modern times
("the innocent" or "that long hot day")
by
alessandro trigona occhipinti
translated by
carol coller
characters
Tullio 35/45 years old
Giuliana 30/40 years old
Teresa 25/40 years old
Filippo 30 years old
Consuelo 25/45 years old
Epilogue (any day)
An ordinary day, busy, hot, even hazy, full of work activities, which take precedence over everything - even life: modern times. Living room in middle class home. On the left: the entrance, near a television. On the right: a door that gives onto the other rooms, beside a bar. On the sofa at the center of the scene, a man, Tullio, who appears grief stricken, head in hands. Behind him, Giuliana, his wife. The man appears submerged in his own desperation while the woman rimproves him, presses him - nasty.
Giuliana: Well?
Tullio: I don’t know... how it could have happened!
Giuliana: How can you not know? I mean how?
Tullio: Everything was so confused, so fast that I... my mind, thoughts, all day in front of that damned...
Giuliana: ...that damned...?
Tullio: ...nothing...
Giuliana: ...nothing...?
Tullio: I....
Giuliana: You? (Tullio, not looking at her, nods) And him?
Tullio: He was there. He watched me. It was as if he were watching me. God! His eyes open, still open. Staring at me and instead... (pause) ... he looked at me as if he were still... and instead... "dried up"!
Long pause. Giuliana goes out. Tullio remains in his grief.
Many days before.
The lights begin to pulse, while strange sounds seem to tickle the air, almost imperceptible, like gears that move, grind, almost imperceptible, almost. Tullio seems to shake himself as if he is throwing off his mood. Its as though time has rewound: his attitude, his way of being is mutated, transformed: he appears a strong man, dynamic, sure of himself and master of his time - master of his time... modern times. He’s busy, he studies papers, burying himself in them. He grabs the cell phone, starts to dial, nothing, he curses. He opens his laptop computer; he works. He’s a decisive man, committed, perhaps appearing tired from the beginning, but still projected within the context of extreme professional capacity. Giuliana appears behind him. The woman has lost her inquisitory tone. She immediately shows herself, dominating her time. A woman who wants to affirm her mastery of the times, of her times: "modern times". With her, Teresa, her sister. Tullio nods barely turning.
Giuliana: Still working? With this heat?
Tullio: I have lots of things to do. For that course, so...
Teresa: You’re moving on it.
Tullio: I’m moving on it. And you, weren’t you supposed to go to the gym? Today is Saturday and...
Giuliana: My mother felt sick and I had to look after the baby.
Tullio: After effects of her operation?
Teresa: (serving herself a drink) A drop in her blood pressure. No big deal.
Giuliana: I certainly couldn’t expect mamma to take him to the doctor.
Tullio: Heaven’s no.
Giuliana: He’s our son, after all. And we have to take care of him now and then.
Tullio: Seems right.
Giuliana: (correcting him) proper.
Tullio: (correcting himself) "Proper."
Giuliana: She takes the baby, she takes him to the doctor, home, to play, she feeds him, puts him to sleep.
Tullio: Without a doubt.
Giuliana: We can’t always depend on her. Now and then we too have to... (She stops)
Tullio: It goes without saying, poor woman.
Giuliana: Tullio, sometimes you assume an attitude that I don’t like. You’re the last person who has a right to say something.
Tullio: Of course.
Giuliana: You’re never around.
Teresa: You don’t want to argue, do you? In my presence?
Tullio: Giuliana, I’m working hard. I’m organizing a course, developing a project and...
Giuliana: You’re advancing your career.
Tullio: I’m advancing my career it’s true. And all this has a price, a price that... we knew.
Giuliana: That, however, doesn’t authorize you to speak like that.
Teresa: Giuliana, Tullio was joking.
Tullio: I was joking.
Giuliana: Oh, really?
Tullio: It was just a joke.
Teresa: A joke.
Giuliana: An idiotic one.
Teresa: An idiotic one.
Tullio: I certainly didn’t want to offend your mother.
Teresa: (to Giuliana) See?
Giuliana: Sometimes he uses that tone.
Tullio: Mea culpa.
Teresa: Come on, Giuliana, nothing’s happened. (Articulating) no-thing.
Giuliana: With all that mamma does for us...
Tullio: Damned ungrateful.
Giuliana: Exactly: ungrateful.
Teresa: He certainly didn’t want to offend her.
Giuliana: And today has been an awful day.
Tullio: Tell me about it.
Giuliana: All day in court and then... my mother.
Tullio: By the way, where is the baby?
Giuliana: He’s sleeping.
Teresa: Consuelo put him right to bed.
Tullio: What does the doctor say?
Giuliana: Gastritis.
Tullio: Gastritis? He’s just a year old and he already has...
Giuliana: Being shuffled left and right, it seems that it...
Tullio: Gastritis, incredible!
Teresa: This century’s illness.
Tullio: And I thought it was cancer.
Giuliana: What?
Tullio: And instead, gastritis.
Teresa: You learn something new every day.
Tullio: Yeah!
Consuelo: (offstage) Senora...? Senora?
Tullio: Consuelo. She’s calling you.
Giuliana: Consuelo. Calling me. The baby must need me. (exits)
Tullio: mommy.
Tullio and Teresa left alone, regard each other with embarrassment.
Tullio: How are you?
Teresa: As you left me the other evening.
Tullio: The meeting finished late and so...
Teresa: You could have called...
Tullio: I would have liked to but...
Teresa: Work.
Tullio: Work, the meeting, my head not working. And this heat.
Teresa: Giuliana was worried too.
Tullio: She’s always worried.
Teresa: She doesn’t live in the present.
Tullio: While you?
Teresa: Almost too much so.
Tullio: Choices.
Teresa: Choices. Opportune, reasoned, meditated. Isn’t that what they say?
Tullio: Yes, that’s what they say.
Teresa: All in good time, engineer. All in good time. And then, let me know when your "present" arrives. Who knows, we may run into each other somewhere.
Tullio: Maybe tomorrow.
Teresa: (moving towards the door) Be careful, man, that your future hasn’t already become past.
Tullio: What do you mean?
Teresa: The other evening was one time, today is another, tomorrow still another. (exits)
Tullio: ?
Teresa: (peeking back in the door) Don’t trouble yourself. There’s no need, I knows the way out.
Tullio: (getting up and going to her) Forgive me, Teresa. I’m confused so...
Teresa: (pushing Tullio back) That happens a little too often lately.
Tullio: What?
Teresa: Your being confused.
Tullio: It’s just...
Teresa: The job, the stress, the heat. Go on back to work and be good otherwise who knows what Giuliana might think.
Tullio: The truth?
Teresa: If the truth... exists... (exits)
Tullio remaining perplexed for a moment, returns to his work.
Giuliana: Teresa?
Tullio: She’s left. She said bye.
Giuliana: I needed to speak to her.
Tullio: About the studio?
Giuliana: Some information.
Tullio: Problems?
Giuliana: Big problems. Using my maternity leave as an excuse, Filippo has taken the situation in hand.
Tullio: He’s managing the studio?
Giuliana: He’s filled in the gap that I...
Tullio: The baby.
Giuliana: ...created with my maternity leave.
Tullio: He took advantage of that.
Giuliana: He filled in my space.
Tullio: A fine way to thank you. After all you’ve done... that you’ve all done for him.
Giuliana: He did what anyone would do. Even in a legal office there are certain rules and when someone is missing, there’s always someone who...
Tullio: Furthers their career.
Giuliana: Furthers their career.
Tullio: So?
Giuliana: I’ll have to move...
Tullio: A conference?
Giuliana: To come to an understanding, a way to work together.
Tullio: Yalta?
Giuliana: (laughs) Yeah, Yalta.
Tullio: Roosevelt and Stalin dividing up the spoils of the third "Reich": the "Di Scordio and Daughters" Law Office. Good thing you’re one of the "daughters", if not...
Giuliana: I’d already be out.
Tullio: Yeah.
Giuliana: Anyway my father adores Filippo.
Tullio: He’s a great guy.
Giuliana: An excellent lawyer. He’s only twenty-eight but he’s already somebody. My father says he’ll go far.
Tullio: At your expense.
Giuliana: Apart from that. He’s someone who eats law for breakfast, who plays with it the way you play with your computer. The fact that I’m the boss’s daughter doesn’t mean anything. Sure, no one can push me out but I still have to be careful.
Tullio: So, a conference.
Giuliana: I’ve invited him to dinner, here, next Saturday.
Tullio: Saturday?
Giuliana: Have you got some commitment?
Tullio: There’s the game, Saturday.
Giuliana: So?
Tullio: I wanted to see it.
Giuliana: You want to know what I think about the game?
Tullio: It’s the nationals.
Giuliana: It’s my profession.
Tullio: I understand but...
Giuliana: When you force me into your week-ends with the department managers.
Tullio: O.K.
Giuliana: The bonus trips with your colleges.
Tullio: I give up. What time is he coming.
Giuliana: They are coming. There’s Teresa too.
Tullio: Your sister?
Giuliana: I couldn’t exclude her.
Tullio: A real Yalta!
Giuliana: Thatcher was at Yalta too, the English Prime Minister, wasn’t she?
Tullio: Thatcher came forty years later. Churchill was at Yalta.
Giuliana: Churchill? Thatcher? Who cares?
Tullio: Nobody.
Giuliana: My point. So let’s stop quibbling and think about Saturday.
Tullio: O.K. Saturday. What time are they coming?
Giuliana: Don’t worry. Filippo will want to see the game too.
Tullio: Good thing.
Giuliana: Him too, so...
Tullio: Will Filippo be coming alone? Besides Teresa?
Giuliana: Alone.
Tullio: And the woman he was with?
Giuliana: Gone.
Tullio: This one too.
Giuliana: Filippo will remain an unrepentant bachelor.
Tullio: Like your sister!
Giuliana: The profession’s important for them.
Tullio: The money.
Giuliana: It’s the same.
Tullio: No room for children, ties or other things: just distractions. So, that way he’s free to… (he gestures)
Giuliana: What?
Tullio: You know.
Giuliana: What?
Tullio: Not being limited.
Giuliana: What are you referring too?
Tullio: He can wander at large.
Giuliana: Are you trying to say that…?
Tullio: I’ve noticed how he looks at you.
Giuliana: Don’t be jealous.
Tullio: I’m not jealous.
Giuliana: It sounds as though you are.
Tullio: I only wanted to say...
Giuliana: Filippo’s always been perfectly correct with me.
Tullio: He’s always been after you.
Giuliana: He’s never tried to…
Tullio: Sure.
Giuliana: He’s always respected me.
Tullio: Of course: you’re the daughter of the owner of the "Di Scordio and Daughters" Law Office, therefore...
Giuliana: He would have respected me anyway.
Tullio: Oh he has... just look at the present situation.
Giuliana: I can’t stand you when you do this.
Tullio: And I enjoy making you angry.
Giuliana: I’m not angry.
Tullio: As soon as I touch on the subject of the studio you...
Giuliana: I have my dignity as a woman.
Tullio: You roll up like a porcupine.
Giuliana: I won’t allow anyone to question my work, my professionality.
Tullio: You’re a strong woman.
Giuliana: I have my pride.
Tullio: That’s why I married you.
Giuliana: Only for that?
Tullio: Also for that?
Giuliana: Also.
Tullio: (hugging her) Also.
Giuliana: No, Tullio. Not now. Let me go there, to the baby. I wouldn’t want...
Tullio: The gastritis?
Giuliana: Poor baby!
Tullio: (disconsolate) Poor baby.
Tullio remains alone. The cell phone rings, he answers.
Tullio: What? Who? Maria? Good. Good. Great. Fantastic. Excellent. (he hangs up) Shit!
Giuliana: (entering) Who was it?
Tullio: Maria.
Giuliana: Your secretary?
Tullio: Her.
Giuliana: Problems?
Tullio: The director called her. He says the project has taken off.
Giuliana: What project?
Tullio: That one for the new computerization of the railways.
Giuliana: That’s good, isn’t it?
Tullio: They’re involving me more and more.
Giuliana: Great!
Tullio: They’ll give me a ton of money.
Giuliana: Fantastic! That way we can buy...
Tullio: It’s just that I don’t know if I can do it.
Giuliana: (frowning) Why?
Tullio: There are those professional courses in July. The ones financed by the European Union.
Giuliana: Those? They were so important to you!
Tullio: I’m worried about the relative dates. There’s the risk I’ll end up drowning in work.
Giuliana: When does the project start?
Tullio: In September.
Giuliana: Well, then you could...
Tullio: I have to study several things, follow the course, prepare the assistants.
Giuliana: A mess!
Tullio: I’ll have to take a week’s vacation. To organize everything! That way I can concentrate in peace on the railways.
Giuliana: That’s an idea.
Tullio: It’s just that I burn a week’s vacation.
Giuliana: Optimize the time.
Tullio: Sure. It’s just that I’m really tired. Then with this heat I ought to have a real week of peace and quiet.
Giuliana: August is coming up.
Tullio: That’s what’s going to save me.
Giuliana: You’ll rest.
Tullio: We’ll see if I arrive.
Giuliana: Don’t exaggerate. O.K. you’re stressed but it’s not that bad.
Tullio: If you knew.
Giuliana: We’ll have some vacation time to rest.
Tullio: With your parents?
Giuliana: We’ll go to their place, by the sea. It’s good for the baby.
Tullio: Yeah, the baby! Good-bye tropical vacation!
Giuliana: A child changes your life. Besides, we knew that.
Tullio: Sure, we knew it. Sometimes I think... maybe it would have been better to wait.
Giuliana: To wait? I’m thirty-six years old and you... we might have ended up not being able to have them. Have you seen the Galiffa’s?
Tullio: No. Of course. You’re right. We couldn’t wait anymore. It was time. It’s just that with all the work we have, you the studio, me the company, it seems as though...
Giuliana: Regrets?
Tullio: I’d like to be more relaxed, to manage my time better and be able to dedicate some to the baby.
Giuliana: I know you’re a softy.
Tullio: Let’s say I’d like to be one.
Giuliana: You will be.
Tullio: You’re leaving me alone?
Giuliana: You... you have to work. The railways... the course...
Tullio: How I’d rather...
Giuliana: (exiting) The railways... the course...
Tullio: The railways... the course... shit!
Tullio buries himself in his work. The cell phone rings. Tullio answers.
Tullio: Oh, it’s you? Yes, now, now I’m alone. Yes. Like you? Not really. Yes. Giuliana is there. With the baby. Yes me too. To make love with you. Work permitting.
Tullio exits. Lights change. The gears, mechanically, return to "tickle" the air: the atmosphere.
Another day
Enter Giuliana and Teresa.
Teresa: Well, for when have you organized the dinner?
Giuliana: For Saturday. there’ll be you, me, Tullio and Filippo.
Teresa: Tullio?
Giuliana: Him.
Teresa: Work permitting
Giuliana: He’s so caught up in it lately. Lots of, too much work. A series of concentrated commitments. Great thing but... too many!
Teresa. And then with this heat
Giuliana: Poor Tullio
Teresa: Poor us (serving herself a drink)
Giuliana: By the way, I was forgetting (loudly towards the other room) Consuelo? Consuelo?
Consuelo: (enters) Yes, Senora?
Giuliana: Consuelo, how many times do I have tell to you I want you to call me "Ma’am"?
Consuelo: Yes Ma’am; Excuse me Ma’am, as you wish Ma’am.
Giuliana: Listen Consuelo, feed the baby, then put him to bed Do the vacuuming, waxing, wash the dishes, prepare dinner and tidy up my room. OK?
Consuelo: As you wish Ma’am (exits)
Teresa: Aren’t you forgetting something?
Giuliana: You’re right. Consuelo?
Consuelo: (re-entering) As you wish... Ma’am.
Giuliana: The most important thing: prepare my bath, a nice hot bath. I feel like I need one.
Consuelo: As You wish Ma’am Senora (starts to leave)
Giuliana: Consuelo, excuse me, my husband?
Consuelo: He telephoned. he said he’d return late this evening.
Giuliana: As I supposed.
Consuelo: A meeting. You shouldn’t wait for him for dinner. Then he said he can’t wait to come back that he loves you and "smack" (Exits).
Teresa: Smack?
Giuliana: His job is increasingly demanding. It doesn’t allow him to have a life.
Teresa: Smack?
Giuliana: What?
Teresa: Oh yeah that! It’s an affectionate way of saying ‘kiss’.
Teresa. Affectionate?
Giuliana: Like the comics
Teresa: (as though betraying herself) he never did that with me.
Giuliana: Who?
Teresa: (catching herself) No, nothing (lying) I said that noone has ever said ‘smack’ to me.
Giuliana: It’s just an affectionate expression.
Teresa: I’ve always received compliments, "avances", various signs of appreciation, even heavy, vulgar things but…
Giuliana: An affectionate word
Teresa: ...."smack" never, from anyone
Giuliana: That’s because you’ve never been with anyone as sweet as Tullio.
Teresa: That’s what you think..
Giuliana: You mean that you too...?
Teresa: I have a "nice", affectionate one too
Giuliana: And who is it? If it’s legit...
Teresa: You don’t know him
Giuliana: Don’t tell me it’s the one with the Porsche’
Teresa: Not him
Giuliana: The one with the villa in the Canary Islands.
Teresa: Yeah sure, a hick
Giuliana: So?
Teresa: A new one
Giuliana: Does he love you?
Teresa: There’s passion, yes
Giuliana: It’s important
Teresa: It’s everything. You know how I think
Giuliana: Is he rich?
Teresa: He’s getting there
Giuliana: Well, then, he’s the right one!
Teresa: You must be joking
Giuliana: Don’t tell me he’s…
Teresa: married
Giuliana: a pain
Teresa: Not that much of one
Giuliana: he can always get a divorce
Teresa: It wouldn’t be easy
Giuliana: Has he got children?
Teresa: Yes (she changes her mind and then, lying shamelessly) No, I mean, no he hasn’t
Giuliana: Well?
Teresa. His wife... (inverting) Yes, his wife is ill, very ill.
Giuliana: Will she die?
Teresa: Maybe. Maybe yes, or rather, certainly
Giuliana: Poor thing!
Teresa: But then, it’s better like this
Giuliana: What?
Teresa: You know how I feel about marriage
Giuliana: Goodbye freedom.
Teresa: The wedding March and then you find yourself home alone in the evening like (or alternatively "with") a warmed up bowl of soup . With him coming home tired, brutalized and throwing up all his frustrations on you, his neurosis.
Giuliana: And he’s like that? Boring, frustrated...
Teresa. Not for now. The moment he is, it’ll mean I’ve already left him. Long before. I’m not a masochist
Giuliana: But if you like him
Teresa: Him?
Giuliana: You can put up with some venting, some badmoods. it’s normal.
Teresa: And you take that from Tullio?
Giuliana: Barely
Teresa: So?
Giuliana. What’s he like?
Teresa: "Nice", affectionate" (Thinks about it and changes tone) ....sensual, exciting...
Giuliana: It’s not the fact that he’s married that..
Teresa. excites me?
Giuliana: The love of intrigue
Teresa: I still have to figure it out. When I find out you’ll be the first to know. In the meantime I’ll enjoy life
Giuliana: Maybe you’re missing something
Teresa: "Smack"?
Giuliana: "Smack"
Teresa: Maybe. But anyway, consider the advantages: I have sex when and how I want. With the men that come along, the ones I want; And I don’t find myself come evening with someone who drools his anxieties all over me. My own are enough
Giuliana: And you drink
Teresa: Just enough to make me cheerful
Giuliana: Available
Teresa. Just enough to get through
Giuliana: To drown
Teresa: Certainly not in boredom or depression
Giuliana: That’s what you say
Teresa: I don’t see anyone else who can afford to do it
Giuliana: You cynicism is disarming sometimes.
Teresa: Why? (nasty) You think you’re that different from me
The two women regard each other as if challenging each other
Giuliana: That different, maybe not. but I think, I believe I to have set myself some limits.
Teresa: Hypocrisy?
Giuliana: You think I’m a hypocrite?
Teresa. Not my job to decide on morality, it doesn’t interest me either
Giuliana: So?
Teresa. Nowadays limits don’t exist. It’s a problem if you have them
Giuliana. You’re that convinced
Teresa: I do whatever I want. I’m beautiful, rich
Giuliana: A modern woman!
Teresa: A woman who manages her time, her own life.
Giuliana: Modern times?
Teresa: You’re a modern woman too, mistress of your own time
Giuliana: It’s just that I’ve respected the limits
Teresa: Principles?
Giuliana: those
Teresa: if you have any, I haven’t noticed them
Giuliana: You can’t say that. I’m a woman, a lawyer, an esteemed, admired lawyer who applies the law, the rights..
Teresa: It’s just a question of professionality. To not prejudice certain interests, or more rightly. to affirm them
Giuliana: That’s complete madness!
Teresa: And you know if the client is satisfied, he pays and e pays well. Otherwise...
Giuliana: No justice?
Teresa: It’s only a technical error
Giuliana: I never thought that you, one day, could say, I think certain things. About me, about us.
Teresa: And then if you’re talking about marriage..
Giuliana: That...
Teresa: Marriage, you know, doesn’t last long, as long as the mass.
Giuliana: Tullio?
Teresa: That’s his name? I hadn’t noticed
Giuliana: And the baby? How does the baby fit in?
Teresa: There you go: that. that is your limit, your real limit
Giuliana: Him?
Consuelo: (off stage) Senora’
Teresa. Your only true limit
Consuelo: (off stage) Senora? (coughing) Ma’am? Senora ma’am come. The baby doesn’t want to eat. he wants you Ma’am.
Giuliana: A limit (exits as though beaten)
Teresa: Don’t forget to give him your bill. (Teresa, haply with herself, looks around drinking something) "Smack" How ridiculous "Smack"! (exits)
some days later
Play of lights and sounds. Tullio enters appearing very busy; glancing at papers, consulting manuals, taking notes. He opens his lap-top computer. The telephone rings. Tullio doesn’t answer, he seems not to realize that the telephone is ringing.
Giuliana: (off stage) Tullio? Tullio? Aren’t you going to answer?
Tullio seems to hear nothing.
Giuliana: (entering and going to answer) Hello? Yes? (handing the telephone to Tullio) It’s for you. It’s Maria.
Tullio look at her, surprised.
Tullio: Maria?
Giuliana: Maria
Tullio: Maria?
Giuliana: Maria
Tullio: What does she wants?
Giuliana: You.
Tullio: Maria?
Giuliana: Maria
Tullio answers the phone while Giuliana exits
Tullio: (on the phone) Maria? Tullio. What...? What...? But why....
Tullio hangs up and begins to think. Then, frenetically he makes several telephone calls. Every time someone at the other and answers, we only hear Tullio saying: hello?. The rest of the phone calls are covered by noises, sounds or even music. Distressed, Tullio sits. Enter Giuliana
Giuliana: What did Maria want?
Tullio: Professor Tàlice, for the course, he can’t come anymore.
Frozen
Giuliana: Professor Tàlice? But you focused the entire course on him.
Tullio: and he can’t come
Giuliana: Why?
Tullio: They’re invited him to New York, to a Conference on World Hunger.
Giuliana: A computer science teacher for a ... on World Hunger?
Tullio: Professor Tàlice is a big name
Giuliana: I know he’s a big name but to call him for a conference on World hunger doesn’t seem logical to me.
Tullio: Nothing’s logical about it. Maria told me they had asked for Benigni.
Giuliana: The actor?
Tullio: Him.
Giuliana: To the conference?
Tullio: He’s making a movie and couldn’t go, so the Ministry suggested professor Tàlice and he said yes
Giuliana: But where does he come in?
Tullio: The Professor is famous. he fits in with everyone, so they’re sending him there, and fuck competency
Giuliana: And they’ve screwed you.
Tullio: And they’ve screwed me.
Giuliana: So What’ll you do now?
Tullio: I’ll have to suspend the course.
Giuliana: Suspend the course? That’s crazy!
Tullio: Everything was centered on Professor Tàlice, without him, it doesn’t make sense.
Giuliana: But has the European Union already allocated the funds?
Tullio: The O.K. arrived just yesterday
Giuliana: Christ, all that money!
Tullio: Christ, all that money!
Giuliana: And you can’t…?
Tullio: Substitute him?
Giuliana: There must be someone.
Tullio: A comic actor?
Giuliana: You could always try. If they can call a computer-science teacher to New York for a conference on World Hunger, you could call in a comedian for a computer course, right?
Tullio: Don’t be ridiculous.
Giuliana: I’m just trying to be practical
Tullio: Practical?
Giuliana: Call that "good for nothing" Maria and tell her to telephone...
Tullio: I already did
Giuliana: Well?
Tullio: Maria told me that it’s Saturday
Giuliana: And so?
Tullio: She’s at home
Giuliana: She can go to the office and...
Tullio: She says to wait until Monday.
Giuliana: Until Monday? Don’t you think... that she should go to the office and call Deputy Arborio right way?
Tullio: She said she’d resign. She can’t work this way anymore. She says the I ‘m stressing out her life and that... she can’t take it anymore
Giuliana: Fire her.
Tullio: Her husband’s unemployed
Giuliana: Fire her!
Tullio: She’s got a three year old girl.
Giuliana: Fire her
Tullio: I already did.
They look in each other’s eyes.
Giuliana: Good. (she goes in the other room)
Tullio: Good my ass!
Tullio, left alone glues himself to the cell phone. Lights change. Sounds , creaking, something that clicks. Nerves.
That Saturday evening.
Enter Giuliana. Tullio is still buried in work.
Giuliana: (enters form other room) Tullio?
Tullio: (distracted) Yes?
Giuliana: Tullio, listen...Tullio? Still in the books
Tullio: (distracted) I’ll finish this report and...
Giuliana: (getting angry) I still have to prepare everything. The baby has to be picked up at my mother’s and you....
Tullio: (distracted) Just a second.
Giuliana: Tullio!
Tullio: (getting angry) Listen, honey, I’m... I’m killing myself with work for that course, the Professor abandons me just now and…
Giuliana: I understand but...I have things to do too and...
Tullio: You can’t expect me to neglects my work? Just now.
Giuliana: No, of course not.
Tullio: Well, then leave me alone please… ‘darling’.
Giuliana: I had hoped you could go and get the "baby"
Tullio: Giuliana!
Giuliana: Yeah! Sure! you work
Tullio: Not, now, Giuliana, Let’s not get into this argument right now. You’ll see that soon everything will work out and I won’t create anymore problems. But now leave me alone, please.
Giuliana: Sure, sure. Forget it. God, it’s so hot today. (exits)
Music. Enter Consuelo who neatens the scene while Tullio speaking on the cell phone goes out. Consuelo disappears from the scene.
Evening
Doorbell rings. Giuliana crosses the scene to open the door. She returns with Teresa and Filippo. Tullio enters from the other rooms. They exchange pleasantries. Then Teresa and Giuliana disappear into the other room while Tullio and Filippo sit on the sofa in front of the audience and stare as if they were watching a television. Behind them projected on the background, one sees images from a soccer match.
Filippo: Look what a game!
Tullio: If it this keeps up we’ll be out of Europe
Filippo: Well, by now we’re in Europe. We just need to see if the dollar massacres the Euro
Tullio: Sounds like you’re hoping it does
Filippo: I have a certain amount of "liquid" in dollars. And if the Euro goes down.
Tullio: You gain
Filippo: Just to have a little fun
Tullio: Anyway, I was talking about football
Filippo: And I about finance
Tullio: Don’t you ever get tired?
Filippo: It’s my thing. When the work as attorney ends, I become a Broker.
Tullio: You like it, huh
Filippo: Just some spare change to amuse myself
Tullio: An amusement with how many zeros?
Filippo: What’s this? Working for the tax Department now?
Tullio: I was joking
Filippo: It’s better not to about certain things. I think they nabbed one of my clients with his hand in the till
Tullio: Robbery
Filippo: I wish
Tullio: Kick-back
Filippo: He would have been lucky
Tullio: Tax evasion
Filippo: Total. In fifteen years he never paid a cent in taxes. A total tax evader: something like fifty million Euro.
Tullio: Shit!
Filippo: Now he’s in trouble. I think if he’d cut his father’s throat and raped his mother he’d be risking less.
Tullio: So what can he do?
Filippo: Go abroad
Tullio: Is he thinking about it?
Filippo: I’m thinking about it
Tullio: You mean...
Filippo: I mean that if he says yes I put one hundred thousand tax-free Euros in my pocket. What do you say?
Tullio: Shit!
Tullio: A score
Filippo: I think you know him
Tullio: Who is it?
Filippo: It’s...
Tullio: (loud but without enthusiasm) Goal!
Enter Giuliana with Teresa and they begin to watch the game too
Filippo: Do you know him?
Tullio: Who?
Giuliana: So boys, how’s the game going?
Teresa: Who scored? Italy?
Tullio: I think so
Filippo: He told me he knows you
Giuliana: So are we winning?
Tullio: I think so
Filippo: And still, he says he does
Tullio: It’s just the beginning
Giuliana: Are they stronger than us?
Filippo: He told me that you’re like bread and butter
Tullio: I’m afraid that it’ll finish badly
Teresa: We’ll lose?
Filippo: If I can’t manage to take him abroad, yes
Tullio: Out of Europe
Teresa: What a shame. And I do like the National’s game so much
Filippo: Bahamas
Tullio: Let’s hope it all work out
Giuliana: Will we win the Championship?
Filippo: A real fortune - fifty million Euros
Tullio: Well, let’s hope it works out
Filippo: Yeah!
Giuliana + Teresa: Let’s hope so. ‘Forza Italia! (it means "Go Italy" and it’s a way to exult during the sport competition but it’s the name of Berlusconi party too).
Play of lights. A telephone rings, a doorbell, a voice calls.
Filippo: What?
Tullio: Where
Giuliana: For who?
Teresa: What?
Filippo: It’s hot today
Tullio: It’s hotter and hotter
Giuliana: How hot?
Filippo: As hot as ice
Teresa: Then it passes
Filippo: If it wants
Tullio: Then
Teresa: Inevitably....
Tullio: Inevitably?
Giuliana: Inevitably!
The game is over. The actors are distributed differently in the scene
Tullio: So how’s the studio going?
Filippo: It’s great!
Tullio: And my wife? Is my wife applying herself?
Filippo: You want to know if she studies?
Tullio: Is she diligent?
Giuliana: Tullio what kind of question is that?
Filippo: More than diligent. She’s the one that manages everything
Giuliana: Who do you take me for, a school girl?
Filippo: It was just a joke.
Giuliana: That’s a nice way to...
Tullio: Giuliana, I didn’t want to offend you. I just said it like that, to say it.
Giuliana: To say it badly.
Teresa: Giuliana, forget it. Tullio was joking.
Giuliana: This sure isn’t the way to joke around, about my profession
Filippo: Just a manner of speaking.
Teresa: The wrong words after a hard day of work.
Filippo: Of course
Giuliana: ...As if we, at the studio.
Tullio: One after another...
Giuliana: We never stop...
Tullio: ...to explode
Giuliana: ...too many things
Tullio: ...soon I’ll have to dedicate myself to the computerization of the railways and then I won’t have any time for...
Filippo: Giuliana told me that this course is important.
Teresa: Tullio is one who’s showing his worth. This is his moment.
Tullio: Right, my moment.
Giuliana: Us too in our way, right, Filippo? (Filippo nods) Speaking of that, it’s just this that I wanted to speak to you about... (indicating Teresa) ... that we wanted to speak to you about.
Filippo: I’m all ears, (to Teresa) "We’re" all ears.
Giuliana: I’ve noticed that lately, given my absence...
Tullio: Your maternity leave.
Giuliana: (annoyed) Yes, right my maternity leave. You’ve taken in hand the...
Filippo: I certainly couldn’t leave the studio without an administrator.
Giuliana: Of course, of course.
Filippo: Your father (to Teresa) "your" father is always travelling for representation. For this I allowed myself to... it doesn’t seem to me that I committed who knows what.
Giuliana: Nothing. Certainly.
Filippo: Besides, Teresa (to Teresa), I hope you won’t be offended (to Giuliana) for certain things, the management of a Studio, isn’t really prepared to handle the situation.
Teresa: It bores me to death.
Filippo: And so...!
Giuliana: And given the trust that my father, "our" father has in you...
Filippo: I’ve only tried to do my duty.
Giuliana: That seems just to me.
Filippo: I don’t believe I’ve taken advantage.
Teresa: Of course not!
Giuliana: It’s just that now.
Filippo: You’ve returned. And you want your role back.
Giuliana: I only want to be able to take control of the situation again.
The two scrutinize each other.
Filippo: Do you want me to go?
Teresa: Leave? You can’t want that.
Tullio: Giuliana, really you...
Filippo: You know if you ask me to I’m ready to...
Teresa: Do you want his head?
Filippo stares into Giuliana’s eyes, she remains impassive.
Filippo: Tomorrow I’ll speak to your father and I’ll explain the situation. I’ll tell him it’s better that I...
Teresa: That’s crazy!
Tullio: Giuliana, what you’re asking is absurd!
Giuliana: Filippo, you won’t speak with my father.
Filippo: Do you want to do it? Personally?
Giuliana: Perhaps I haven’t explained myself well.
Filippo: Well?
Giuliana: It’s only necessary that you and I reach an accord.
Filippo: I don’t ask for anything else. Where should I sign?
Giuliana: Don’t you even want to hear the terms of the agreement?
Filippo: Giuliana, you know how things stand. I came to your father’s studio, one of the best in town, when I had just graduated. Your father weaned me. "You" baptized me and thought me all that there still was to learn, you set me on the road and allowed me to further my career. I won’t go against the "Di Scordio & Daughters" Law Studio. I’d rather leave.
Giuliana: Leave? To go where? To Egano’s Law Office?
Filippo: I see you’re informed.
Giuliana: Of course, I’m informed. Certain rumors, at court, get around quickly.
Teresa: Filippo, you are going to...?
Filippo: That way you can easily retake control of the situation. Without ulterior problems.
Giuliana: They’ll give you fifty Euros a year more than we give you.
Filippo: You know this too?
Giuliana: This too.
Filippo: (smiling) It’s a little suspect.
Giuliana: Filippo, the fact that I’ve become a "mom" doesn’t mean that I’ve become brain-dead. O.K., feedings, baby bottles and dirty diapers. But not to that point.
Filippo: You surprise me.
Tullio: Giuliana has always known what she was doing.
Filippo: On this point I have no doubts.
Giuliana: Well? Will you accept?
Filippo: That depends...
Giuliana: On what?
Filippo: On you! (pause) And what you want me to do. It was you - right? - who inspired Egano?
Teresa: What?
Giuliana: Let’s just say I gave the counselor a suggestion.
Teresa: And why?
Filippo: Simple, to get me out of the way.
Giuliana: So will you accept?
Filippo: What do you want me to do?
Giuliana: It’s your problem.
Enter Consuelo.
Consuelo: Señora... Ma’am... your son’s crying.
Giuliana: As you can see, at the moment, I have other problems to deal with.
Filippo: Feedings, baby bottles, dirty diapers.
Giuliana: Exactly. (exits)
Filippo: And the "Di Scordio & Daughters" Law Studio.
Long pause. Filippo turns and gives Teresa a burning look.
Teresa: I didn’t know anything about it. You know my sister has always handled these things. I limit myself to some counciling and some representation.
Filippo: Lucrative counciling and expensive representation.
Teresa shrugs. She goes to fix herself a drink.
Tullio: There are advantages to being a daughter of "Di Scordio & Daughters" Law Studio.
Filippo: Sure... "Di Scordio & Daughters" (he scrutinizes Tullio)
Tullio: And don’t look at me because these are things that... you know? I don’t even want to get involved. I have my job.
Filippo: Your computers.
Tullio: My computers which drain my life away. So...
Long embarrassed pause. Then Giuliana enters.
Tullio: The "baby"?
Giuliana: The usual caprices.
Filippo: The usual caprices?
Tullio: Gastritis!
Teresa: That bodes well!
Filippo: That bodes what times are.
Teresa: Modern times.
Filippo: Of course. Modern times.
Giuliana: Well? Where were we?
Teresa: ...talking about Filippo.
Filippo: ...talking about me.
Giuliana: Talking about you. Well?
Filippo: I don’t believe I have a big choice, right?
Giuliana: No, you don’t.
Filippo: Tomorrow I’ll call your father and... (gets up to leave)
Giuliana: Fifteen thousand!
Filippo: (stopping in his tracks) What?
Teresa: What did you say?
Giuliana: Fifteen thousand! I said fifteen thousand Euro’s.
Filippo: I don’t understand.
Giuliana: To stay with us, with "Di Scordio & Daughters Law Studio.
Teresa: Are you crazy?
Filippo: Giuliana, are you kidding? First you do your best to get rid of me, then... fifty thousand Euro’s!
Giuliana: Well?
Filippo: I don’t get it, I don’t understand you, what’s going through your mind. (he looks at Tullio)
Teresa: What are you getting at?
Giuliana: Filippo, I was the one who insisted that Egano make you that offer.
Filippo: This I figured out, but now the meaning of your offer escapes me.
Giuliana: If you stay with us, it has to be clear, it’s because I want it on the condition that...
Filippo: You’re ordering.
Giuliana: I’m proposing. For no other reason. If you stay with us it’s only and exclusively because I say so.
Filippo: How can we put it - you buy me.
Giuliana: It’s the logic of the market, as they say today, isn’t it?
Tullio: Linguistically impeccable.
Teresa: Giuliana, you are unpredictable.
Filippo: (fascinated) ... extraordinary.
Giuliana: I’m a woman
Filippo: And what a woman!
Tullio: After five years of marriage you still surprise me
Giuliana: Well? Do You accept?
Filippo: My blood is here. Where do I sign?
Giuliana: (smiling) Good
Teresa: Good. Since we’ve reached an agreement maybe it’s better
Tullio: That I leave you alone to discuss the terms
Teresa: No, not, just you. "We’ll" leave them alone
Tullio: You’re not staying to establish your relative "spheres" of influence?
Teresa: Those things bore me so… everything’s fine with me
Filippo: But I think you can both stay. After all, there’s nothing secret about it, or no?
Teresa; I can’t stand the sight of blood.
Filippo: Are we at that point?
Teresa: The agreement gets signed with blood so…
Filippo: If that’s what it’s about I’ll leave too
Teresa: You have to stay
Filippo: I’ll bow down
Teresa: (directing her remark toward Giuliana) Good. Then Tullio can show me that collection of butterflies he told me about the other day.
Tullio: Butterflies?
Teresa: Or stamps. I don’t remember. Anyway what difference does it make. For the rest-smack
Filippo: Smack?
Giuliana: (looking angrily at her sister). It’s better not to joke around about some things.
Teresa: But I wasn’t joking. I wasn’t joking at all, "smack" (exits with Tullio).
Filippo: (perplexed) Smack?
Giuliana: It’s just a game, Filippo. A stupid game we’ve carried on from when we were little.
Filippo: You and Teresa, children. I can’t imagine.
Giuliana: There you go, don’t imagine, let’s get back to us
Filippo: I couldn’t ask for more
Giuliana: Let’s define our accord and…
Filippo: At my house? Tomorrow?
Giuliana: That’s not a good idea
Filippo: It’s just to demonstrate my gratitude
Giuliana: Is that what you call it?
Filippo: Obviously I’m not just grateful. (He comes closer, Giuliana evades him) It’s something more. Something better!
Giuliana: "Esteem"
Filippo: "Admiration". Yes, there, let’s call it "admiration"
Giuliana: Forget it
Filippo: It’s just a way to…
Giuliana: It’s not the first time you…
Filippo: And it won’t be the last
Giuliana: (Peremptory) I believe already made myself clear about this
Filippo: Clear but not definitive
Giuliana: I think I was
Filippo: No you weren’t
Giuliana: No?
Filippo: I’ve wanted a woman like you since I was a boy
Giuliana: Yeah sure
Filippo: A woman who Knew how to speak, what to say. What needs to be done.
Giuliana: In the end I really will send you away
Filippo: I’d like to make you love with you, now
Giuliana: We’re at my house
Filippo: That’s even more exciting
Giuliana: My husband, my sister are just there
Filippo: Because if they weren’t?
Giuliana: It would be the same
Filippo: I don’t think so, I don’t believe it anymore
Giuliana: We’re sealing a pact. It’s not a declaration of love
Filippo: who said anything about love? I was talking about something else, about you and me.
Giuliana: Filippo you’re a real asshole
Filippo: Smack!
Giuliana: A real asshole
Filippo: Me yes. I’m an asshole, and you?
Giuliana: what me?
Filippo: Do you still make love with him?
Giuliana: As far as the administration of the Studio goes. I think that…
Filippo: He doesn’t have another woman does he?
Giuliana: For the cases, on the other hand, we should..
Filippo: In my opinion, he neglects you
Giuliana: The more important ones…
Filippo: I would never neglect you, ever
Giuliana: .. we could divide the more succulent clients between us…
Filippo: Certainly. Succulent
Giuliana: And some cases, we’ll follow together
Filippo: More than before "together".
Giuliana: You’re good.
Filippo: You don’t know how good
Giuliana: You know what to do
Filippo: There are women who still cry over me
Giuliana: You know law like the pockets on your pants
Filippo: I can do without those
Giuliana: Filippo!
Filippo: … my pockets, my pants, everything. I’d dress myself just with you
Giuliana: Filippo! You want to listen to me?
Filippo: That’s what I’m doing, listening to you
Giuliana: If you continue with this…
Filippo: courtship?
Giuliana: ..pretense, you’re out. Out of here. And out of Di Scordio & Daughters Studio.
Filippo: Is that a threat?
Giuliana: A certainty
Filippo: I thought that you, that you wanted something more too.
Giuliana: With you?
Filippo: with me. I thought you liked me..
Giuliana: Well, there you are… think, go ahead and think about what I’ve said, about the offer I’ve made you. Draw you own conclusions. Then tell me what’s more profitable to you: take my advice or… (stops)
Filippo: Where do I sign?
Giuliana: Well done
Enter Tullio. He appears tried, particularly tired.
Tullio: What’s good?
Filippo: Our agreement. We were talking about our agreement. Just that
Tullio: And is it a good agreement?
Filippo: The best. Anyway now I think that…
Giuliana: It’s late
Teresa: What?
Giuliana: Late
Teresa: you’re sending us off?
Giuliana: It’s midnight
Teresa: Eleven thirty
Tullio: Actually Giuliana
Filippo: Another drink?
Giuliana: Tomorrow, Tullio has to get up early…
Filippo: But it’s Sunday!
Tullio: Until August Sundays don’t exist for me
Giuliana: And for that course
Teresa: That one for the European Union?
Tullio: that one!
Filippo: If you need a good lawyer I can recommend one
Giuliana: (looking sharply at him) I’m a good lawyer!
Filippo: (with half a bitter smile) It was just you I was thinking of.
Teresa: (cutting them short) You’ll see that everything goes well
Tullio: I hope so. It would be a big boost for my career.
Giuliana: Today the only thing one speaks about is careers. It makes you think
Teresa: It’s an integral part of your lies
Filippo: It is our lives
Tullio: Slaves to the system
Teresa: Let’s not start in on politics
Filippo: No. No Politics
Teresa: Communist arguments
Giuliana: Yeah! like communists..
Teresa: Filippo will you accompany me?
Filippo: Did you doubt I would?
Teresa: No, of course no. I asked to be polite
Filippo: O.K. well Giuliana, thank you for the magnificent evening
Giuliana: Right. Magnificent
Tullio: Well it’s not every evening that you’re invited to dinner and then find yourself with fifteen thousand Euros more in your pocket
Filippo: we’ll have to have dinners like this more often
Giuliana: Don’t count too much on my warm heart
Filippo: I’ll count on something else (almost scanning her) On something else.
Tullio gives him a sharp look
Teresa: (in Giuliana ear) later you can tell me about that "something else"
Filippo: And now, out
Teresa: Yes Sir, general.
Everyone exits. After a bit Tullio re-enters looking enraged.
Teresa: (voice offstage) My purse! I forgot my purse!
Teresa re-enters. Tullio is seated, tired, on the sofa. Teresa picks up her purse and starts to go, but suddenly, as if remembering something, returns to Tullio and kisses him on the mouth.
Tullio: Teresa?
Teresa: (touching his genitals) About what happened earlier, in the bathroom … (kissing his lips) … it doesn’t matter. It happens. You’ll do it again tomorrow. At least I hope so.
Teresa kisses him again and leaves. Pause. Enter Giuliana.
Giuliana: Tullio, what is it? You seems upset
Tullio: No, it’s nothing
Giuliana: I wouldn’t say that seeing your face
Tullio: It’s just fatigue. Too much work
Giuliana: Stress?
Tullio: And then with this heat
Giuliana: You look like you’ve been run over by a truck
Tullio: a truck no.
Giuliana: My sister?
Tullio: What’s your sister got to do with it?
Giuliana: No, I was only saying it to say it.
Tullio: I’m tired. And It’s hot, awful hot.
Giuliana: Yes of course. Awful hot
Tullio: It would seem that the evening went well. You should be satisfied
Giuliana: I have to say I am. I Thought Filippo would be a harder nut to crack
Tullio: What do you think he meant?
Giuliana: When?
Tullio: At the end, when he was leaving
Giuliana: Oh nothing, nonsense, just…
Tullio: He’s so allusive!
Giuliana: He’s a handsome man, capable. He knows he is so..
Tullio: He’s a jerk
Giuliana: Quite right
Tullio: I can’t stand him, I really can’t stand him
Giuliana: Tell me about it
Tullio: If your father weren’t so crazy about him…
Giuliana: I’d have kicked him out, with great pleasure
Tullio: Insufferable
Giuliana: What was he telling you about earlier? During the game?
Tullio: About his passion
Giuliana: For horses?
Tullio: For the stock market
Tullio: About the stock market
Giuliana: (starting to go out) By the way: how’s it going?
Tullio: Up?
Giuliana: Up?
Tullio: Olivetti most of all
Giuliana: Olivetti?
Tullio: Olivetti
Giuliana: So will Tronchetti Provera manage to do it?
Tullio: the conquest of Telecom? (she nods happily) So it would seem
Giuliana: Good. Filippo was right. You’ll see we’ll make some money off this operation. It’ll pay our pension!
Tullio: What pensions: we’ll buy the whole ranch!
Giuliana: Exaggeration!
Tullio: Do the sums
Giuliana: Good. We’ll change the boat (exits)
Tullio: Of course, the boat
Tullio exits also. Play of light (or change of light). One hears music (Rachmaninov n. 3) and the sound of gears grinding.
Some days later
Enter Tullio who appears immersed and concentrated on several papers which he has in hand and visibly tried, tired. He Wanders around the scene then turns-on the lap-top computer. The cellular phone rings.
Tullio: What? Who? Natalia? Natalia who? Oh, the new secretary? Good. What? He’s there? Professor Tàlice? Well tell him to go to... oh it’s your Professor? I thought that you... Yes. When, when you’d like. (He hangs up) Damn him! (he buries himself in his papers). Damned bastard! This is the time I change jobs
Enter Giuliana
Giuliana: What are you doing?
Tullio: What?
Giuliana: I said, what are you doing?
Tullio: Changing jobs
Giuliana: Don’t create problems
Tullio: I’m not creating problems. It’s just that....
Giuliana: Now because of that idiot of a professor...
Tullio: Just think, he wanted Bill Gates with him too!
Giuliana: (ironic) That’s to say?
Tullio: Like saying...
Giuliana: ... an idiot!
Tullio: ... the best!
Giuliana: The best is what you want the best to be
Tullio: What do you mean?
Giuliana: Don’t waste time on useless things.
Tullio: I don’t waste time on useless things.
Tullio: So? What’s the problem? You dumped your secretary do it with the distinguished Professor Tàlice too.
Tullio: That was him on the phone
Giuliana: Ah! And what did the distinguished Professor want?
Tullio: He wants to see me. To apologize. And to speak to me
Giuliana: Send him to hell!
Tullio: He’s heard about the railways
Giuliana: Good
Tullio: He’ll look for some worthy to substitute him for the course on the condition that...
Giuliana: The railways?
Tullio: the railways!
Giuliana: You need a conference
Tullio: a Yalta?
Giuliana: A Yalta. We bent Filippo
Tullio: We’ll also bend
Giuliana: ... the distinguished Professor Tàlice! We’ll invite him here, to dinner, one evening
Tullio: Of course. One of those unforgettable dinners
Giuliana: Then if we need to press our point... I’ll have Teresa come.
Tullio: Your sister?
Giuliana: She’s always had a passion for brains
Tullio: They say the Professor has certain tendencies.
Giuliana: (after having thought) Then we’ll invite Filippo. Who knows if...
Tullio: ... you never know?
Giuliana: Filippo’s a handsome man, he’s smart, he knows how to handle things. Perhaps the Professor will soften seeing him! And then..... who knows, from one thing to another (she laughs) Some hidden tendency, who knows! (start to leave)
Tullio: Where are you going?
Giuliana: It’s Saturday. It’s hot. To die from. I’m going to the hairdresser. I don’t suppose that, for once, you’d like to take the baby to my mother’s? (Tullio holds out his arms to demonstrate the impossibility of this) O.K. O.K. I didn’t ask. You have your work....
Tullio: You see the state I’m in?
Giuliana: You see the state I’m in?
Giuliana: Your commitments, the course, the railways, and you can’t take care of the baby.
Tullio: You know, Giuliana, it’s not that I don’t want to, but...
Giuliana: Of course, of course. Your career!
Tullio: Let me close here, this round, and then you’ll see that I’ll have time to dedicate to the baby too.
Giuliana: It’s months you’ve been saying that.
Tullio: Forgive me!
Giuliana: Sure. Forgive me, and in the mean time I find myself wrestling between feedings, diapers, and you, I don’t know what else to do.
Tullio: You don’t need to go over it again
Giuliana: Just don’t tire yourself out too much. Teresa told me she found you tired
Tullio: Teresa?
Giuliana: After dinner the other night, she told me she found you particularly stressed
Tullio: Maybe she’s right
Giuliana: Take your time. And forget about Professor Tàlice. Well. Fix him
Tullio: A little dinner here
Giuliana: (stopping before going out) Oh! I almost forgot, Consuelo is coming with me
Tullio: Consuelo?
Giuliana: I’m leaving Consuelo and the baby with my mom and I’m going to the seaside. After her operation, it’s better if I don’t leave her alone with the baby
Tullio: Right!
Giuliana: You’re alone
Tullio: Good! With an avalanche of work
Giuliana: A normal work week end (exits)
Tullio: Yeah!
Alone, Tullio buries himself in his work. The doorbell rings. Tullio doesn’t hear it. It rings again. Again Tullio doesn’t hear it. Now the telephone rings. Tullio answers.
Tullio: (to the phone) What? Come open the door or you’ll rape the postman? Teresa? What are you saying? At the door? (He turns towards the door) You’re at the door, you rang and I didn’t even hear it. (the doorbell rings again) Fuck… (He gets up and goes to open the door) Who’s not bad? The postman?
He exits and returns, embraced and kissed by Teresa
Tullio: I didn’t expect you
Teresa: You should have guessed: So why would I have suggested that Giuliana bring Consuelo with her?
Tullio: Teresa you’re nuts!
Teresa: Yes a little. Just a little
Tullio: It’s certainly a surprise
Teresa: A nice one I hope?
Tullio: Sure, sure. It’s just that I was working
Teresa: (inciting him). Sure, working. And I want you. I wanted sex an so - either you or the postman?- Fortunately you opened the door, if not...
Tullio: This course is killing me...
Teresa: (pushing him and jumping on him the sofa). Giuliana told me
Tullio: I’m afraid I won’t be able to do it
Teresa: You’ll do it, you’d do it. It’s just that now let’s take a break Tullio: Too many things
Teresa: Where’ll we do it?
Tullio: (not understanding) What?
Teresa: Make love!
Tullio What? Where?
Teresa: Do you want to it here, or shall we go there?
Tullio: Christ, Teresa I don’t know...
Teresa: Forget the work and...
Tullio: I want it too, but…
Teresa: You want me to regret leaving the postman?
Tullio: The postman? No. What’s the postman got to do with it?
Teresa: (increasingly persistent) He seemed quite vigorous
Tullio: (freeing himself from Teresa’s tight grip and standing up) Teresa, Christ, wait!
Teresa: Tullio!
Tullio: Tullio, my ass!
Teresa appears disappointed. She adjusts her dress, and starts to leave.
Tullio: Teresa, no wait! What are you doing?
Teresa: Can’t you see. I‘m going. I’m leaving. As you wish
Tullio: I didn’t say that
Teresa: No, you didn’t say that but you gave me to understand that
Tullio: I only said...
Teresa: If you don’t feel like making love with me, you an always tell me
Tullio: don’t misunderstand me
Teresa: If you want, we can break off our relationship. After all I’m your wife’s sister and I have some scruples too..
Tullio: It’s not that
Teresa: (reflecting) or excitement?
Tullio: What?
Teresa: Perhaps you’ve already replaced me
Tullio: What are you saying?
Teresa: Maybe with that idiot secretary
Tullio: Right, her!
Teresa: Fire her!
Tullio: I already have.
Teresa: Well, do you do it with the new one?
Tullio: Natalia? That’s all I need
Teresa: so you do it with Consuelo
Tullio: Horrors!
Teresa: What do I know about your tastes
Tullio: I only like you
Tullio: At one time
Tullio: Now, right away, now!
Teresa: Smack?
Tullio: Smack?
Teresa: Smack
Tullio: Smack
Teresa: That’s how I like you
Music. Teresa takes off her slip and leaves in on the sofa. They exit. Sounds of electronic games that follow them. Light that "breathe". And now the sound of gear grinding. The cell phone rings. Tullio re-appears. he is increasingly stressed. his shirt is open, his trousers partially buttoned. His hair is mussed. he answer.
Tullio: Who? Ah yes? What? The engineer! How, how are you? Yes? Anticipate the schedule for the railways? To when? June? But that’s mad! What? Come to you when? Tomorrow? But tomorrow is Sunday!. yes, yes. I don’t care if it’s Sunday either. yes, fine. Till tomorrow.
Tullio hangs up the telephone. he sits, disconsolate, in the sofa.
Tullio: I’m fucked
Enter Teresa
Teresa: What’s the matter?
Tullio: I can’t seem to keep up with this. With all this thing
Teresa: (getting annoyed) Work?
Tullio: Work
Teresa: Good
Tullio: It was the engineer
Teresa: Who?
Tullio: The structural technics head for the railways. He says that there are problems regarding the project
Teresa: For that too?
Tullio: It’s as though everything, in this moment is going against me, shit!
Teresa reluctantly massages his temples.
Teresa: Catch your breath, try to catch your breath
Tullio: That’s what I need to do
Teresa: Here, like that, relax
Tullio: easy to say!
Teresa: You can’t go on under pressure, you’ll explode
Tullio: That’s all I need
Teresa: Go at your own pace.
Tullio: As you wish, commander
Teresa: And you’ll see that everything will work out
Tullio: How did he come up with that idea: anticipate the schedule!
Teresa: Don’t think about it.
Tullio: That’s easy for you to say standing there with your hands...
Teresa: (impatient, raising her hands as if t she wants to show them...) In the shit
Tullio: Right, in the shit!
Teresa: Try to calm down
Tullio: Calm? But I am calm, extremely calm. Can’t you see?
Teresa: Fuck you!
Tullio: What does that mean?
Teresa: You don’t know? It means fu..ck..you..
Tullio: I didn’t say that, I meant...
Teresa starts to leave
Tullio: Teresa, Teresa, wait!
Teresa: What? For you to continue to keep me here as an ordinary doormat
Tullio: What are you saying?
Teresa: I don’t go to bed with a married man to be treated worse than a wife
Tullio: I don’t understand what...
Teresa: You’re with me and you’re tired, stressed, impatient in a rotten mood, losing your hair, peeing in your pants, complaining. you don’t fuck and...
Tullio: Are you raving?
Teresa: ... if it’s going to be like this, then I might as well find a husband and have him mistreat me
Tullio: Teresa, I didn’t want to...
Teresa: I come here. I risk blowing things with Giuliana. And You? What do you do? You act like the annoyed husband. Well. if it’s like this I, I’m not interested (she goes out followed by Tullio)
Tullio: Teresa?
Tullio follows Teresa in the other room.
A short time later. A long pause. Play of lights and sounds. the sound of gears. The doorbell rings. Tullio crosses the scene to open the door. He returns with Filippo.
Tullio: Excuse me Filippo, but I was… working
Filippo: On Saturday? With this heat?
Tullio: On Saturday . With this heat
Filippo: Well, Don’t worry about it! Anyway I was just passing by
Tullio: Giuliana’s not here. She’s spending the weekend
Filippo: At the sea, with her mother, Consuelo and the baby. At least she’s cooling off.
Tullio: Yeah
Filippo: I just had to give her this. It’s a verdict. Tomorrow I’m going to Milan and she needed this urgently, so I passed by in person to bring it to her
Tullio: The errand boy?
Filippo: Every so often I do this too
Tullio: Every so often
Filippo: When the master calls
Tullio: His master’s voice
Filippo: That!
Tullio: Forgive me Filippo, if I don’t invite you in but..
Filippo: ... you were working
Tullio: That course is killing me
Filippo: Still that story with Professor Tàlice?
Tullio: Giuliana told you
Filippo: Yes. It’s a real shame that..
Tullio: If I don’t find a solution, I’m really screwed
Filippo: Don’t exaggerate
Tullio: I’ll compromise my credibility, my career
Filippo: You could always offer the railways to the Professor in exchange for his participation on the course.
Tullio looks at Filippo with suspicion
Tullio: I see that Giuliana hasn’t left out any details
Filippo: After all, it’s only a Conference on world hunger!
Tullio: You know this too
Filippo: For that you’d need a comic actor, not a...
Tullio: ...computer science teacher
Filippo: Certainly if he would give up the Conference, you could always involve him on the project…
Tullio: ... for the railways...
Filippo: You just have to avoid blowing the course. Right?
Tullio: Right
Filippo: you need a Conference
Tullio looks at Filippo with suspicion
Tullio: Yeah. A Conference
Filippo: And what does it take. Just a dinner!
Tullio: Sure
Filippo: A Yalta
Tullio: Sure a Yalta. Giuliana told you that too?
Filippo: It’s only a dinner and that’s what we’re here for
Tullio: Anyway now I
Filippo: You have to leave me: for work
Tullio: work! Sure!
Filippo: And…. (simulating embarrassment) …give my regards to Teresa
Tullio: (surprised) Teresa?
Filippo: (indicating the slip on the sofa). Her
Tullio: (embarrassed) Oh yes that… you know…, the mess, Giuliana is always a little distracted, making a mess.
Filippo: I gave that slip to Teresa. It’s silk. Pure silk. Come to think of it, it cost me quite a bit.
Tullio: Giuliana borrowed it from her and still has to give it back. That’s why she left it here.
Filippo: I have to say it fit really well. How I loved to see her take it off. Does she do a strip tease for you too?
Tullio: Are you kidding?
Filippo: Nine and a half weeks? Only Teresa is better!
Tullio: You’re making a mistake, mixing up…
Filippo: She’s better than, what was her name?
Tullio: Maybe it’s something
Filippo: Kim Basinger
Tullio: Similar
Filippo: her, it was her
Tullio: Sure
Filippo: Anyway here’s the verdict Giuliana was looking for. When she gets back from the seaside, tell her… tell her… (He turns to leave) bye. Oh Teresa, I’ll see you tomorrow, at the Studio (exits)
Tullio: Fuck!
Teresa: (entering in a robe or something else). Did he understand?
Tullio points to the slip on the sofa.
Teresa: Oh well, it’s true That it looks good on me. You like it too when I…
Tullio: Fuck it! I’m in the shit!
Teresa: "We’re" in the shit
They sit disconsolate on the sofa
Teresa: Do you think he’ll tell...
Tullio: If I were him, I’d have no doubts
Teresa: You’d do it?
Tullio: After the way Giuliana treated him that evening, it would be a great way to
Teresa: ... get even.
Teresa gets up and start to go into the other room
Tullio: Are you going?
Teresa: I’m going to look for two ropes, to hang ourselves with
Tullio: Two
Teresa: I don’t feel like doing it alone
Teresa goes into the other room. Tullio remains alone. A predictable change of light, perhaps changing while the sounds of gears move, click, almost imperceptible, almost...Tullio seems "consumed" by his mood.
Tullio: I could involve him... the dinner...that dinner and then... Professor Tàlice.... the light, then the fog that thickens, in Sicily. And...as if everything is falling on top of me to cut me...inside. (He has convulsion, like nervous tick) betrayal of the useless. Undefinable the essence. Globalization of everything (pause) The baby…!? (softly) The baby won’t find me pleased with this and... he’ll watch me again, always (pause) "The justice of men doesn’t touch me. No court on earth would be able to judge me. No one!"
The next day
In the twilight, Tullio waits, seated on the sofa. Enter Giuliana
Giuliana: God, what heat! It’s suffocating in here! Consuelo? Consuelo put the baby to bed!. Please, because, I… (she notices Tullio) Tullio? Tullio, what are you doing?
Tullio: (coldly) I was waiting
Giuliana: For what?
Tullio: for time to move on
Giuliana: Oh Tullio, what are you saying… (light, Giuliana notices Tullio’s dejected state) …you, you aren’t well!
Tullio: (coldly) I just need to rest
Giuliana: You seem upset
Tullio: (coldly) Something’s happened… but… but… I can’t remember what.
Giuliana: You need…
Consuelo: (entering) Ma’am... the baby’s crying
Giuliana: Don’t worry it’s his gastritis. He’ll need to be taken to the doctor
Tullio: (standing up but still cold) Do you want me to take care of it
Giuliana: With this face? Don’t make me laugh!
Tullio: I’m not laughing
Giuliana: you look like you’ve been run over by a truck
Tullio: Maybe it was that
Giuliana: Where are you going now?
Tullio: To work. At the Office
Giuliana: This Saturday too? With this heat?
Tullio: I have a meeting. At eleven. I don’t know if I’ll be back for dinner
Giuliana: At eleven? And you don’t know if you’ll be back
Tullio: It’s for the railways. There’s a delay on the project, a drawback and I....
Giuliana: ... have a fix everything
Tullio: Exactly (exits)
Giuliana: This man has me worried, I’m quite worried (she shrugs? Consuelo?
Consuelo: (entering) Did you call me Ma’am?
Giuliana: Consuelo, listen... look what there is here. Put things in order. The engineer, the engineer has left some stuff around. Put things in order, go ahead and put things in order then and don’t throw out anything though, I wouldn’t want... (Consuelo begins to bend over) ... good, like that
The telephone rings
Giuliana: (Answering) Mamma? Yes Mamma....What? Tullio? He’s gone to the Office. Yes today too. Because of the course and that project. Yes I know, I know. the baby? I put him to bed. Tomorrow at your house? Who do you want to bring him? Me? No as always. Tullio? No, it’s not the case now. He’s too busy, too wrapped up in his work to take care of the baby. Yes I’ll handle it, me. Teresa? (Consuelo has put the living room in order and left) No, I haven’t... oh she’s there. She wants to speak to me? Pass her. Teresa? Tell me. Filippo? No, He’s still in Milan for that transaction. No, I haven’t heard from him. yes, he was supposed to pass. For a verdict. No. I don’t know anything about it. But why are you looking for Filippo? Oh, you’re not looking for him. O.K. Bye (perplexed, she hangs up). Consuelo! (exits).
Pause.
The telephone rings again. Giuliana appears and answers.
Giuliana: Hello? Ah Tullio, but you just left and you’re calling me already tell me. Filippo? What’s he got to do. .If I’ve heard from him? No, I haven’t heard from him. Why? He stopped by.... he had to stop by? Yes, a thing from the studio: a verdict. Well I don’t know....I haven’t heard from him , no? Why is it lately everyone’s looking for... (she moves the receiver) …Filippo? He hung up.
Perplexed she looks at the receiver before hanging up. She looks around and then smiles a nasty luminous smile like someone who has-perhaps understood.
Giuliana: Perhaps it’s time it snowed. It’s too
hot here (exits)
Pause. Play of lights, sounds. The "gears" continue to grind, to "pulse", to "live".
Some time later
The doorbell rings. Giuliana crosses the scene and goes to open. She’s dressed differently. Passing, she sees Tullio’s cell phone. She picks it up.
Giuliana: It’s Tullio. He’s forgotten this too. At this rate who knows what he’ll forget next. I can understand he’s working but… (exits) Yes? (off stage) Filippo? You? (Giuliana and Filippo re-enter) What are you doing here?
Filippo: The verdict. The one you were waiting for.
Giuliana: Oh yes. that one!
Filippo: I brought you it. I don’t know if Tullio...
Filippo assumes a secure attitude of one who feels in command of the situation.
Giuliana: Tullio? No, he didn’t tell me
Filippo: Nevertheless I was here, last Saturday. I left it with him I even told him not to forget.
Giuliana: Tullio is tired lately. He can’t manage things anymore, keep up.
Filippo: Too wrapped up?
Giuliana: Too wrapped up
Filippo: So he does e neglect you
Giuliana: Not this story again!
Filippo: I’d be sorry if he did. You’re such a beautiful woman
Giuliana: Filippo, I wouldn’t want...
Filippo: (he begins to press in on her physically as well) I say it’s time we better establish the clauses of our accord
Giuliana: I thought we’d cleared that up the other evening at dinner
Filippo: The other evening
Giuliana: So?
Filippo: So then days, time goes by and things happen
Giuliana: Things?
Filippo: They seem trivial. In the beginning they may well be. And instead, thinking about them, reflecting on them, seeing them under the right light they appear as they really are – different and more than ever, universally. Important.
Giuliana: Important?
Filippo: Universally important
Giuliana: And what would be "universally important"?
Filippo: First I need to tell, to explain to you and then you too can note that…
Giuliana: (nearing the bar) Do you want something to drink?
Filippo: (he closes in from behind, she talks her) Is that a proposition?
Giuliana: (she allows him) That depends
Filippo: (he kisses her on the neck) On what?
Giuliana: On you (She turns and offers a glass)
Filippo: (He takes the glass and stares at her) Is this a way of offering yourself?
Giuliana: It’s a way of understanding, of understanding where you’re aiming.
Filippo: At you?
Giuliana: Only at me?
Filippo: It’s what interests me. Always.
Giuliana: Always?
Filippo: That’s all! (He sets down the glass, embraces Giuliana, kisses her. She lets him) You’re splendid
Giuliana: What?
Filippo: Splendid
Giuliana: Really?
Filippo: Like nobody else
Giuliana: Nobody... (detaching herself from him) And then?
Filippo: Then what?
Giuliana: And after me, what else?
Filippo: Nothing! After you nothing!
Giuliana: The studio?
Filippo: You aren’t telling me that I .... for the Studio?
Giuliana: Why shouldn’t you? After all the "Di Scordio & Daughters" Studio hasn’t got direct heirs. And so
Filippo: Giuliana are you crazy? There’s you...
Giuliana. I have the baby: and many, too many distractions
Filippo: ...Your sister?
Giuliana: You’ve already gone to bed with her, right? (Filippo doesn’t answer. He smiles, drinking) She doesn’t ask for much. It’s enough to pass her some fat representation –and the game is won, given that managing the Studio "bores her to death"
Filippo: …your father?
Giuliana: My father has had it up to his balls
Filippo: …!
Giuliana: I think you and I should go over the terms of our accord again
Filippo: What do you mean?
Giuliana: You should ponder on the proposal Egano made you, some more
Filippo: Are you throwing me out?
Giuliana: Let’s say that we had mapped out the terms of our agreement and I’m sorry....
Filippo: Giuliana, I....
Giuliana: I believe we’ve said all there is to say, haven’t we?
Filippo: Have we?
Giuliana: What?
Filippo: What happened. The other day
Long cold pause. Giuliana scrutinizes him. He looks at her sardonically.
Giuliana: The door is there
Filippo: The other time the door was there too. and it was hot then too
Giuliana: ?
Filippo: Still hot. But the situation was different. let’s say it was the other day yesterday or another, any day (as though mimicking) "Oh Filippo, you here? Why are you here? Oh, me, no. I’m alone I was working
Giuliana: Tullio?
Filippo: You know the course, the railways, Professor Tàlice. How do they say: A mess!
Giuliana: (not yet understanding but perhaps amused) A mess?
Filippo: Oh! The verdict! The one Giuliana ... No Giuliana’s not here. She’s at the sea at her mother’s, with this heat, and I, I’m alone, I’m alone right Teresa?"
Giuliana: (still trying to understand what Filippo’s getting at) Teresa was here? With him?
Filippo: "Good evening Teresa, how ‘s it going? Well? Me too..."
Giuliana: You too...?
Filippo: "you were just passing by too? Good. if you’d like we can leave together! If you get dressed again I can always give you a lift"
Giuliana (beginning to understand) Get dressed?
Filippo: Very pretty, that slip Teresa. I imagine that Tullio likes it very much too, doesn’t he?
Giuliana: Is this the little story?
Filippo: Cute no?
Giuliana: (After having thought for a long time) What do you want Filippo? My gratitude for having revealed who knows what?
Filippo: I don’t know what to do with your gratitude. I just want you
Giuliana: Just me?
Filippo: (he tries to embrace her) I like you I like you a lot...
Giuliana: About Teresa and Tullio, I’ve known for some time.
Filippo: What?
Giuliana: Yes, I knew. What did you think, that maternity has... no. Filippo, You’re wrong. It’s not like that. I knew about Teresa. And Tullio. I preferred to ignore it, to pretend nothing was wrong. Because... (uncertain and avoiding) ...because Teresa kept him happy for me. While I... the baby. Better her than who knows who else.- perhaps a secretary?
Filippo: Maria?
Giuliana: Maria’s gone. Perhaps another
Filippo: Another? Natalia!
Giuliana: There are a lot of women ready to pant after someone...after someone who’s moving up, in hopes that they’ll move up too. There are many who’d do something crazy for someone like Tullio, many! If he wanted it.
Filippo: And who says that...
Giuliana: Teresa! As long as she’s there...I don’t run any risk
Filippo: But do you love him?
Giuliana: He’s father of my child. The man with whom I had a child.
Filippo: And this is enough for you?
Giuliana: For now it’s something, it’s already something. for now
Filippo: (offering himself) For now
Giuliana: You, on the other hand, are a bastard Filippo. A poor bastard
Filippo: What are you saying?
Giuliana: And you’ve made the biggest mistake of your life: to come here, breathing on my neck, thinking you had more aces up your sleeve
Filippo: More aces?
Giuliana: More aces (brief pause) I liked you, Filippo. I like you
Filippo: Well, then, why not let yourself go? To me?
Giuliana: If you had come here for me, without anything else in mind Teresa! Well maybe yes, probably I... but you made a mistake. You’ve confused everything, you forgot yourself and ended up offending me
Filippo: Offending you?
Giuliana: You’re an idiot Filippo, just a poor idiot
Filippo: I don’t have a chance anymore, do I?
Giuliana: Now no
Filippo: O.K.
Giuliana: That proposal from the lawyer.... you’d do better to reconsider it. On the contrary no. Do something out of the city, it’s a small city, too small a city for you. You need space, lots of space to show your worth to it’s best advantage
Filippo: Are you saying...
Giuliana: Change towns. You’d do better
The scrutinize each other. Then Filippo exits
Giuliana: Poor idiot!
Giuliana start to leave. The cell phone rings: Tullio’s. After a moment of doubt, Giuliana answers
Giuliana: Hello? Who? Oh it’s Professor Tàlice? Who Tullio? No he’s not here. I believe he’s... (she thinks) ...at the office? Not at the office. No. I tried earlier too, but no, he wasn’t there. Yes the cell phone is his. He forgot it. It’s a while that he, yes, he forgets everything, really everything...even the cell phone. No, certainly. Don’t worry If I hear from him, I’ll tell him, yes, that you called. I’ll have him call you even if… (she reflects, one hears some mechanical devices clicking) ...even if, I think, he told me that... he already found someone else... for the course (she looks at the phone, mockingly). He hung up.
Pleased with herself, mockingly, she looks at herself in the mirror. The cell phone rings.
Giuliana: Tullio, is it you? Yes at home. Did you think you’d lost it? To have left it who knows where? No. It’s here. At home. With me. Good. Are you still in the office? You’ll come back home after midnight? But it’s Saturday! The meeting’s going on? The course? The railways? You’re destroyed. You can tell. No (thinking) No one’s called. Professor Tàlice? No he hasn’t called, he hasn’t called at all. (smiling nastily she looks at the phone). He hung up.
Before leaving the room, she looks in the mirror again, mockingly pleased with herself, now with an evil smile painted on her lips.
Giuliana: Yes, Filippo’s right. I’m still beautiful. Maybe even more so! (exiting). God, it’s hot!
The lights swarm in the half-light
That day, very soon after
Silence and still in the half light Tullio enters. He’s exhausted. Without turning on the light, he removes his jacket and flops on the sofa. He turns on the TV The light from the screen hits him, irritates him too. Sound of gears that, with effort, difficulty click mechanically. The light in the other room turn on Giuliana emerges.
Giuliana: You’re here?
Tullio: I’m here
Giuliana: It’s three. Aren’t you coming to bed?
Tullio: I don’t know if I can
Giuliana: You’ve been at work up to now. You should be so tired you could sleep for a whole month.
Tullio: If only I could (a lost gaze) I have a commotion in my head-all day in front of that damned monitor -all those numbers. I don’t think I’ll manage to sleep. I need to distract myself.
Giuliana: Teresa?
Tullio: (with a start) What do you mean?
Giuliana: (after having thought) She called. She was looking for you.
Tullio: (looking suspicious) Me?
Giuliana: You
Tullio: And what did she want?
Giuliana: How do I know! I’m not your (after having thought) secretary.
Tullio: I thought she would have told you.
Giuliana: They’re things that don’t regard me… anymore!
Tullio: You’re using a tone of voice
Giuliana: It’s three o’ clock Saturday morning. What tone of voice should I have?
Tullio: I thought you were Mad at me.
Giuliana: And why should I be mad at you? Just because you’re never here? Just because you give all of yourself to your job and... (she stops)
Tullio: You have your studio too!
Giuliana: Exactly! I have my studio too
Tullio: Are we doing things wrong?
Giuliana: Inevitably
Tullio: Inevitably?
Giuliana: Inevitably (starts to go)
Tullio: I don’t suppose anyone called...
Giuliana: No one!
Tullio: ...Professor Tàlice?
Giuliana: No one (starts to leave) Oh, by the way, now I remember.
Tullio: What?
Giuliana: Why Teresa was looking for you... about Filippo.
Tullio: (startled) Filippo?
Giuliana: Filippo. She says she has to tell you something regarding him.
Tullio: What?
Giuliana: I don’t know. Maybe something’s about stock market or maybe about that friend who has to go abroad.
Tullio: Yes, maybe it’s that.
Giuliana: She didn’t tell me. Besides....they’re things that don’t regard me anymore.... really!
Giuliana exits. Tullio, agitated, watches her go and continues to watch the door until he sees the lights go out. Then he thinks and rushes to her cell phone and calls. In the half-light behind the door the silhouette of Giuliana is visible.
Tullio: Hello, Teresa? What? What time is it? Three. If I’m calling you at this hour it’s to know why you called me? What do you mean when? Before. Giuliana (his agitated tone grows faint) told me. Yes. Earlier. She told me that you were looking for me... to tell me something… about Filippo. Isn’t that right? You weren’t looking for me? (He hangs up) A trap?
Giuliana’s silhouette disappears. Tullio remain staring at nothing. He’s upset. He passes his hand over his head and his face repeatedly. He chatters something. Then he sits down, nervously on the sofa and, with difficulty, in the light of the screen, sleeps. A change and play of light.
The morning of that day
From the other room Giuliana enters, nearing she turns off the television. She regards Tullio contemptuously.
Giuliana: Human misery has no bounds
Tullio: (awaking) What?
Giuliana: I’ve got what I gave!
Tullio: Giuliana, you!? But Where?
Giuliana: You slept there, on the sofa... all night
Tullio: On the sofa?
Giuliana: Like a dog
Tullio: I was working and so...
Giuliana: (not without contempt) Yes, You were working
Tullio: My God, I’m ...destroyed. What time is it?
Giuliana: Eight-thirty
Tullio: Eight-thirty! In an hour I have a meeting and...
Giuliana: You’re taking the baby to my mother’s
Tullio: (still sleepy) Yes, of course. The baby
Giuliana: He doesn’t seem to even be your son, for all the attention you give him
Tullio: The baby?
Giuliana: Him
Tullio: What’s he got to do with it. I... I have a ton to do-work the course, the Professor...
Giuliana: last night he cried continuously - gastritis
Tullio: You could have called me
Giuliana: You didn’t even notice
Tullio: I worked late and...
Giuliana: You didn’t even hear him
Tullio: Giuliana, you’re right but I...
Giuliana: Yes, I know. you have your damned job, the course etc. etc. And the baby? An me? What about it?
Tullio: Giuliana, if I kill myself with work it’s because... (he stops)
Giuliana: There - this is what you have to tell me- why?
Tullio: I… I…?
Giuliana: Begin to ask yourself, you have you whole life to answer
The telephone rings
Giuliana: (on the phone) Who?... Teresa? What? Filippo? He got you out of bed? Are you at studio? What does he want...to get his things? He’s furious? I’m coming. Tell him... I’m coming. Immediately
She hangs up and goes into the other room. Tullio remains perplexed, seated on the sofa, looking at his shoes. Then he turns towards the other room.
Tullio: Giuliana?
Enter Giuliana starting to leave
Tullio: Giuliana, and the baby?
Giuliana: I have to go to the studio… Filippo’s leaving
Tullio: …leaving…?
Giuliana: He’s leaving the studio. Now I wouldn’t want him to take, who knows, some documents, some dossiers...do you understand?
Tullio: Of course, of course. But the baby?
Giuliana: You take care of the baby. For once
Tullio: Me?
Giuliana: You just have to take him to my mother’s
Tullio: To your mother’s? Me?
Giuliana: Yes, you. Aren’t you still his father?
Tullio: Still?
Giuliana: Still? You handle it, him, for a change
Tullio: But I have to go to the office. I have a meeting. For the course. With the Professor...
Giuliana: Bullshit!
Tullio: ... the one who’s maybe substituting Professor Tàlice
Giuliana: I’m not interested in your problems, your job, your courses. They don’t interest me anymore. I have my problems to solve, my professionality to defend.
Tullio: And the baby?
Giuliana: Take him to my mother’s-he’ll be fine there.
Tullio: And Consuelo?
Giuliana: She is in the hospital. her cousin broken a leg and so she had to go
Tullio: The baby?
Giuliana: Remember - to my mother’s. And not... (nastily) …to my sister’s (exits)
Tullio: To my sister’s?
The cell telephone rings
Tullio: (answering) Who? Teresa? Yes, Giuliana’s left. What? You’re at the studio? What? (the telephone rings) Teresa, hold on. I have another call (on the other phone) Who? Natalia? What do you want? The Professor’s already there? How come? But if the meeting is for.... (puts down the cell phone where Teresa is still holding and looks at his watch) Nine-thirty! I’m coming Natalia, immediately. I’ll change my shirt and.... the baby? (he begins to undress while still speaking on the phone) No, Natalia, I’m not talking to you. I only said... (hangs up) to myself...the baby! (he runs towards the other room but then remembers) Teresa! (runs to get the cell phone) Teresa? Teresa are you still there? No I didn’t forget. I’m sorry, I was just (continuing to undress) ... he meeting. I’m late. What? Filippo’s asked you for money.... (he stops) ... to not say anything to... And you? You told him you have to think about it? But look like this? you seem to be... weak! (long pause) Giuliana, is coming to the studio. yes, tell him, tell him we’ll give him the money… whatever he wants… (hangs up, He’s beside himself with anger) The meeting! (exits)
The scene remains deserted. The sound of gears and play of light beyond the door of the other room. Then Tullio appears and furiously, exits. With him a bundle - the baby
Tullio: (leaving) Just today, the baby, the meeting. Filippo, Shit
Tullio exits panting. the scene remains deserted. Sound of gears grow louder. the light are ever ore intense to blind to burn". In the moment of greatest intensity one hears the sound of gears that jam.
EPILOGUE (ANY DAY)
Tullio enters the scene downcast, destroyed, he sits on the sofa. The lights return to normal. Behind him, Giuliana. Tullio is buried in his own desperation while the woman presses him for answers nasty.
Giuliana: Well?
Tullio: I don’t know
Giuliana: What?
Tullio: How it could have happened!
Giuliana: How can you not know? I mean how...?
Tullio: Everything was so confused, so fast that I... my mind, thoughts. all day in front of that damned...!
Giuliana: ..that damned..?
Tullio: ...nothing...
Giuliana: ...nothing?
Tullio: ...I
Giuliana: you? (Tullio, not looking at her, nods) And him?
Tullio: He was there. He watched me. It was as if he were watching at me. God! His eyes open, still open. Starting at me and instead… (pause) he looked at me as if he were still... and instead... dried up!
Giuliana: Dried up? (Tullio nods burying his head in his hands) It’s this then?
Tullio: It’s this
Giuliana: Our son... dried up?
Tullio: Inside the car!
Giuliana: (wailing desperately) But I ask you, how? How could you? Our son. A year old Only a year old (whispering) ...dried up
Tullio: I… I took him, I had him in the car, in back, like you do, in his... his car seat...
Giuliana: ...dried up..
Tullio: ...then the traffic... it’s Sunday... people go to the sea... I was in a hurry...
Giuliana: In a hurry?
Tullio: …the job - I had a meeting at nine thirty…
Giuliana: At nine thirty?
Tullio: ….yes, at nine thirty. The traffic. The cars. The meeting. the cell phone that rang and rang Natalia: the Professor is serious, he’s waiting, the others are waiting too. for me! And I?
Giuliana: Was late...
Tullio: I told her, I did -let them, wait...
Giuliana: Late...
Tullio: ...but they pushed me - the job the meeting, the course, Natalia, Maria, Maria or whatever the hell the new secretary’s name is Natalia. Teresa.
Giuliana: Teresa, no absolutely not!
Tullio: ... an then the traffic, the jam, the accident. my head splitting and still...
Giuliana: The heat?
Tullio: Yes, of course, the heat!
Giuliana: Even more?
Tullio: More. The haze. The air condition doesn’t seem to be enough, never enough. And the horn honking, the siren, the accident, the traffic piling up, growing, rising, going mad and blocking… (murmuring) …the heat..
Giuliana: The heat?
Tullio: Like my head, my head that’s as heavy as lead, with those damned worries that pile up, grow, rise, go mad and block...
Giuliana: (emptied) Sure - they block...
Tullio: I… I seem to go mad in that box of flesh, human flesh. I don’t know what to do anymore, what to say, where to go, why to go. What’s the reason then... all this. The cell phone rings and I don’t answer, I don’t answer anymore. A horn sounds and I pretend it doesn’t. The radio stops working. A siren wails. the baby cries yes cries and I pretend not to hear anything, anything. I close myself in and regulate the flow... the flow of my thoughts, organize the course, the developments, the course of the events. To understand the meaning, to give priorities, to follow the time and choose what to do, where to go. I arrive at the office. It’s late. But, incredibly, now I feel calm, master of myself, my time. All is silent, all. I find a parking space In the sun It’s hot, hazy. Doesn’t matter. I stop the car, get out. I close the door. I set out for the meeting. I set out calm. controlled, tranquil. Now I know what to do, what to say. Now yes, I’m right, I know I’m right and I obtain it. They’re all with me. They’re convinced. The operation is mine, in my hands. And I, yes, I am the master of it… (suddenly astonished) Natalia, instead, doesn’t understand, she calls me, "Sir, your wife. She wants to know why you haven’t taken the baby her mother’s... The baby! the baby!! In the car... in the sun... under the haze... since ten o’clock. And now...now it’s one!! One o’clock! (pause) I get up, I move, jump. I leave the meeting, go out of the office. I run! The baby! The baby’ll be hot, hazy, he’ll be crying, still. In that car - closed in, to suffocate from the heat. haze! Closed in that box, in that box of human flesh. In the car! The baby will be thirsty, desperate, hungry, thirsty, sweating, furious, poor baby... (dragging it out) …dried up!
Giuliana: ...dried up...
Tullio: I found him like that, dead, dried up. From the heat, the haze. in that box...
Giuliana: ....of human flesh...
Tullio: I got what I gave.
CURTAIN