, no, no, no.
You have to stick
to your part of the bargain.
Where I come from, if you fuck people over
like this, you pay for it.
Then you'll see what the fuck happens
to you and that puppet of yours.
[tense music playing]
[music fades]
Beautiful work, Toni.
- Absolutely beautiful.
- Thank you.
Thanks.
[TV reporter] Searches have been
carried out in numerous apartments,
basements, underground areas, and garages.
Roadblocks and traffic checks are ongoing.
The investigations that were launched
All alone?
- Yeah.
- Yeah.
Toni, I don't know what to say.
- I'm speechless.
- Well
- Glad you like it. It means a lot to me.
- You won me over with this thing.
You won me over.
Ask me anything you want, you know?
Anything at all.
There is something.
and then reported that it was
an important operational base
for the Red Brigades.
[Toni] I have a friend who's in danger.
This is confirmed by the examination
of the documents and materials recovered,
some of which have been taken
to the scientific laboratories of
Toni.
Do you know what Napoleon did
when his advisors pointed out
that all his men in Russia
were dying from the cold?
Do you know?
- You don't know.
- No.
Exactly. He did nothing.
Nothing.
Because fighting the obvious is stupid
and dangerous too.
- You understand me?
- Mm-hmm.
- Go have fun.
- Mm.
[suspenseful music playing]
[rain pattering]
Donata?
[music fades]
- [thunder rumbles]
- Donata?
Donata?
Hey.
How was the party, Toni?
How did your friend like your painting?
- What are you doing?
- What am I doing, Toni?
You and I made a deal.
You broke it, so I'm leaving.
- What? In a couple days, it'll be ready.
- Sure. A couple days.
You'll never finish that painting, Toni,
but that's not the point.
[sobs]
- Donata.
- I get the one-night stands, Toni.
- What are you talking about, Donata?
- Yes.
- You're being paranoid. Come on.
- Sure, I'm paranoid.
It's really hard, but I get why you do it.
And I can even overlook all the lying.
The lies you think I believe, but I don't.
What I really don't understand
is your need to be with those people
just so you can feel like
a bigger man than you are.
This isn't what I signed up for, Toni.
- Come on now.
- I'm taking the paintings, okay?
- You don't need them for anything anyway.
- Stop this bullshit, Donata.
Someone will pick them up
so you can be with your friends full-time.
Yeah?
I'll leave you this one
as a token of my affection,
so when you look at it, it'll remind you
of what you've turned into.
You know what's worse
than not having any talent, Toni?
When you have just a little bit.
Because that little bit is enough
to make you realize that you're worthless.
That you're not capable
of doing anything except making copies.
[melancholy music playing]
- What are you saying?
- [sniffles]
- Are you finished?
- No.
[sighs]
[Toni] From that moment on,
everything went to shit.
["Arrivederci Roma"
by Lando Fiorini playing]
[engine revs]
Goodbye, au revoir
[humming]
[music stops]
["Arrivederci Roma" resumes]
- [whistling "Arrivederci Roma"]
- [urine splashing]
[pants zip]
- [engine roars]
- ["Arrivederci Roma" resumes]
Hey, what the hell?
[tires squeal]
[screams, grunts]
[somber music playing]
[The Driver] Toni and I went
to the scrapyard.
The brake lines were cut.
Somebody messed with them.
[Crocca] Who was it?
[music turns tense]
- [The Tailor] Toni. I'm sorry about
- Toni, my ass!
- Piece of shit! What did you do to him?
- Hey. Stop it.
Not here. Not here.
That's enough. That's enough.
It's a difficult day for everyone.
We need to be understanding.
I'm really sorry about your friend, Toni.
Although I have to say,
I really didn't think
you would react this way.
A burst of courage.
But courage is something
you can't afford, Toni.
And you know what else you can't afford?
Curiosity.
All these questions
you're asking about who we are,
what we do, how your friend died.
Shall we stop playing games
and talk to each other
like two civilized individuals?
Yes?
We need President Moro's memoirs.
Not what's printed in the papers.
We need the full text.
We're not the only ones looking for it.
But your friend could help to make sure
we're the first ones to get it.
I don't know where my friend is.
You'll find a way, I'm sure.
And if I don't wanna find a way?
[scoffs] Toni, I just told you,
you're in no position
to be curious or courageous.
- This is the last time we see each other.
- Don't say that.
- I hope not, for your sake.
- Go fuck yourself!
[phone ringing]
- Donata?
- Uh, no, Toni. It's, uh, Vittorio.
- Vittorio.
- Yeah.
How's it going?
Pretty good. Uh, you?
Yeah, pretty good.
What's up?
Listen, Toni,
uh, I'm a little embarrassed, but, uh,
my soup kitchen needs
a little a little charity,
and I thought that maybe...
How much do you need, Vitto?
It's mostly for renovations,
because it's falling apart.
Who are you? Get out! Oi!
[grunts]
[tense string music playing]
[inaudible dialogue]
[muffled scream echoes]
[music swells, fades]
[footsteps approaching]
- Zu Pippo.
- Hello.
So? Are they taking care of you?
Yeah, yeah.
Do you need anything?
They're trying to fill me up with soup,
I think.
- [laughs]
- How's it going?
Toni. [Sighs]
Toni, in life, you have to use this.
And you gotta be clear about
who you're with and who you're against.
Balbo didn't know that,
even though I warned him.
And you were about to make the same error.
For him, I couldn't do anything.
But I saved you from a funeral.
You've gotta stay in your place.
I'll tell you a story.
A while ago,
I gave a ton of money to a banker.
He worked in the US
and was supposed to invest it.
Guess what he did? [Chuckles]
He stole all of it.
Did we make a commotion, a fuss? No.
We stayed quiet,
and we're still quiet, biding our time.
Come here.
[stirring music playing]
Important things
require patience.
[stirring music continues]
[paintbrush clacks]
It took me five months
to be able to hold a paintbrush again.
[tense dramatic music playing]
And now?
Who was I without my hands?
- Who did I think I was?
- [slaps table]
I thought I could get away
without paying the price.
But it turns out
Rome always comes to collect.
[paper rustling]
[phone ringing]
[music fades]
Hello?
- [Vittorio] Hi, Toni?
- Vittorio.
- Am I interrupting?
- No, what's up?
I have some good news.
[stirring music playing]
[Toni] You spent my money well, huh?
You like it?
Very much.
Listen, how are your hands?
They're fine.
Gloves.
Huh.
Here he is!
[laughs]
Vittorio met her. What was she like?
Donata's an exceptional woman.
In fact, she's too good for him.
- [Fabione laughs]
- I really miss her.
I miss everything.
I miss how she looked at me.
She made me feel alive.
Yeah, alive.
Hmm.
I screwed up.
I've always screwed things up.
[Fabione breathes deeply]
Toni.
I've got to go away.
As far away as possible.
Too many people
are turning State's evidence.
And the police shoot first
and say "hands up" later.
Can you help me?
Of course I can help you.
I'll make you a passport,
even with my hands like this.
I've got some money too.
Not much, but I have some left.
No, I don't need your money.
The passport will do.
Hey, if you need a hand
or anything, just ask.
What? Are you gonna gimme your fancy car?
I knew it. Sooner or later, the fancy car
was gonna come up in conversation.
- It was a gift anyway.
- Oh, really?
- From the bishop.
- I get it.
When do we get to meet the bishop?
You two are the last people in the world
I'd introduce to the bishop.
The last people? How come?
- What's wrong with your friends?
- No.
Look, it was a gift
to reward me for my hard work.
Hey, hey.
Before you go,
there's something important we have to do.
[Toni] With your feet!
Not with your hands!
- [Vittorio] I'm using my feet!
- You're hogging the ball.
- [Toni] With your feet.
- Are you stalling for time?
- [Toni] Pass it!
- Come on, Vittorio!
- Yeah.
- Come on, Vitto!
- Mine! Mine!
- I got it!
[Toni] Fabio, pass it!
Stop by Altobelli.
[Toni] Go, Vittorio! Head it! Pass it!
No, no, no!
You play like my grandpa.
Altobelli sees Oriali!
Bicycle kick by Oriali!
Yeah!
- Yeah!
- No!
- [Fabione] Pass it!
- Go head it! Pass it!
- No!
- Goal!
- Oriali!
- Yeah!
That's the game!
[laughing]
[Toni] That was the last time
all three of us were together.
["Senza Fine" by Gino Paoli playing]
[all laughing]
What do you want? Why are you here?
I came to apologize.
All the apologies in the world
wouldn't be enough, Toni.
I got something for you.
["Senza Fine" fades]
[Toni] Sell it.
What do you mean?
I mean that I need the money.
- The money?
- Donata.
I need the money
What are you doing? Get up. Stop playing.
because weddings are expensive.
- What are you saying, Toni?
- I wanna do things right, Donata.
Tell everyone. Half of Rome will be there.
[scoffs] Yeah, right.
I'll buy you a dress with
- With a train. It's called a train. Yes.
- With a train.
- Rose petals, a ring bearer.
- Don't be stupid.
[tender music playing]
Donata, I really mean it.
I screwed up, but I mean it.
Toni, come on.
Please, I'm begging you.
Toni.
[Donata breathes deeply]
You're pregnant.
Yes, Toni, I am pregnant.
I really don't need you anymore.
What is that supposed to mean?
It's our child.
- We're not a couple anymore.
- It's our child.
We've gone different directions.
We're leading separate lives now.
[tender music continues]
It's the only real thing I've made.
[chuckles]
[Donata sniffles]
[Fabione] Incredible. [Chuckles]
Fuck, it's perfect.
[music fades]
- Well, I am an artist, you know.
- Thanks, Toni.
Here.
These are the memoirs.
How many pages are there?
More than twice the published ones.
- More than twice?
- What do you need it for?
To make some dough?
This is my life insurance policy, Fabio.
I never understood shit about politics.
You're right.
But if I have any chance of staying alive,
it's 'cause of this.
[distant bells ringing]
Where you gonna go?
Maybe to Tierra del Fuego.
Tierra del Fuego.
[Toni sighs]
Tierra del Fuego.
If it was closer, I'd come visit you.
[Fabione] Better if you don't.
Rome is beautiful, huh?
It's best if we never
see each other again.
Get outta here before
we both start crying.
Who am I kidding? Where am I gonna go?
[both sigh]
[melancholy music playing]
If we never meet again,
I hope it's your fault.
You bastard.
You took the words right outta my mouth.
See ya, Toni.
[uneasy music playing]
[Toni] "Naturally, I'm addressing you,
but I mean all of you."
"Regarding the party,
as well as the country."
"Think carefully, dear friends."
"Be independent."
"Look not to tomorrow,
but the day after tomorrow."
"I repeat that I do not accept
the unjust and ungrateful verdict
of the Christian Democrats."
"I will neither absolve
nor justify anyone."
"At times, I think of the bad decisions,
so many of them."
"Decisions that others did not deserve."
"Then I tell myself
that everything would've been the same,
for it is fate that rules us."
[door closes]
"The truth, dear friends,
is greater than any electoral advantage."
"Give me millions of votes on one hand,"
and take away
one atom of truth from the other,
"and I will still be the loser."
"It all seems somewhat absurd to me,
but what matters isn't explaining things."
"It's determining if something
can be done, and then doing it."
"Can't the pope do anything in this case?
Because we had multitudes of friends."
"Not a single voice that I know of
has been raised so far."
"Now, suddenly, just when a faint glimmer
of hope was appearing,
the order for execution arrives,
incomprehensibly."
"Sweetest Noretta,
I am in God's hands and yours."
"Pray for me."
"I would like to see
with my small mortal eyes
how things will look afterwards."
"If there were light,
it would be beautiful."
[music fades]
[Toni] What is this place?
It's a workshop, but it's not in use.
Why do you have to hide it?
- Huh?
- Why do you have to hide it?
- What's in there?
- My future is in here.
Tell me what's going on.
Mind your own damn business, Vitto.
Just find me someplace
in this shithole that's safe,
and then we can leave.
[pensive string music playing]
Hey, Vitto. Vittorio.
[sighs] What?
If something happens to me,
give that to Donata.
Okay?
No problem.
Love you, Vitto.
[Toni whispers] Flavio.
[Donata chuckles]
[drawn-out] Flavio.
[Donata chuckles]
You don't even know
if it's a boy or a girl.
- It's a boy.
- How do you know?
- I can feel it.
- [chuckles]
What if, when he's older,
he starts copying
the other kids' drawings at kindergarten?
[Donata chuckles]
Well, then, we would be absolutely sure
that he was your son.
I don't know if I want him to be like me.
Why not?
He just has to be like you.
- No.
- Yes, only you.
I want him to be like you.
Oh God, not totally like you.
But I'd be disappointed
if he wasn't like you.
If he didn't have your beautiful hands.
- Please, Toni, I'm tired.
- Hmm?
- I'm tired.
- And now?
[chuckles] A little better.
- [both moan]
- Hold on, I'm feeling better.
[Toni] When my son asks who his dad was,
what'll they tell him?
A thief?
A forger?
A coward?
[Zu Pippo] So how is it?
[Toni] I was tired
of letting others decide.
It's better than the real one.
[chuckles] Come here.
- Huh?
- Come up.
Okay.
[Toni] I wanted to be free.
Free to screw over
the bad guys in this story.
The money that banker stole from you.
The story you told me in the hospital.
A little bird told me it's on Via Aurelia,
sitting in a warehouse.
- And the little bird is telling the truth.
- Let's get it back, then.
[Zu Pippo] Hmm.
- Toni, we don't do robberies.
- I'll do the robbery for you.
You have too much self-confidence.
By now, you should realize
that in life's Great Casino,
the house always wins.
Always.
Stay quiet. Stay calm.
Yeah, but I'm a gambler.
My gut is telling me I can't lose.
I'll take a cut of the money and leave.
I'll disappear with Donata and the baby.
We'll vanish.
[tense music playing]
[Zu Pippo] All right, Toni.
You have my blessing.
- [The Driver] What's his name?
- [Crocca] Cesare.
[Toni] Look at his face.
His name's not tattooed on his forehead.
- [Crocca] Can I shoot him?
- No, you can't.
- Why not?
- [Toni] Because I said no.
- [man whistles]
- He works nights at the reserve bank.
[Crocca] This all seems like
it's way too easy, Toni.
[Toni] It'll never work, but if it does
[all laughing]
[keys jingling]
- [Toni laughs]
- [gun clicks]
- [Cesare] I I
- Mommy's little baby.
- Start the car, let's move.
- Oh, I but I haven't done anything.
Who said you did?
I just wanna go for a ride.
[tense music playing]
- [Toni] Attaboy.
- [keys jingling]
Who are you?
Red Brigades.
[tense music intensifies]
I I I'm early today.
Say it again.
- Hey.
- Can you let me in?
["Let's Stick Together"
by Bryan Ferry playing]
Did he open it?
[Toni] Once we're in,
Crocca will handle things.
Just so it's clear,
I'm taking care of this one and this one.
Good evening.
Give me the tapes.
Come on, give me the tapes.
Hurry up! I said hurry up!
The man has put us together now
You ought to make it stick together
Come on, come on, let's stick together
You know we made a vow
- I told you to hurry up.
- [Cesare] Okay, okay.
[Crocca] Stutty, stop whining.
You're gonna be rich.
- Hey.
- It's clear! It's clear! It's clear!
Come on now, baby, give our love
Two. I win again.
Hands up, assholes!
- Freeze! Hands up!
- Do what they say!
- They're Red Brigades! Red Brigades!
- Red Brigades!
Red Brigades.
Calm down. You were losing anyway.
Open the vault.
[Toni] One, two.
- Who's gonna tie 'em?
- Stutty can do it.
You you do it.
I'm gonna do it?
["Let's Stick Together" continues]
[Toni] Let's get the money!
Fill the bags! Go!
Hurry up. Come on.
We're going on vacation! [Laughs]
- Playing cards, were you?
- Yeah.
It's not our money anyway.
[laughs]
Consider our child
- Man, can't you go any faster, Stutty?
- Fucking hell.
Let's stick together
Come on, come on
Let's stick together
[The Driver] Look at that!
Ha! My bag's almost full.
Hurry.
Come on! Speed up! I'm almost full here!
[Toni] I forged paintings,
stamps, passports.
I put my signature
on the history of this country.
About time. Wrap it up!
[Toni] But this wasn't just a heist.
- [Crocca] Hey!
- It wasn't a robbery.
[Crocca] What's with the show?
Let's get going.
This is art.
Something you wouldn't understand.
Hey!
What's with the long faces? Smile.
Come on, smile now.
Say cheese!
Pretty good.
RED BRIGADES
[TV reporter] There's a major mobilization
of law enforcement
who are attempting to work out exactly
how the group was able
to pull off the heist.
It appears that four men,
in a single operation with no casualties,
managed to seize
a total of over 30 billion lire.
A record sum in our country's history,
in what is already being called
the crime of the century.
[The Tailor] Conceptual art
is definitely not your thing.
Your installation at the bank
was in poor taste.
It was hard to decide
if I should leave a tape measure
or a turd.
Look where your clowning
has gotten us, Toni.
It's a fitting place
to discuss a dead man's diary.
You have the memoirs?
Are they complete?
Dunno.
But it's at least twice as long
as the published version.
Let me take a look at it.
It's not with me.
Wise choice.
I need enough time to plan my departure
from Italy without any interference.
Once I'm ready, you'll get the memoirs.
How can I be sure of that?
You can't.
You'll have to trust me.
"Tertium non datur," as my friend says.
I'm out of here. I'm changing my life.
I'll change my name.
Maybe I'll even change my face.
Just a few months.
[The Tailor breathes deeply]
I have to report back.
You know where to find me.
How long since your last confession?
[door chime dings]
Excuse me for a moment.
[Vittorio whistles]
Few of us recognize beautiful things.
Right, Father Vittorio?
Uh, do we know each other?
There's no need for you to worry.
I'm a tailor as well.
And I would be happy
to continue taking your measurements.
- Uh, okay.
- Good.
This is a little long.
I must confess my sins, Father.
I remembered that there was
a priest friend of Toni's.
But I honestly thought
you were a boring guy,
like most moral people are, after all.
But I admit, I was wrong about you.
[uneasy music playing]
You are not boring at all.
M May I ask who you are?
We have a report, prepared by the Curia,
detailing the misappropriation
of Church funds
for personal use to purchase
a green sedan.
This one here.
A report that may have prevented you
from being appointed monsignor.
And then there's the money you got
from Toni for the soup kitchen,
which was already renovated two years ago.
Where are you going, Father Vittorio?
Where are you going?
How did you spend that money,
Father Vittorio?
- Uh
- French restaurants?
Fine clothes?
Jewelry?
No, no, no. Look.
[nervous chuckle] I can explain.
I don't doubt that for a minute.
In fact, that's not why we're here.
If Toni, perchance,
entrusted you with some pages,
the State wants those pages returned
to them because they belong to the State.
Uh
- Mm. No.
- Mm.
No, no, no, no. I don't remember him
giving me any pages at all.
Are you sure?
Think carefully, Father Vittorio.
You are a minister of the Lord.
Deception doesn't suit you.
- I I I swear that I...
- And neither does swearing.
I should add, in case you are interested,
that your friend Toni
stole a large sum of money.
Money that the State
doesn't need in the slightest,
and that, in this case,
might happen to end up being
a generous offering to your church.
We are only interested in the pages.
And one last thing I wanna tell you.
In the Vatican, at the highest levels,
there are some who think
very highly of me and my work.
[music subsides]
Donata?
[whimsical laughter]
[unsettling music playing]
[whimsical laughter continues]
Good morning, Toni.
[Sansiro sniffles]
Donata?
I don't kill pregnant women.
She's at the gallery.
What do you want?
Have a seat.
Come here.
They hired me to kill you.
I have insurance.
Didn't they tell you?
Not anymore.
They got the memoirs
from a friend of yours.
Evidently, he's not a true friend.
What did you do to him?
The question should be,
what did they promise him?
Why are you telling me this?
What do you mean?
Fuck, dude,
there's so few of us out there.
Right? Inter fans gotta stick together.
Plus, I always make sure to pay my debts.
How much time do I have?
None.
[tense music playing]
[Vittorio] Are you going to hurt Toni?
[The Tailor] We wanna work with Toni,
not hurt him.
[Vittorio] And his hands?
Who broke his hands?
[The Tailor] The State
doesn't break hands, Father Vittorio.
Soon, I might be calling you Monsignor.
Who knows, one day Cardinal, hmm?
Would you like to be a Cardinal one day?
[Vittorio sobs]
[Toni] It's always the same question.
Always the same.
To get where you wanna go,
what are you willing to do?
How much are you willing to sacrifice
to make your dreams
a reality?
[dreamy ethereal music playing]
[exhales sharply, sniffles]
[indistinct chattering]
[waiter] For you, sir.
What is it?
[waiter] I don't know. I'm sorry.
Thank you.
[Toni] It's always the same question.
Always the same.
To get where you wanna go,
how much you're willing to sacrifice?
[Vittorio] "Always the same question.
Always the same."
"To get where you"
[Toni] And this time,
I sacrificed saying goodbye to my friend.
I'm sorry, Vittorio.
I'm sorry as hell
I can't see you one last time.
I can't hug you.
[whimpers]
[Toni] But you, Vittorio,
what did you have to sacrifice
to get where you are?
- [dreamy ethereal music continues]
- [sobs]
[Toni] You know you're better
with words than I am.
[sobs]
[Toni] But I wanna tell you
that I love you.
Despite everything, I love you.
I'm changing my life. I'll change my name.
Maybe I'll even change my face.
- You guys kind of look like each other.
- Really?
[Toni] I'll disappear
with Donata and the baby.
We'll vanish.
How much time do I have?
None.
I've gotta give The Tailor a body.
[Toni] I love you so much
that I'm even leaving you my car.
That sedan of yours is so damn ugly.
I'm leaving, Vittorio.
[music fades]
- [Sansiro] Father?
- [gasps]
[dreamy ethereal music intensifies]
[Donata] Hey!
- Take that off. You're all wet.
- [music fades]
What was it you were doing
out in the rain?
[news on radio playing indistinctly]
Hey.
Toni.
[news continues indistinctly]
[Toni sighs]
Can you put on a little music for us?
[radio static playing]
["Il Mondo" by Jimmy Fontana
playing on radio]
[Donata chuckles softly]
["Il Mondo" continues]
["Il Mondo" continues]
[music fades]
[dreamy voices]
[dreamy ethereal music playing]
[music fades]