Original subtitles

[ocean waves]

[dramatic orchestral music] D

>D [children playing]

Beatrice looked at me, her eyes were full

Of sparks of love of such divinity

That, vanquished, my virtue ran away

And I was as if lost, my eyes lowered

- [phone ringing] - [woman answers]

Hello. This is Thomas Lang.

Hi. Are you... Are you in Rome?

- Yes. - Oh, great.

- We should meet. - OK. Where?

Um, we could meet at Cafeé Rosati.

- It's near your hotel. - Uh-huh.

I'll be carrying a copy of your book.

- Good likeness? - Not bad.

- I'm Thomas. - Hi, Simone.

Good to meet you.

- Have you lived here long? - Fifteen years.

Grazie. This is home now.

It's not enough money for foreign press bureaus, so

I cover uh, Italy for Newsweek, Daily Beast, CNN, BBC.

- You must be good. - I do OK.

- You've got family here? - Yeah.

Two young boys. And a husband.

I was sent your book.

Thought I was going to hate it.

True crime isn't really my thing.

I was flying to New York on the red eye, couldn't sleep,

so I read your book instead.

I'll take that as a compliment.

Like it says on the cover.

"Every parent's nightmare."

- You have children? - A daughter.

I'm separated from her mother.

No, I know. How old's your daughter?

- She's nine. - What's her name?

Bea. We call her Bea.

Short for Beatrice. She was conceived in Italy.

Her mum was acting in a film here.

- It's a nice name. - Yes.

So, tomorrow's the end of the appeal.

Yes, round two begins.

We'll need to leave really early.

Can you be at my apartment by seven?

Sure.

But one piece of advice.

If you're gonna make the film, make it a fiction.

You can't tell the truth, unless you make it a fiction.

There are so many things I couldn't put in my book

even though they were true.

OK.

In September 2007, two young women arrived at the

university town of Siena.

They were looking forward with excitement to

spending a year as a student in Italy.

Elizabeth Pryce and Jessica Fuller both rented

rooms in this house, on the edge of the medieval town.

Two months later, Elizabeth was dead, and

Jessica had been accused of her murder, along with

her boyfriend, Carlo Elias.

The case made headlines around the world

and the focus of attention was the character of Jessica Fuller.

Was she the cunning manipulator described by the prosecution?

- [speaking Italian]

The quirky student described by her mother...

She's smart. She's artistic.

She's imaginative. She's uh, deep.

Or "Jessica Rabbit" as described by the British media.

A sexy, drug-taking student killer.

On Halloween, Jessica was working in Bar Rumba,

while Elizabeth partied late into the night with

some English friends.

Elizabeth spent the next day recovering.

The last time she was seen alive was 8:45 p.m.

No one knows exactly what happened after that.

The only thing known for certain is Elizabeth died

a brutal and horrible death.

One year later, the families of Elizabeth and

Jessica were in court to hear the verdict.

- [beep] - Hello?

- Who's there? - Is Bea there?

- This is Thomas. - Who is it?

- Thomas, we... - No, Bea is out with her mom.

OK, then I'll try again tomorrow.

- OK, bye. - Yeah, bye.

You must know this road well.

Yeah, every week for a year.

Up to Siena on Thursday and back on Saturday.

Crazy Italian legal system totally fucked up our lives.

You were covering the story from the beginning?

Yeah, pretty much.

I was due to go to Modena to test drive a Maserati,

When Anse, the Italian wire service said that an

English student had been murdered in Siena.

So, I decided to go take a look.

I knew an Italian journalist based there for

"Corriere Della Sera": Roberto Feluci.

- [speaking Italian]

Look, it's Maria Argento, head of the local homicide.

That's polizia, not carabinieri?

I know. Carabinieri are furious.

We're getting bits and pieces of information but we do know

that the victim's name is Elizabeth Pryce.

A young student has been found brutally murdered.

She was found dead in the bedroom of her house

that you can see just behind me down there.

It is not exactly clear how she was killed.

Police have contacted the girl's family, who are heartbroken.

Worst part is, I bumped into them later that day.

I'm tired...

Hi, excuse me, I'm a journalist from Newsweek.

You were Elizabeth's roommate, right?

- That's right. - Oh, it must be terrible.

It's really shocking. I'm too scared to go back in the house.

I think I put in my notes: "Uh, she's a dud.

"He looks boring." I could have had a scoop.

A world exclusive, instead I left Siena to go test the Maserati.

- The one that got away. - Exactly.

I was still in Modena when I heard that

an American woman, an Italian man and a Congolese man

had been arrested for murder. So, I turned around, went straight back.

- [indistinct chatter] - Hi, can I talk to you?

Have you spoken with your daughter?

At this point, none of us knew the names of the arrested.

OK, listen up everybody.

in the uh, Elizabeth Pryce memorial sweepstake

the runners and riders are Jessica Fuller,

Carlo Elias, and uh, Cedric Bapupa. - How do you know this stuff?

Sometimes you gotta leave the cafeé, mate. Even in the rain.

OK, got it, Jessica Fuller, 21, from Baltimore.

Carlo Elias, 25, likes knives.

It's like a public confession.

- Yeah, or a suicide note. - Who's Cedric Bapupa?

He runs the bar where Jessica works. Bar Rumba.

I get scuppered even in my own town.

Yes, you do, you get scuppered.

When I see your meat-cleaver, I raise you a gun.

And a YouTube link. She's pretty.

"You put this on YouTube you motherfucker,

"I'm going to kill you, OK?" - Now, they were unlucky.

The families tried to erase the Internet info but it was too late.

all their dirty laundry was hung out to dry.

We have an appointment with the public prosecutor.

- Doctor Baldini is ready to see you. - Thank you.

Thomas just wanted to meet, and um, get your

take on what happened.

Of course.

I'm asked many times.

- When did you hear about the killing? - A phone call.

There wasn't much information. Just the address of the house.

Murder. The first people to arrive were the postal police.

The burglary was forced.

Glass on top of the disturbed clothing.

Wrong way around.

Most importantly, the body.

It was covered by a duvet.

At that moment, I could feel it.

Only a woman would cover a body when it is already dead.

The following day I asked Jessica to show me around

the apartment. She was very calm and collected.

When we turn to the kitchen, I asked her to

look in the drawer and tell me if there were any

knives missing.

She became hysterical.

That is when we started to tap the phones of Jessica and Carlo.

At 23:00, my father called me at home.

Jessica wasn't there.

We knew Carlo was lying.

He switched off his phone at 8:45 that night.

So had Jessica.

They turned their phones on at six o'clock the next morning.

He had no phone call from his father.

I was on the net until Jessica came back.

What time was that?

About 1.00 am.

We checked his computer.

He hadn't even surfed the net.

They hadn't thought through their alibis.

Jessica said she was going to the bar where she worked.

I had a joint, then ate dinner.

I don't remember what.

Carlo and I went back to his apartment.

We watched a DVD together.

"Amelie."

And then we had dinner.

Together?

Yes.

Then we made love.

Did you make love?

I don't remember.

You had a message on your phone from Cedric Bapupa.

You replied: "See you later."

- Did you see him? - No.

Why did you say, "See you later"?

I was just being friendly.

If they were guilty, wouldn't they have worked out what to say?

People do not behave rationally in cases like this.

- So she panicked and accused Bapupa. - Exactly.

I met Cedric and took him back to our house

because he liked Elizabeth and wanted to start

something with her.

Cedric and her were in Lizzie's bedroom

while I must've stayed in the kitchen.

At a certain point, I heard Lizzie screaming.

I was frightened of him.

I got scared, and put my hands over my ears.

I can't remember anything else.

[knocking on door]

What's happening?

Let go of me! What's happening?

Let go of me!

And why would she accuse someone who's innocent?

Who knows?

Maybe she knew a black guy had been involved somehow,

thought uh, accusing a different black man,

might confuse us.

At 20:50, Elizabeth returns home.

At 23:20, Jessica, Carlo and Joseph arrive.

Joseph goes to the toilet.

The two accused enter Elizabeth's bedroom.

There's an argument,

which quickly turns in to a scuffle between Elizabeth and Jessica.

Helped by Carlo,

Elizabeth is grabbed by the neck and slammed against the wardrobe,

hence the injuries to the skull.

Elizabeth tries to get up.

It's then that they pull out two knives.

One is a blade of four to five centimetres,

the other a kitchen knife.

The victim tries to parry the knives, hence the wounds.

She falls to her knees.

She is stabbed in the neck.

She lets out a heartrending scream.

It's now 23:50.

- Hey, darling. - Joey.

Joe, this is, um, Thomas.

Thomas, this is Joe Reed, currently head of...

Uh, this week, the Daily Mail and Sky.

- Are you the film guy? - Yeah.

Who's gonna play me?

Ha, I bet everyone else says that.

- You're the first. - Oh, great.

- I'm thinking Colin Farrell? - He's Irish.

He's also really good looking, sensitive.

This is perfect, change the accent, keep the face.

I'll bear him in mind.

Sure, listen, I love your wife's TV show, by the way.

She's not my wife. She's my ex-partner.

Yeah, it must have been very difficult when you separated.

Especially because she moved in with her on-screen husband.

Now, would you be interested in talking about that?

We could put across your point of view.

The difficulty of having your private life picked

over by the gossip industry...? - Joe, come on.

- No, I wouldn't. - Worth a try.

- Uh, will you eat later? - Sure.

- Usual place? - Yes.

Uh-huh.

Sorry.

Hey, hi.

[ringing]

- Hey, hi, Bea. - Hey!

- How are you? - Good.

- Where are you? - In Italy.

When are you coming home?

- Uh, London home? - No, your home.

- Here home. - Um, soon.

- In a few weeks. - 'Kay.

- I miss you! [kiss noise] - [kiss noise]

Missing you too. What you up to?

Bea, come on, we're gonna be late.

OK, coming! Well, I gotta go, daddy.

Oh. OK, I'll call you tomorrow, OK?

Bea?

Bea?

- Hey. - Hi, Sarah.

- How are you? - This is Sarah.

Right, she's a producer for the U.S. networks.

She has a special fondness for Siena.

Not. I spent so much time here my marriage went down the pan.

Just another casualty of war reporting.

It's not really a war though.

No, it kinda feels like it though.

There's all this competitive flag waving.

It's like, "they're innocent" or "they're guilty"

and you can't be neutral.

- What do you think? - I work for the networks.

We pay for Jessica's family to be here.

So, they have spent an absolute fortune on the

flights, hotels, lawyers, and we get exclusive

interviews in return.

- So, she's innocent. - [indistinct chatter]

Of course, she is innocent.

No, look, they have the guy banged up.

- Joseph, OK? - Wrong guy.

He had a criminal record.

He had threatened somebody with a knife.

OK, so why did they accuse Cedric Bapupa?

Uh, why did they switch the phone off?

Why did she say she was there and heard screams?

And why sign a confession?

And uh, the blond hair that they found on the body.

Which they lost.

When the police showed up at the house,

she and Carlo had a mop and bucket.

Yeah, been out at seven o'clock in the morning

buying bleach... - [laughing]

What were they cleaning up?

Why was she doing yoga in the police waiting room?

Sitting there on Carlo's lap, like some...

Listen, the police and the prosecutors,

they condemned the wrong people in the wrong order.

- And the press all piled in after. - That's what we do.

At the end of the day, she said she was there,

in the house, on the night.

- Guilty. Game over. - Exactly.

Why would they do it? What's the motive?

- You need a reason. - But it's not a film, ok?

It's not a Miss Marple mystery.

Why does no one ever want to make a story about Carlo?

[collective sigh]

What will happen tomorrow with the appeal?

Oh, it'll be adjourned.

Yeah, we'll get our pictures and then we'll go.

This is just a really good excuse to catch up on all

the gossip. - [laughing]

- How's your husband? - The last I heard...

Is he still chasing small boys in Morocco, or...?

Fucking your wife actually. Someone has to.

[laughing]

[melancholy strings music] >)

Good evening.

[elevator beeping]

- Well. - Well...

- Guess it's goodnight. - Guess so.

[indistinct chatter]

[sirens wailing]

[indistinct chatter]

You OK? You need your pass.

Thank you.

Wow, she changed her style.

They're not gonna make the same mistake twice, are they?

How're you feeling today, Jessica?

I'm going to call that demure.

Print journalists can stay, but all TV cameras must leave.

Simone, how did Jessica strike you today?

Her hair was darker than it was the last time we saw her.

She was wearing a very demure skirt.

She seemed older, more composed.

Her Italian improved a lot.

And what can we expect next from the case?

The case has been adjourned, but,

the appellate process can take many months.

Hey.

Coffee.

- Hey. - Hey.

So, does it all make sense?

Not yet. Too many angles.

Jessica is innocent.

That is your story.

Uh, this is Francesco.

He's Joseph's lawyer. This is Thomas.

He's making a film about Jessica.

Not about Jessica, about the case.

You should make Joseph your protagonist.

His is the best story of all, and it tells you

a lot about Italy. About the world.

Go on.

Police knew there was someone else in the flat.

Someone had a shit in the toilet, and left it there.

So they arrested Cedric Bapupa, then he got lucky.

He had a cast iron alibi.

So the police start checking their database.

They found that the shit belonged to Joseph Derma.

A young guy, who'd been adopted by a family in Siena.

He was definitely involved?

He was definitely in the apartment, we don't dispute that.

Couple of days later, Joseph went to Munich. He left Siena.

The police got a friend to contact him. Skype.

Were you there when she was killed?

Listen, Matteo, I knew those girls.

I knew both of them.

I was at their house twice, but I didn't do anything.

If they found my fingerprints, it must have been from when I was there before.

And Jessica?

Jessica wasn't there.

So you see? Jessica had nothing to do with it.

It was perfect for the police.

They just swapped one black man for another.

Oh come on, you know he's guilty.

There's no point playing the race card.

Joseph went for a separate trial. I believe what he said.

And he was the only one who seemed genuinely sad

by Elizabeth's death.

I went to the bathroom.

I heard voices.

It was Jessica and Elizabeth fighting about some money.

I heard a scream and someone running away.

They said, "Let's get out, there's a black man in the house!"

I was scared.

I looked out the window and saw Jessica's shadow.

I went to Elizabeth and tried to stop the blood with a towel.

She'd been stabbed in the neck.

I was afraid.

I'm sorry.

I should have called for help.

Even now, when I close my eyes,

all I can see is the blood everywhere.

Very good, thank you, Joseph.

[melancholy music] >)

[heavy breathing]

[screaming]

[both laughing]

Thomas, lovely, lovely, lovely to meet you finally.

- Hey, Adam. nice to meet you. - Hi.

- Hi. - Hi.

So, we are all very excited about this.

We're absolutely thrilled that you're on board.

Well done Steve, for dragging him back from Hollywood.

Pleasure.

This will be the first time that you guys have worked together...?

- Uh, since uh, the last time. [laughing]

- So um, what happened with your CIA in Central

America project?

First i got the stars and no money, and then I got

the money but lost the stars.

Ah, such a shame. I loved that script.

Thomas, tell us, how was... how was Italy?

- Interesting. - This is a great, great story.

- It's gonna be wonderful. - Siena is beautiful.

It's an amazing city.

You should almost be a, a character in the film.

We have a clash of cultures, American, Italian, British...

... and two great parts for young women.

- Do you have any thoughts... - Uh, it's fortunately,

we are now blessed with a whole ream

of fantastic young actresses. - Carey Mulligan would be good.

Yeah, she's very beautiful in her acting...

Well, uh, I... I think I have to work out the story

before we start casting.

- Yeah. - Yep.

Have you worked out what your angle is going to be?

Not really.

I was thinking maybe Simone herself. A journalist.

Might be the right way to the story.

- What's she like? - Interesting.

Intelligent. Attractive.

- How old is she? - Mid-thirties.

I think that whole world of foreign correspondence

could be rich for us.

Sort of an exile.

- Naomi Watts? - Chloe Sevigny maybe?

- Or Tina Fey? - [laughing]

I love Tina Fey, she's...

They just need a sense of how you see the story.

- Sure, OK.

You gonna work on the script here or in LA?

Here, Italy. Not in LA. Can't concentrate.

Everybody knows Catherine, or knows someone

who knows Catherine. Some fucking party or other.

And there's all that shit with Timothy.

Custody issues and... [sigh]

I hate this fucking prick.

Did you really threaten to kill him?

It makes me sick to think of Bea growing up with him

in that house.

Another drink?

- Can I get two more, please? - Same again?

Yeah, that'd be great, thanks man.

Course.

I was thinking of flying back to Italy for Halloween.

Shoot some documentary stuff.

Won't cost that much. - Yeah, it's a good idea, go for it.

[Joy Division: "Atmosphere"] >)

> Db [indistinct chatter]

- Is it in focus? - No, it's not in focus.

Pan with her.

[speaking Italian]

OK if we film you?

Uh, yeah sure.

We should go back to Piazza Del Campo now.

- It will be busier there. - Well you know what we need.

- Go ahead, I'll catch up. - OK.

- Yep. - I got it. Here.

Happy Halloween.

Can I get a drink?

Yeah, of course.

It's what I'm here for.

We have a special on Zombies tonight.

- I'll try one. - Good, good.

- Where you from? - Uh, I'm from London, actually.

- Oh, really? - Wandsworth.

- Oh, wow. Know it. - Really?

Yeah, i lived in London for six years.

Oh, no way! So, what are you filming?

Did you hear about the Jessica Fuller case?

Yeah, course. Is it another documentary?

- Yeah. - Are you the director?

- Yes, I am. - No way.

Do you live in Siena?

Uh, I've been here about six months. It's lovely.

Do you need any actresses by any chance?

Um no, not yet. But a guide. I want to see the real Siena.

Do you work here every night?

Most nights, not always.

I can give you my number, if that helps?

- Yeah, sure. - Cool.

- Call me if you need me. - Sure.

- What's your name? - Uh, I'm Melanie.

Thomas.

Nice to meet you, Thomas.

- How are you? - Good.

Hey. How'd it go?

Wasn't quite the Sodom and Gomorrah your book

made it out to be.

Oh, it's still early.

You gotta give the town a chance.

Did you get to the red zone?

Ah, the crew were only booked until midnight.

That doesn't go on until 1:00 am. so...

Let's go anyway.

I want to see Siena at its worst.

[dramatic music] >)

[drunk people screaming]

It's left here.

Simone.

What's the matter?

Are you scared to see me after what you wrote?

This is Thomas.

- Hello. - I know who he is.

You want to be careful with this one.

She seemed so nice when you meet her.

Then when she writes, she turns into a real bitch.

Come and have a drink.

We're on our way to the red zone.

Come on, that's for shitty students.

You are not students, are you?

Not for a long time.

In a murder, the dead body tells you a lot.

I saw Elizabeth's body, in the morgue.

How?

I visit the morgue often.

I have a cousin.

It's important to look death in the face if you

want to understand life.

That's why there are so many murder stories.

Every news program is full of killings, so many films.

Death is the end of everyone's story.

The only thing we share, now we no longer believe in God.

And so we have become obsessed with killings.

Real killings, fictional killings, but from the

safety of our homes, where the only issue is,

who done it?

Not what it means.

When we see it on TV and not in the flesh.

In the flesh, when a friend dies,

we don't even want to see the body.

So what did the body tell you?

That Jessica didn't do it.

So why is she on trial?

Police here are the worst.

Corrupt, incompetent, everyone is corrupt here,

but, she didn't kill her.

I know her. We have talked.

She is intelligent.

Not like most of the students here.

The students I teach are idiots.

Not Jessica. She has true understanding.

So you think it was one of the others?

Carlo had a collection of knives, OK?

Elizabeth was killed with more than one knife.

But the police never found them.

Because they are fools.

I know where they are.

So why don't you just give them to the police, Eduardo?

They will try to frame me.

And they have already arrested me before.

They broke my finger.

I would be an easy target, like Cedric.

- A scapegoat. - Come on.

No one likes me because I write the truth.

I tell the world how stupid they are.

Have you already talked to Cedric?

- No. - Why?

Are you hiding people from him, or don't you know

as much as you pretend?

Cedric Bapupa is a friend of mine.

If you want to meet him, I can set it up.

Yeah, for a price.

Always a price for everything.

Do you think you are the only one allowed to make

money from this story?

And not a guy whose life was ruined by it?

- Quite a character. - Hmm, yeah.

His blog had stuff on it that nobody else knew.

We all had to read it every day to keep up to speed.

He has the time and he knows everybody,

and he also has money.

He rents out rooms all over the city.

Really cheap. Almost squats.

And they say he deals drugs on the side.

- Handy man to know. - Yeah.

Sometimes I think he might actually be the killer.

We were covering the trials, somebody decided

that Joe and I were having an affair.

And they put it on the Internet.

It was just an easy way of attacking somebody who

wasn't on Jessica's side, but, I think it was Eduardo.

It wasn't true, but, I had to tell my husband.

We're separated now.

[birds chirping]

"The man who lies asleep will never waken fame,

"and his desire and all his life drift past him like a

"dream, and the traces of his memory fade from time

"like smoke in air, or ripples on a stream."

Hi.

- Hey. - Hey.

This seat taken?

- Pretty view. - Yeah.

- What's this? - Oh, bit of light reading.

Calls itself a comedy, but not that many laughs.

Are you in heaven or hell?

Inferno.

I have to go back to Rome.

I have the kids this weekend.

Lucky you.

OK, have a good one.

- Bye. - Bye.

[dramatic music] >)

>) [heavy breathing]

>) [birds chirping]

- Hey. It's me, Thomas. - Hey, Thomas!

I'm in your bar, but you're not here.

I'm at a party. Not much of a party, but...

Do you wanna come?

I thought it wasn't any good.

It's your typical student party, so...

- Then I have to come. - OK, great!

- For research. - [both laughing]

Good.

- Hey. - Hey.

Mr. Director.

- You can call me Thomas. - Course.

So, I heard this is your comeback film.

Hope so. How do you know?

I looked you up on "Siena's Burning".

- Do you know the blog? - Yeah.

Don't believe everything you read.

Course. Only the good things.

Here it is. Come on.

[dance music] >)

[indistinct chatter] >)

- This is Thomas. - Hi.

Thomas, everyone. Everyone, Thomas.

Hey.

- Do you have a lighter? - Yeah.

Hey.

What are you doing here?

- Come with me. - I'm tired.

Come.

How can you make a movie about the murder if you

haven't even seen where the killing happened?

Listen, it's late.

No time like the present.

Strike while the iron's hot.

Don't you know your English sayings?

[dramatic music] >)

This is the window they entered.

[glass shattering]

Don't throw stones if you live in glass houses.

[dog barking]

[glass breaking]

Come on, it's empty!

If you were here that night, you could have saved her.

That's what everyone dreams.

This is Elizabeth's room.

She was found by the wardrobe.

Look what they didn't find.

This is the knife that killed her.

But the police never even looked under the wardrobe.

They didn't even look under the fucking wardrobe.

[screaming]

[club music] >)

[puking]

- You alright? - Yeah.

I'm sorry.

That's my after work one.

I always go better with the dob.

- Let me take you home. - It's alright.

Come on, it's like a maze out there.

What are you studying here?

Italian literature, culture, and cinema.

- Oh. - It's very serious.

It's a whole four hours every morning.

I mean, it's... it's an excuse to be honest.

An excuse to be here and have fun for a year.

It's a pretty good one.

- Aren't you having fun? - Yeah.

- I always have fun. - Even at work?

Yeah.

I mean, come on, I do make a mean mojito.

Do you?

Put a bit too much rum in, and watch everyone get drunk.

drunk.

It's good for tips, too.

Here we are.

Delivered back to your hotel safe and sound, as I promised.

Thank you.

- Alright, auf wiedersehen. - Auf wiedersehen.

[uplifting orchestral music] >)

You may follow me, and I will guide you,

and lead you from here.

But if you want to see the blessed, then the spirit

worthier than I must lead you.

[dramatic music] >)

Abandon hope, all ye who enter here.

[indistinct chatter]

- How's Bea? - She's good.

And Catherine, I saw she was nominated for an Emmy.

Very impressive.

Must be hard, seeing her face everywhere...

Can we talk about something else?

[sigh]

You guys were so good together...

Please, come on.

How come we're not talking about The Face Of An Angel?

- How's it going? - [laughing]

Everyone is asking me about the script.

Have you worked out who did it?

- It's not a whodunnit. - Just teasing.

Carlo and Jessica and Joseph did it.

That's why they're in prison.

For now. There are so many angles.

How to organise it in a meaningful way.

It's important that it's a story based on truth.

But I want to do something that transcends them.

Which is not just a simple reconstruction.

Thank you. Carry on.

I was trying to see if it's possible to use the shape of

Dante's Divine Comedy as the shape of the film.

After all, it's a three act structure.

Hell, purgatory, heaven.

Happy ending.

It's perfect really.

Are you being serious?

Dante was in love with a beautiful Beatrice,

and then she died.

Heartbroken, he goes in search of her, but he also

goes in search of a meaning to life, and death.

Listen, Caroline's commissioned you to make a

true crime thriller.

Are you really saying you're trying to write a

medieval morality tale?

No-no-no. It would be modern. And it would deal with the case.

It would just follow the shape of the poem, because

the story, the real story is too hard.

It's too brutal.

The poem is really a dream - a nightmare.

Dante is a man in the middle of his life who

lost his way.

Straight off the narrow path, and finds himself

back in a deep, black forest.

You know, lots of the stuff in the poem is

actually classic horror movie stuff.

The return of the repressed.

They want to make a film about two teenagers and a

murder that can't be solved. - I know.

And now you want to give them a script about a

middle-aged man who's lost his way.

- How much have you written? - Not much.

Good, then you haven't wasted too much time.

Thomas, you're too young to have a mid-life crisis.

It's been four years.

They really want this film.

Give them something they can make.

Please.

Yeah.

[dramatic music] >)

[indistinct chatter]

Exterior: Tuscan countryside. Day.

Jessica is sitting on a train.

She's outgoing, confident, attractive.

Elizabeth makes the same journey.

Jessica arrives first.

Elizabeth a few days later.

She's quieter, calm, thoughtful.

They both find a room in a house on the edge of the

medieval town.

They're both full of hope and excitement

for the year ahead.

[sighs]

How's the script going?

Not.

Missing your daughter?

Well I'm seeing her now, but I'll be back in a

moment, sir.

OK. OK, Bobby.

- Ciao. - Ciao.

- Hey. - Hi.

I thought you might like this.

It's one of my articles.

Thank you.

Strange, when I think of a "face of an angel"

I always think of Elizabeth. But you all mean Jessica.

Yeah, we all use that line for Jessica.

Jessica is like a film star. Blank canvas.

Someone we project our fantasies on to.

She's the story.

Guilty or not, that's all anyone wants to read.

It's sad that Elizabeth just disappeared.

Oh look at that, he's got Jessica's diaries there.

There's some flawless journalism right there.

Joe's very proud of his scoop.

You know the police played a dirty trick on her when she was in jail?

They told her that she had tested positive for HIV so

she had to write a list of everyone she had ever slept with.

- It's in there. - How much did you pay for it?

These diaries, they're not even that big a deal.

It's one of the things that I used to

articulate a story about her.

So, for example, she says that she wants to

visit a sex shop. - Uh, please.

Uh, she writes a letter to her boyfriend saying

she wants to watch a porn film and then

practice with him. She emailed her friends.

She had sex with this random guy that she

met on a train in Italy... - So?

She had a vibrator in the bathroom she shared

with Elizabeth. It became part of the trial.

[everyone] "It was only this big!"

I remember the famous kiss outside the house.

That kiss put them in prison.

Oh, she went underwear shopping the night after the murder.

I don't know if that makes her a killer.

Well, people love it. I mean, sex and murder sells.

Is that everything you're interested in?

Yeah, because it's how I make a living.

And you know what, guess what? It's how you make a living now too.

She wrote a fantasy story about rape.

I'm writing a script about a murder.

Does that make me a murderer?

No, her character was part of the trial.

That's what the jury was asked to judge.

So, if she would have been a better actor, if she had

behaved well, and cried,

she would have been found innocent?

- Sure. - Probably.

Now, she's dressing all prim and proper and it's

likely to get off. - Of course.

- Yeah. - Right.

So, if that's all true, don't you worry a little

bit that all this stuff you make up could make a fair trial harder?

Alright, so listen, mate, we don't actually

make stuff up, OK? - OK.

You write what sells. Sex sells.

You see the diaries and make her look like a nymphomaniac.

Yeah, because that's what she wrote.

Come on, you can make anyone look bad if you want to.

I daresay, even you would look like a shit if people

would go through your private life.

Alright, well listen, I'm a tabloid journalist.

Everyone thinks I'm a shit anyway.

- Fucking said it. - Oh.

- Excuse me. - Oh.

- Well, he still has my diary then. - Bravo, Joe.

- He didn't want my paper. - Well, he's got taste.

[dramatic music] >)

I don't want to die.

I want to get married and have children.

I want to create something good.

I want to get old.

I want my time.

I want my life.

I don't know where I could have got HIV from.

[upbeat music] >)

- Hey. - Hi, stranger, long time no see.

- I was back in London. - Nice. What can I get you?

- Whiskey coke. - Cool.

I was wondering, could you do me a favor?

Of course.

Do you know where, 1 could buy some stuff?

Weed?

Yeah, but some other stuff too.

Remember what happened last time?

- Thanks, I do. - Is that what you want?

- I'm not a dealer. - I know.

I just thought you might be able to help a friend.

That's better.

Give me your phone.

That's the number.

Be careful.

Promise.

[bell ringing]

Hi, it's me, Thomas. Are you here?

I'm here, where are you?

I'm here. OK, I see you.

So, you're a friend of Melanie?

Yeah.

[knocking on door]

- Hey. - Hey.

- You wanna come in? - Sure.

- Want a drink? - Um, no I'm good.

- Uh, I have something for you. - What is it?

It's the scene of crime video.

The appeal's gonna be all about the forensics, so

you really need to see that if you know

what's going on.

- Joe was upset about earlier. - Good.

You know, he's good at what he does.

He gets a hold of stuff no-one else does

and finds a way to tell a story.

He's not as bad as he likes to pretend to be.

Are you sleeping with him?

- Not tonight. - Do you still sleep with him?

Are you jealous?

[dramatic music] >)

>) [heavy breathing]

Hey.

- Hey. - [clears throat]

Sorry, New York wants me to change the article.

They need it in two hours.

Another fashion report?

Jesus, lighten up.

Does it never bother you?

All this shit you have to write?

I'm not writing a fashion report.

I'm writing about a murder.

- Somebody was killed. - You trivialise it.

People want to hear about this story.

It's not up to us to decide what people should and shouldn't know.

We just write what happened and then they

decide whether they want to read it or not.

That's not true.

Well, would it be better if we didn't cover trials at all?

People had no idea what went on in court?

People had no idea what went on during a police investigation?

That's what happens in a police state.

Then tell the truth, don't make up the sexist...

I do tell the truth, you asshole.

God, come back Joe.

At least he doesn't lecture me after we fucked.

You know what, you should watch this, before you get

high and mighty with everybody.

That's the sad and bitter truth.

[dramatic music] >)

- There is a hair here. - Where?

Here, by the vagina.

- This is your hand here, yes? - Yes.

And is that your charming bracelet?

Just outside the fold of the glove?

- Yes. - Now, look here.

You can see the same fold of the glove around the bracelet.

You accept this is the same glove?

Yes.

So you didn't change gloves at all, did you?

The bra clasp was found in this position in the first investigation.

46 days later,

we see its position has moved by one metre.

DNA is not like hair or pollen.

It stays within a cell and remains in place.

DNA cannot fly.

You are nurturing, playful, and easy-going.

You often put others needs before your own, or your

decisions are guided by your feelings.

At heart, you're pragmatic, and self-possessed.

- Enjoy your meal. - Thank you.

Thomas, how's the appeal going?

- Yeah, quite right. - [laughing]

No, no, no, no. no. Right thing to do.

I'll shut up. Give him a minute. Go ahead, go ahead, go ahead.

Slow.

- Do you think they're gonna win? - No idea.

Must be difficult not knowing the ending.

I don't think it matters for our film.

We imagine that the courts or the police will find the truth.

My idea is that it's impossible to know.

The trial is like an episode of X Factor.

If they like your face, you win.

The system in Italy's different.

Which makes it easier to see it's arbitrary.

But in this case the evidence is so contradictory,

we'll never know what happened.

If they killed her, it doesn't make sense.

If they didn't kill her, it doesn't make sense either.

So it boils down to, do we want to see these people

going to prison for twenty years?

But in the film we're gonna have to decide,

did they do it, how did they do it, or how else

are we gonna tell the story?

I don't think that's the story.

The story is that there is no such thing as real

truth or justice.

It's just a popularity contest.

Well, that's not a film.

I think it can be.

Well, you're gonna have to show the two girls,

who they are, their relationship.

I mean, what happened that night, why did it happen?

All of that would be fake!

It would be just my version of what might have happened.

It's more honest to say, I don't know what happened.

It's like a, a detective story in a world without God.

or a puzzle without solution.

Hmmm. Would people want to do puzzles without solutions?

Why not?

It's more truthful than all these easy answers.

Well, it sounds incredibly ambitious, which is what we wanted.

If you want any help looking at pages,

the opening or... I'm happy to help.

- Thanks. - Great editor.

- Seriously, no, honestly. - Thanks very much.

Top twenty five under twenty five.

[dramatic music] - What time is it?

It's four-something. What time is it there?

It's late, after midnight.

Oh wow, that's pretty late.

You must be really tired, huh?

I can't sleep.

Are you OK, daddy?

Listen,

I've gotta call you tomorrow, OK?

'Kay.

- Bye. - Bye.

No sadness is greater than in misery

to rehearse memories of joy.

[dramatic orchestral music] ♪ ♪

- Welcome back Mr. Lang. - Thank you.

How long are you staying for?

[bells ringing]

No, it's nice. It's definitely nice.

Um, I've gotta go.

- Bye. - Bye guys.

- Hey. - Hey.

Strange, seeing you in the daylight.

Why, do I look different?

- Even more beautiful. - Thank you.

I like a bit of old fashioned courtesy.

Hey, Eduardo.

Hi.

My friend Thomas is looking for a place to stay.

I told him I knew someone who could help.

Sit down.

I'm too old for a student accommodation.

Well I have lots of places, and the best addresses.

Really?

Did Simone tell you something different?

Be careful with her.

If you believe everything she says, you will never

know the truth.

Do you read my blog?

No.

You should.

I say some very kind things about you.

- Didn't I, Melanie? - Yeah.

- Do you wanna drink? - No, thank you.

This was my uncle's house.

He was a doctor.

This is a perfect place for writing.

Full of atmosphere.

I'll take it.

How much?

Money we talk later.

First, I want you to read my script.

I have been watching your old movies, and I like the naivety.

I'm having a small gathering of friends tonight.

I'll come to collect you, OK?

[phone ringing]

"Then I saw a serpent with six feet dart forth

"in front of a man. With middle feet it bound him

"round the paunch.

"and with the forward ones...

- [female laughing] - "his arms it seized."

"Already the two heads had one become."

[woman screaming]

[banging]

[woman screaming] [banging]

[dramatic music] >)

[glass breaking] [woman screaming]

[screaming]

- Come on, we are late.

You know the way's hard.

No one gets anywhere by lying in bed.

You have to work.

Work even when you don't know why.

Where are we going?

Where the thieves are.

Who are you?

Thomas Lang.

[hissing]

[growling]

[phone ringing]

Yeah?

Hey Thomas. Where are you?

I'm in my flat.

[dramatic music] >)

- Hey. - Hey.

- You good? - Yeah.

Where are we going?

- To see Eduardo. - Oh.

I really think you should be making a love story.

All the best movies are love stories.

"Romeo & Juliet", "Casablanca", "Annie Hall", "Beauty & The Beast"...

- Ciao. - Hi.

- How are you? - Good.

- Hello, Thomas. - Hey.

What's the matter?

Why you always seem so scared?

What is it you're scared of?

Maybe having to make another movie.

In case it's another failure.

Come on.

Ignore him, it's alright.

Don't worry, I know the people who live here.

- I own the house. - I'll wait here.

See you in a minute.

The reason my script is good

is that I know what happened.

Art has to provide the answer to the questions

that life asks.

I know you don't agree with me, but you are wrong.

There is the truth, and there is the rest.

The killing happened here.

I was watching there.

I saw it with my own eyes.

What happened?

Joseph was in love with Elizabeth.

He wanted her.

But she didn't want him.

So he killed her.

Like Othello.

Like this.

[club music] >)

Sorry, it's so noisy.

Come with me.

See you in a bit.

See you.

I have decided, you can read my script.

But you can't take it away with you.

I don't trust anybody with my story.

You have one hour, that's all.

[bell ringing]

[bell ringing]

- Hi. - Hey.

- Can I come in? - Sure.

- You like terrible. - Do I?

Where did you go last night?

I was getting worried about you.

Eduardo freaked me out.

It's so dark in here.

No wonder you're depressed.

That's better.

I have something that might cheer you up.

You're gonna like it.

- "La vita nuova". - Thank you.

Dante describes how he falls in love with Beatrice.

Beatrice.

And then how she dies.

For a moment he toys with the idea of loving someone else,

but he'll never love anyone like Beatrice.

It's so romantic.

All those circles of Hell in the Divine Comedy,

it's boring.

Everyone getting punished for no reason?

That is a book of love.

Hopefully that will make you happy.

I'm late for class. I've gotta go. Are you gonna be OK?

- Mm-hmm. - Promise?

- Yeah. - Good.

I just want you to be happy.

I'll see you later.

Bye.

[melancholy music] >)

"It was exactly the ninth hour of the day when

"she gave me her sweet greeting.

"TI was filled with such joy that I had to withdraw

"from the sight of others and return to the

"loneliness of my room.

"As she walked down the street, she turned her

"eyes towards me, where I stood in fear and trembling."

How reliable are the Trace B samples, in your expert opinion?

With Trace B on the blade of the knife,

we find that the technical analyses performed are not reliable.

Due to mishandling of the crime scene, contamination cannot be ruled out.

Contamination could also have occurred in some phase of the analysis,

as current international standards weren't met.

- I need your help. - With the film?

With Eduardo.

No... well you should steer clear of him.

Maybe you were right. Maybe he was involved in the killing.

- OK, stop. - No, listen, listen, listen.

I think he was there. He took me to the house.

He's got knives. He saw the killing.

He talks a bunch of shit, he's messing with

your head... - No, I've got to steal the knives.

- I need you to help. - No.

Not with stealing them. I need you to get them to Rome, to a lab.

Test them for DNA. - No.

I'll bring them to you in the morning.

Let go of me.

Hello, Thomas.

This is Thomas. He's a director.

I'm sorry I couldn't finish your script last time.

- Yeah, why? You disappeared. - I felt sick.

Can I finish it?

OK.

You'll get another chance.

But then you must tell me that you want to make it.

One hour, OK?

[lock turning]

Shit.

[dramatic music] >)

[grunting]

[thump] [grunting]

See your heart.

- Did you come to my flat last night? - Yeah, but you weren't there.

Did you take the knives from my bed?

No, what knives?

Thomas! Thomas!

Thomas!

What the fuck are you doing here?

I wanted to know if you read my script.

I didn't read your fucking script.

Then you won't even know what happened.

Get out of here!

Have you been looking for this, hmm?

Did you think you had stumbled on the truth?

You're an idiot.

These are film props.

I photographed them for my blog.

And you should read it. You wouldn't be so ignorant.

- Where are the knives? - Huh? What knives?

Where are the real knives?

[groaning]

Hands off!

Call the police.

[phone ringing]

You really have come off the rails, haven't you?

They're letting you go.

Let's get out of here.

You're lucky.

Eduardo's not gonna press charges.

Says you need a doctor, not a prison cell.

Looks like you hit him pretty hard.

Good.

I'm going back to Rome tomorrow.

Stefano, Elizabeth's boyfriend's willing to talk.

It's his first interview.

- You should come with me. - Yep.

I have to get back to work.

Get some rest, or something, OK?

- Thank you. - Yeah.

[melancholy music] >)

[bird whistle blowing] >)

Have you written anything yet?

- Yeah. - Really?

Been thinking of taking your advice.

Making the film fictional.

Setting it in Florence is a tribute to Dante.

Florence was the earthly paradise he lost.

Must be nice to have had an earthly paradise,

even if you lose it.

I don't wanna make a film about, fear, or death

or killing.

I want to make a film about love.

- Yes? - Simone Ford from The Daily Beast.

Can I offer you something? Coffee, water?

No, thank you, we're fine.

I lived in the flat below the girls.

I met Elizabeth at the beginning of the term.

She came down in our flat sometimes with Ana.

We would hang out together, smoke a little weed.

Mmm.

In court, it was made very simple.

That um, Jessica was the bad girl and Elizabeth was

a good girl.

She was just normal.

She liked parties.

She liked having fun.

She like making love.

She was beautiful.

I didn't know her for very long,

but, I still think of her.

I will always think of her.

[dramatic music] >)

Ah, shit, I'm late.

I'm gonna have to pick up the kids on the way, OK?

Sure.

Hey you guys, I'm sorry I'm late.

- Again? - The traffic was really bad.

- Andrew, Will, this is Thomas. - Hey.

- How was your day? Good? - Good.

Yeah? What'd ya do?

Nothing much.

OK, very good. One moment. He'll be there soon.

Your taxi's here.

Thanks for looking after me.

No problem.

Bye.

You talk to Catherine recently?

- No. - You should.

Bea is yours and hers.

That's how it is.

- Bye. - Bye.

Take care.

Exterior. Siena. Night.

The sounds of students partying drifts up from

the streets below.

Elizabeth hangs out with her boyfriend, Stefano.

Sometimes Jessica and Carlo are there.

They smoke weed, drink beers, go to parties.

They're typical students.

Elizabeth loves art, music, literature.

She visits the cathedral, the galleries, the libraries.

Siena is everything she hoped it would be.

She's happy. Looking forwards to the year ahead.

Back into the belly of the beast.

Yeah, let's try and avoid that.

I booked you a room in the hotel.

- Keep you in the real world. - Thanks.

Heads up, buttercup.

- Hey. - Hey.

[indistinct chatter] >)

[bell rings]

In the name of the Italian people,

the Court of Appeal confirms,

in reference to the sentence issued by the Court of the First Degree, Siena,

all defendants are acquitted

of offences A, B, C and D.

Ordering the immediate release of Jessica Fuller and Carlo Elias,

who are cleared of any other offences.

The hearing is over.

My thoughts at this moment are with the Pryce family,

who have had to wait for too long for a resolution to this case.

We are thankful that Jessica's nightmare is

finally over, and we'd like to thank the court

for searching for the truth, and for overturning

this conviction.

It's a real mess.

Shame!

Shame!

Justice has been done.

They are right to release Jessica.

One young life had been already tragically taken.

Why take another two? Based on what?

Assumption by the police and the self interest of

the press.

Thank you.

Our daughter Elizabeth has been completely forgotten.

It's... it's very hard to find any forgiveness.

We know that four years is a long time but um,

you know it's still very raw.

[Skype ringing]

Hey.

- Hi, Dad. - Hi.

- How are you? - Good.

- How are you? - I'm good.

- Is the case over? - Yeah, it is.

What happened?

They say they were innocent.

- That's good. - I suppose so.

So, does that mean you're gonna be coming home soon?

I hope so.

Is your mum there?

Yeah.

Can I talk to her?

I'll see.

Mom?

- Yes. - Hey.

- Hi. - Hey.

I thought it would be good if we talked.

Try to talk.

Yeah.

Yep.

Let's um, let's do it when you get back here

because uh, I hate speaking like this.

OK.

Yep.

Good.

- Bye. - Bye, buh-bye.

See y- [Skype disconnects]

[phone ringing]

- [dramatic music] >)

- Interior: Church. London. Day.

Elizabeth's father reads the funeral oration.

It is taken from Dante's "La vita nuova".

"The power of my sighs fills me with anguish.

"Many times, while contemplating death,

"it drains the colour from my face, and I begin to

"tremble from the pain.

"In weeping, I call out to Elizabeth:

"'Can you really be dead?"

"And just calling to her, restores my soul.

"If anyone heard me, they too would grieve.

"And what my life has been like since she left this earth,

"there is no one that can tell.

"Elizabeth has ascended into high heaven.

"Into a place, where angels live in peace."

- Have a good trip. - Yeah, we will. I'm driving.

Oh, OK.

[laughing]

- Hey. - Hey.

So it's all over.

No, there's bound to be another appeal.

This one's gonna run and run. Thank god.

Meanwhile, back to Rome, and politicians with dirty hands.

- You? - Going to Ravenna.

Sort of a pilgrimage.

OK.

Well, have fun.

Alright.

Oh, you're very welcome to carry my bag.

Bye, bye baby.

- You be careful. - Yes, I will be very careful.

Hello.

Hi!

Just getting the car.

Cool.

- Look at those mountains. - Beautiful.

I imagine you as a skier.

- Do you go skiing? - Yeah, I do.

- I'm a snowboarder. - Of course.

Why of course? What does that mean?

You look like a snowboarder.

I look like a snowboarder?

Yeah. Young, hip and cool.

Really?

[radio music]

- Do you know Jovanotti? - No.

Do you not?

[singing in italian]

[radio music]

What a dump.

No wonder Dante was homesick for Tuscany.

It's so flat.

Did you actually read it?

Yeah.

"O you who on the road of love pass by, attend

"and see if any grief there be as heavy as mine."

There are two different endings.

The original version, he ends up with a new wife.

But later he re-wrote it to stay true to Beatrice.

I prefer that ending.

'Cause you're a teenager.

I'm not a teenager, I'm an adult.

21.

But you behave like a child.

[laughing]

[church bell ringing]

It's incredible.

Dante's body is in there.

So how old is it?

Seven hundred years.

Enough Dante. Enough death.

Let's go.

[uplifting music]

- You want some? - No, it's OK.

Come on, you have to try it.

It's so good, please.

Mmm.

It's funny, I used to go to Dorset when I was younger.

My mum and dad, they always took us to a beach

and made us walk for hours.

I never wanted to go 'cause it was so freezing

and windy.

[both laughing]

They said it was good for us.

Now I love it, but then I just wanted to stay home.

Did you see them much?

Yeah, when I go back to London. They're crazy.

They drove each other mad, so they're separated now.

It's definitely better.

- What about yours? - Still together.

Amazing.

- Yep. - How long for?

- Almost fifty years. - No way.

- Yeah. - One second, wait here.

[upbeat drums music] >)

- Do you work here? - Yes.

Can I borrow two towels, please?

Thanks. Pass?

- Thank you very much. - You're welcome.

- It's a present. - No way.

Why? Come on.

Are you scared?

Come on.

Are you sure?

What do you mean, am I sure?

Don't be scared.

It's so warm.

- Is it? - It's like, oh my god!

- Come on! - Swim!

Swim like a dolphin!

Fuck you!

- You swim, you prick. - [laughing]

[hip hop music] >)

Thank you.

You're welcome.

Thank you.

Where do you live?

Does your dad work here?

Yes, he is working on the beach.

[phone ringing]

Hi, Steve.

Where are you? I've been calling you for days.

- I'm in Italy. - Still?

Yeah. Flying home tomorrow.

Well that's good 'cause, um, we need to meet.

Not London. LA.

OK, uh, listen, mate, we've... we've moved on.

Caroline insisted. They want to make the film

before it's too late and the heat's gone out of the

story, I'm sorry.

But listen, when you get back to London, let's uh,

let's talk about this face-to-face.

I won't be back for a while.

But look, I am really sorry.

Don't need to be sorry.

Good luck with it.

Thanks, mate.

- Bye. - Cheers, we'll speak soon.

[melancholy music] >)

Hi.

- How much is a single room? - 150 euros.

And how much for a double?

The same. You pay for the room.

It's fine. We'll just get one room.

It's alright, I trust you.

Can I take your credit card, please?

OK, check how many cards you've got.

- Ready? - Yeah.

Ah.

On there. On there. On there.

Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god. Oh my god, oh my god. Oh my god.

Hold on.

- Phew. - No.

- Ugh! - Yes!

Spit!

What the fuck?

- I mean it was... - [laughing]

Ah, stop it.

Spit!

One, two, three.

- Spit Spit!

Yeah but I did this one, it's mine.

- No? - Why didn't I choose this one?

They're basically equal then.

[melancholy music] >)

[speaking Italian]

"Beatrice looked at me and her eyes were full of

sparks, of love, of such divinity that vanquished,

my virtue ran away and I was as if lost.

My eyes lowered."

[speaking Italian]

What do you miss about London?

I miss my family, a lot.

But, apart from that, um,

bad weather, and fish and chips,

and pie and mash, and the Tube,

and I don't know what else.

Yeah, it's beautiful.

"The power of my sighs fills me with anguish.

"And weeping, I call out to Elizabeth:

"'Can you really be dead?"

"And just calling to her restores my soul.

"If anyone heard me, they too would grieve.

"What my life has been like since she left this earth,

"there is no one that can tell.

"Elizabeth has ascended into high heaven.

"Into a place where angels live in peace."

[melancholy music] >)