Original subtitles

[Luca] Netflix has 200 million subscribers.

Prime Video 150 million.

Add the two platforms together and that's 350 million viewers,

plus family members, multiple subscriptions…

That's a lot of people.

Which leads to the conclusion that today, in 2020, these streaming services

are shaping the collective imagination — the zeitgeist, the spirit of the times.

But then there's Pornhub.

The porn streaming platform gets 42 billion visitors a year,

three and a half billion a month, 115 million a day.

Netflix, Prime Video and the other platforms are the public discourse.

Pornhub is the unconscious, the repressed.

It's what society doesn't show.

What we really are.

This story began like that, the way you start a painting.

With a sketch.

[playing "Muori delay" by Verdena]

[playing "Muori delay" by Verdena]

♪ Muori delay ♪

♪ You don't dive into her ♪

♪ Hominid ♪

♪ It's my attitude ♪

♪ Who cares ♪

♪ Chaki, Chaki ♪

♪ Muori delay ♪

♪ You find refuge in her ♪

♪ It's true that ♪

♪ Black is pitch dark ♪

[seagulls crying]

[steady heartbeat]

[lock clicking]

Hi.

Everything okay?

For you, sure — five minutes in the blood draw room!

She's been on hormones for a month and had surgery.

[knocking at the door]

[Roberta] Doctor.

Sorry, Robi, we were taking our time.

We need the bed — you should clear out.

No, just a little longer, come on…

That anesthetic was pretty great, huh? A real knockout.

Some days, I tell you… Isn't that right, Robi?

I'm not saying a word.

Listen, remind me what we need to do —

my brain's gone all fuzzy.

You don't need to do anything, we'll handle it all.

We're going to fertilize all your eggs on behalf of Mr. Urinary Infection here.

[Antonello] Come on, honey.

[Luca] My name is Luca Messico, son of Giovanni Messico,

a retired man who died saving two children from a fire.

I always envied his courage.

He saw a house in flames and he jumped in.

I'm someone who doesn't jump.

A procrastinator.

Someone who could have had a brilliant academic career,

if only he'd finished his doctoral thesis.

A textbook case of self-sabotage.

This is not the story of how I finally finished my thesis

on Peter Sloterdijk and the domestication of the human being.

As in the famous John Lennon quote:

"Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans."

[Sara] Honey, are you coming?

Yes.

[indistinct voices from the TV]

- Oh God, those images of Milan again? - [Sara] Yeah.

[Luca] What timing to want to have a child right now…

What do we do, just stay cooped up at home?

Speak for yourself. I talked to the chief physician.

I won't be home much.

What the hell am I supposed to do stuck in here all the time?

Write your thesis, right? You said you wanted to finish it.

You've got all the free time you want.

Use it.

[Luca] All Italians, starting from March 10th, 2020,

were forced to question their lives,

but this is not the story of how the Coronavirus pandemic

derailed our existence.

[doorbell]

Sorry, weren't we supposed to be limiting contact?

Come on, this could be our last dinner together for a while.

- We have to spend it with him? - He didn't charge us anything.

You can take a little sarcasm.

Why is it always about money with you guys?

Why is it never about money for you?

Hi! Welcome.

- Did you become punctual? - Hi, sweetheart.

Better late than never.

Speaking of "better late than never," Valerio…

After you.

- Hi, what's-his-face! - Do you remember your sister?

- Hi, Daria. - Hi, Sara.

While we can still see each other in person, huh?

We're trying. Please, come in.

Five minutes in the freezer, for safety.

- Yes, sir. - FFP2 masks.

- Use them sparingly — they're like white truffles. - Ok.

- Hi. - Hi, Luca.

Oh my God, how cute! Look how he sleeps!

Thank you.

- Wow, what a beautiful home! - [Sara] Thank you.

Well, I should think so — I bought it for her.

Antonello…

[Sara] On the Appian Way where? What part?

You know the Mausoleum of Cecilia Metella?

- [Sara] Yes. - Just past it on the right.

But that's huge! How much did you pay for it?

If I'd bought the mausoleum outright, it would've been cheaper.

I'm old — let me do whatever the hell I want.

Honey, you're not dying. Calm down.

And this hole? Is that the pool?

[Antonello] Twenty by six meters, overflow edge, saltwater.

Those idiots made it way too deep —

like I'm going to be doing Olympic dives or something.

I'm having it filled in with dirt so I can pour another concrete base,

that is, if the construction sites don't close.

Covid has been one hell of a pain in the ass.

I could end up stuck with a half-built villa for who knows how long.

That doesn't seem like the most pressing issue, all things considered, with all due respect.

[sirens]

I know you were upset about it first, right?

But it's pretty obvious this isn't the home of an internist and a teacher, is it?

- Even Daria could've figured that out on her own. - Oh.

- Well… - But…

Still with the little digs? Now he's going to start up about the clinic again.

When you graduated from medical school, I was the happiest man in the world.

I prefer the hospital — I feel more useful there.

- [Antonello] "Useful"? - Yes.

How come whenever you need something, you come to the clinic?

Don't you ever feel ashamed?

If you wanted to give up a profitable career,

you could have at least married a man with means.

With all due respect.

I think you have a tumor pressing on your frontal lobe.

That would explain the complete lack of inhibition.

The professor's taking it well.

That's a doctor joke, and a pretty good one. Well done.

I like that my husband isn't ambitious.

[doorbell]

- Who is it at this hour? - I don't know, I'll go check.

The Grim Reaper, like in that Monty Python film.

Would you stop it with these jokes about death?

You should knock on wood.

- That's particleboard, I bought it. - Sorry.

[Luca] This is the story of Amanda and how she ruined my life.

Yes?

I'm staying at the B&B across the street and I need the door code to get in,

but my phone's dead and the code is on my phone.

That's a lot of information. I don't understand — what do you need?

Can I charge my phone for two minutes?

Yes, of course, go ahead.

The socket's right there, it should work.

- [Sara] Who is it? - It's the neighbor, honey.

What neighbor?

The girl is staying at the B&B.

She needed to charge her phone, otherwise she can't get in.

[Sara] Oh, okay.

- Sorry to bother you. - No bother at all.

So someone does live here.

No neighbors, no annoyances — remember that.

[Antonello] Having offices all around you is the real luxury.

Excuse me, Conte's announcement is on. Here he is.

[Conte, TV] For this reason, I am about to sign a measure

that we can sum up with the phrase "I'm staying home."

[Conte] There will no longer be a red zone.

There will no longer be zone one and zone two of the peninsula.

There will be Italy — an Italy that is a protected zone.

Therefore, throughout the entire peninsula,

movement will be avoided,

unless motivated by one of three specific circumstances:

documented work reasons,

cases of necessity, or health reasons.

We are also adding to this decree

a ban on outdoor gatherings.

Well, there you go.

We'd better go.

- If he wakes up, it's over. - God, yes.

I thought I was done with all of this forever, and yet…

Fertility is your area.

Incredible — it works for me but not for him.

- He's not the problem, drop it. - Oh, really?

Did you know that Rome's water is full of estrogen?

A hormone smoothie.

- Here we go again… - [Sara] There.

- Sara, let me help you clear the table. - [Sara] Don't worry about it.

[Daria] Of course.

Hmm… How long have you been at the B&B? I thought it was empty.

A few days.

Ah.

Looks like you're stuck here. I don't know if you heard, but they're locking us down tomorrow.

Exactly.

What the hell am I supposed to do, cooped up in there? If I can even get in.

Anyway, I'm Luca. Nice to meet you.

- Amanda. - Ah.

Like the main character in Bright Lights, Big City.

Right…

Right, it's a novel…

Why is it taking so long?

- [Luca] Are you leaving? - Going home.

For good, apparently.

- Take care. - Come on.

- Bye, Luca, thanks so much. - Bye, for what?

- Good evening. - Good evening.

- Have we met? - No.

Dad, "have we met" — come on.

Bye.

- What did I say? - Go on. Bye, Daria.

Bye, Sara.

[Sara] Bye, sweetie. He's asleep.

- Maybe a little more affection? - You're talking about affection?

Go on, go on.

- Bye. - Bye.

Bye, good night.

- I'm Sara. - Hi, Sara.

And you are?

- Amanda. - Amanda.

I'm so sorry for barging in — I had no idea what else to do.

Don't worry about it.

I'll go finish clearing the table.

[beep]

- It turned on! - Thank goodness.

Here it is: 014217.

Zero…

Got it?

I think so.

- Thank you. - Don't mention it.

[Amanda] Zero…

- It's 014217. - [Amanda] Right.

- [lock clicking] - There!

- Thank you again. - Bye, good night.

[Sara] No, she's not rude — just embarrassed, poor thing!

Well, I'd be embarrassed too if I'd married an old man.

No, I'm not going to become friends with her, Mom.

The problem here is Dad, not Daria.

Yes, I have to go now, okay?

Yes, I'll be careful. Bye.

What a crazy day, and we can't even go out.

I mean, I can't go out.

I'm going to the hospital — that's not going out.

- [Luca] Did you leave me any coffee? - [Sara] Of course, you suspicious thing.

Listen, I was thinking about something.

Should we postpone?

- The implant, you mean? - Yes.

I don't know, honey, whatever you want.

Not "whatever you want" — don't dump all the responsibility on me.

- Tell me what you think. - I just woke up.

- Yeah… - Hey, calm down.

Every time we talk about the baby, you make me feel alone.

You're not alone.

So what do we do?

There's a pandemic, for God's sake! It doesn't seem wise to have a procedure done.

- No? - Let's postpone, come on.

Right.

- Okay. - I agree.

Ok.

Alright.

- How do I look? - Miss Afghanistan.

- What are you doing? - I have a Zoom call with the faculty.

- Then nothing. - Write your thesis, right?

- When are you back? - Who knows?

- Bye. - Bye.

- Have a good day. - You too.

For the record, I am ambitious.

I knew it was bothering you!

- Bye! - Bye.

[Principal, PC] So, we told the students Monday.

Just need some time to collect everyone's online contact details.

[Ivan, PC] "Online contact details"? It's called email!

Casaro, quit acting like you know everything.

[Principal] Have you ever taught remotely? Exactly.

This is an unprecedented situation.

There are parents who don't even have a computer

for their kids to study from home.

Agreed? So we're flying blind here.

Fine, but let's try to avoid all this bureaucratic jargon.

Sorry, I didn't catch when remote learning is supposed to start.

Alright, let's give families a few days to sort things out.

Hopefully by Monday at the latest.

In the meantime, they can do the assignments you've given.

- Monday the 16th? - What, did you want the one after?

I was just asking! No need to get defensive when someone asks.

We'll be in touch, I'll keep you posted.

Alright, goodbye everyone — and keep your spirits up.

- [Principal] Keep your spirits up. - Got it.

- Bye, talk soon everyone. - Bye, thanks.

- Goodbye everyone. - [woman] Bye, thanks.

- Bye. - [man] Bye.

[speaking in German]

[Interpreter] Against the backdrop of the history of ideas.

[phone ringing]

[Interpreter] I consider…

[Amanda] Would you stop it? Leave me alone.

No, I'm not telling you.

You need to get yourself some help — you're out of your mind!

You're completely unhinged, do you understand that?

[phone vibrating]

[Amanda] Just leave me alone!

- Oh. - Oh.

What the hell am I supposed to do until Monday? For once, I'd rather be at work.

Hey, do you know anyone who can deliver weed to my door?

Rather than being stuck at home 24 hours a day with Betta,

I'd rather teach trigonometry to pubescent bonobos.

She bosses me around. I can't take it.

[Luca] There must be some way to get weed delivered.

Dealers have families too, don't they?

The human race — how long has it existed? 250,000 years?

[Ivan] For 249,990 years, we were the ones in charge.

Women have been in charge for ten years and, funny coincidence, the human race is going extinct.

The evolutionary blueprint is crystal clear!

[Ivan] They won, but we screwed up the planet for them.

There'll be nothing left to rule over — just deserts and cockroaches.

[Luca] Well, that seems like a pretty pessimistic take on things, don't you think?

- [Ivan] Not too pessimistic! - [Luca] Hmm.

- [loud music] - [Ivan] What's all that noise?

- My neighbor dancing. - Turn the phone a bit.

[playing "Not for Sale" by Sudan Archives]

[Ivan] Ah.

- That's not fair. - What?

[Ivan] I'm stuck in a box with my wife in 80 square meters

and you're alone in a penthouse with Dua Lipa's hot sister across from you.

Oh God, she saw us.

What does that have to do with me? She saw you, not me.

- I'll call you back, come on. Bye. - Yeah.

- Hey. - Hey.

Were you filming me?

No, I was on the phone with a friend.

We were on a video call.

He heard the music and asked, "Where's that coming from?"

- I showed him… - Sorry, the gyms are closed.

- You make do at home. - Of course, I get it.

Besides, there's always the rooftop terrace.

Can I see it?

Sure, let me grab the keys.

- Voilà! Nice, right? - No one uses it?

No, just us.

[Luca] Like I said, it's all offices.

If you want, I'll leave the door open, so whenever you feel like it…

Perfect.

That way I can hold my classes up here and not bother you anymore.

You teach too? I teach history and philosophy — what about you?

Hip-hop tabata.

Basically what people do at the gym to lose weight.

Ah!

I don't get people who go to the gym.

It'd do you good, though.

- What time do you usually teach? - Four o'clock.

- Interested? - No, I just asked so I wouldn't disturb you.

Right, I'm heading out then.

- You coming down or staying up here? - Staying.

Thanks, eh.

- Bye. - Bye.

[Luca] So according to Heidegger and his anti-biologistic theory,

the essence of man is closer to the divine

than to the animal world.

I wonder what he would say about the fact that we're all locked up

like animals in a cage.

Alright, that's all for today.

You can go back to sleep — especially those who weren't already.

[Luca] Bye.

Fabbri, you stay behind.

- Goodbye. - Bye everyone.

- Goodbye. - [Luca] Bye.

- Everything okay? - I'm sorry, Professor.

What's going on?

- Nothing. - What's wrong? Is it a guy?

A girl.

We'd just started seeing each other, but she's not calling me back anymore.

Call her.

I'm afraid of coming on too strong.

If I could go back to your age, I'd save myself so many pointless fears.

Anyway, that's enough school for today — I'll write you an excuse.

Do something nice — listen to some music, I don't know.

- Do you play anything? - Yeah, guitar a little.

Maybe one day you'll play something for me?

Sure.

Hey.

Don't be afraid. If you want to call her, call her.

Remember — the things you didn't do, no one gives them back to you.

- Thanks. - For what?

[Journalist, TV] 475 in a single day.

The front page.

[Cenci] The number of Covid cases in Italy continues to rise steadily.

The epidemic curve shows no sign of slowing.

- [Luca] Honey. - Mmh.

You look like a raccoon.

We wear these visors all day long.

[Sara] We look like those people who used to hunt for E.T.

- [phone vibrating] - There he is…

Hi, Dad.

What's this about wanting to postpone?

Please, I'm exhausted. Not now.

[Antonello] You know what my patients all have in common?

At some point, they all say: "Let's wait a little longer."

It's the delays that made my fortune.

You shouldn't wait to have children.

Says the man who became a father at 65.

And I wear it beautifully! But then again, I'm a man.

[Antonello] No matter how many sperm we lose, it only ever takes one.

It's so great to talk about sperm with my dad.

Thanks to me, you're going to have a child.

Good of you to remind me — very healthy.

[Sara] I have to go have dinner now, I'll call you back later, okay? Come on, bye.

And in sports, there's no comparison.

We have more muscle mass.

You might say: "Okay, fine, what about chess?"

Do you know what position the top woman holds in the chess rankings?

Fifty-second.

- What did you say? - Are you out of your mind?

I've been talking for half an hour and you're thinking about something else.

What are you even thinking about?

[playing "Krack" by Soulwax]

[beep]

Come in.

[playing "Krack" by Soulwax]

[music stops]

Hi.

You'll throw your back out like that.

You need to lower yourself with your shoulders

and use your core.

- Here. - You mean the regular ones.

- Exactly. - Ok.

- Up. - Like this?

- Ok. - There.

- Don't you have abs? - I left them at home.

- It shows. - Hey, I'm shaking though.

Yeah, you're supposed to shake.

Ok, ok, let me help you a little.

- Yes, careful. - Like this?

- Yes. - Like this.

Like this, better.

[playing "Io sto bene" by CCCP]

♪ It's a matter of quality ♪

♪ It's a matter of quality ♪

♪ It's a matter of quality ♪

♪ Or a formality ♪

♪ I can't quite remember ♪

♪ [together] A formality ♪

♪ It's a matter of quality ♪

♪ It's a matter of quality ♪

♪ It's a matter of quality ♪

♪ Or a formality ♪

♪ I can't quite remember ♪

♪ A formality ♪

[doorbell]

♪ Like deciding to shave your head ♪

♪ To give up coffee and cigarettes ♪

- Thank you. - You're welcome.

- Hi, handsome. - Hi.

♪ A formality ♪

♪ A formality ♪

♪ A formality ♪

♪ Or a matter of quality? ♪

♪ I'm doing fine ♪

♪ I'm doing badly ♪

♪ I don't know where I stand ♪

♪ I'm doing fine ♪

♪ I'm doing badly ♪

- ♪ But it's just a formality ♪ - ♪ I'm fine, I'm not ♪

- ♪ I'm fine, I'm not ♪ - ♪ A formality ♪

- ♪ I'm fine, I'm not ♪ - ♪ A formality ♪

- ♪ I'm fine, I'm not ♪ - ♪ A formality ♪

- ♪ I'm fine, I'm not ♪ - ♪ A formality ♪

- ♪ I'm fine, I'm not ♪ - ♪ A formality ♪

- ♪ I'm fine, I'm not ♪ - ♪ A formality ♪

♪ I'm fine, I'm not ♪

♪ I'm fine, I'm not ♪

[moaning]

Can I bum some wine off you?

Oh, I didn't hear you.

- Of course, I only have one glass though. - That's fine.

[Amanda] Is it a secret?

No, no, no.

I was trying to finish my doctoral thesis — I've been dragging it along for years.

- But you already teach, don't you? - Yes, but at the high school level.

I had bigger ambitions before.

I was hoping for a professorship at Sapienza, but then my father died.

One thing led to another and I wasted a lot of time.

I'm sorry about your father.

Mine's a piece of shit, for what it's worth.

I only found out recently.

My mother used to clean his house

and when she got pregnant, the bastard gave her money to get an abortion.

Then he fired her.

Well, what a gentleman.

With that money, she went back to Cuba and, obviously, didn't have the abortion.

- Did you come back to Italy for your father? - Among other reasons.

Who knows what I was hoping to find.

What was your father like?

Quiet. Emotionally distant, at least with me.

But a kind of hero.

He died saving children from a fire.

I'm completely different. If I see a drop of blood, I faint.

I take after my mother.

She died two years later.

She couldn't go on without him.

Siblings?

No, you?

I recently found out I have two half-brothers and I don't even know them.

And to think I always wanted a big family.

You should be careful what you wish for.

[doorbell]

[lock clicking]

- [Cosimo] What the hell do you think you're doing? - [Amanda] Nothing.

"Nothing"? You thought I wouldn't find you?

[Cosimo] You're the one who made me track down this dump.

- I needed some time. - "Some time."

- Who are you sleeping with? - No one.

Excuse me, there's a lockdown — who do you think I'm even seeing?

- What the fuck are you laughing at? What are you laughing at! - [Amanda] Let go of me.

[Cosimo] Don't give me that bullshit, you hear me?

[Amanda] You're hurting me! Let go!

[Cosimo] Now I should let you go? Before, you needed me, didn't you?

[Amanda] Let go of me!

What are you going to do?

Write me the door code. Move it.

[Cosimo] I come and go here however the hell I please.

If it's wrong, I'll knock every tooth out of your mouth.

- [Amanda] Why do you have to be like this? - [Cosimo] Me? Why do I have to be like this?

You think you can play games with me? You think I'm your toy?

You know who I am.

[Cosimo] Why do you make me be the bad guy?

You want me to be the bad guy?

[Cosimo] You want this?

[Amanda] What are you going to do now? Kill me?

Go on.

Go on!

You don't give a damn.

- You want me to kill myself? - [Amanda] No, baby, I don't want that.

- [dial tone] - [Amanda] Put the gun down.

[Cosimo] Baby…

[officer] Police?

Yes, hello? I'd like to report an emergency.

There's a man attacking a woman in the apartment across from mine.

- [officer] Give me the address. - I'm sorry, what?

[officer] The address?

- Hello, can you hear me? - No, look, I made a mistake, I'm sorry.

- Hey, who was that lunatic? - If he'd seen you, God knows what would've happened.

Who cares!

- You need to go to the police. - I didn't think he'd come looking for me here.

Listen, I filmed the whole thing — you have evidence.

You can have him arrested. He's dangerous.

- He's just making a scene. - A scene? He had a gun.

Promise me you'll report him.

He's not a bad person — his life's been rough.

- His father used to beat him. - And you're defending him?

If I really feel I'm in danger, I'll do it. I promise.

- What else has to happen? - [phone vibrating]

Everything ok?

Yes, it's my wife — she says she's not coming home tonight.

She's going to the hospital.

Listen, give me your number.

I'll send you the video.

Save it.

[phone ringing]

Call me if you need help.

I mean it.

[playing "Bella ciao" on saxophone]

We didn't sleep together, by the way.

I know you want to know.

I like that you worry about me.

No.

Not here.

[applause]

[man] Bravo!

Wait! Wait, wait…

- What are you doing? - The socks, you know…

Come on — the first time with socks is terrible.

No!

[playing "Let Me Follow" by Son Lux]

[moaning]

[moaning]

[playing "Let Me Follow" by Son Lux]

[lock clicking]

- [Luca] Hey. - Hey.

You're home already?

Yeah, but only for three hours — then I have to go back.

- [Sara] I'm starving. - Come on, I'll cook you something.

[Sara] Thank you.

I wet myself today.

Yeah, I didn't want to take off the protective suit — I wanted to wait until the end of my shift.

On the way to the bathroom…

[sirens]

My bladder just gave out.

Hey.

Just tired.

Listen, why don't you take a few days off?

Rest up, spend some time with me.

No, how can I? There's a pandemic, I can't.

At some point I got scared…

For a second, I don't know why…

That I'd had a miscarriage.

Then I remembered I wasn't pregnant.

When all this is over, we'll do everything.

- Did you see the coffins in Bergamo? - Mmh.

No, I don't watch the news — it makes me feel helpless.

But why do you men always have to talk about your dicks one way or another?

No, it's just…

It's just that I'm stuck in here doing nothing all day.

I admire what you do.

You're out there saving lives.

The truth is, I'm a little jealous of you.

Oh.

Say you're jealous of me one more time and I'm filing for divorce.

- I'm jealous of you. - Lawyer!

[applause]

[playing "Kandy" by Fever Ray]

Hmm…

Nietzsche no longer believes in the values of his era,

particularly Christian morality, but he doesn't passively resign himself to that.

In fact, he attempts to rewrite his own story through other values…

[playing "Kandy" by Fever Ray]

[playing "Kandy" by Fever Ray]

[inaudible voice]

I watch porn on Ecosia, the environmental browser.

So every time I jerk off, I'm planting a tree.

[doorbell]

- Hey, I was just coming to you. - I'm impatient, sorry.

My God, what a place! I'm so jealous.

You could tell from the window, but being inside…

- You make good money in philosophy. - What money? No.

Sara's father gave it to her.

- Really? - Yes.

Lucky her.

- You can tell he loves her. - Hmm, shame he's an asshole.

Every time he sees me, he reminds me I can't afford this place.

Let's just say I use philosophy to stop myself from telling him to go to hell.

So deep down, you're a poor bastard too.

Well, my dad was a tile layer.

Sara was out of my league.

That's not true.

Because you're good-looking.

Who's playing?

No one.

She gave it to me as a gift.

[Luca] I told her I wanted to try, but I've never touched it.

[sound of keys]

Mmh.

How long have you two been together?

Seven years.

We met by chance at the emergency room.

Don't tell me she also saved your life.

No, not exactly.

I thought I was having a heart attack, but… it was just heartburn.

Maybe it was karma.

Are you Buddhist?

Why?

- Well… - Ah, because of the statue?

But it's not mine! It must belong to the landlord, who knows.

It weighs a ton, by the way.

Anyway, I like Buddhists.

Their symbol is a fat man laughing,

while ours is someone tortured to death.

No wonder we're all messed up.

Are you messed up, Luca?

The kitchen is nice too.

Look at this!

Should we cook something together?

Let's go to yours, come on.

You said she's back tomorrow morning, right?

- Yes. - It was like this, just for a change.

- It's just that here it's a bit… - It's fine, you got spooked.

- Come on, let's just eat here. - No, it's fine.

Besides… we'll see each other tomorrow.

- I'm not even that hungry. - Hey, let's go out.

- Outside? - Yes.

- With the curfew? - Mmh.

I could take Sara's prescription pad and make a fake permit.

What would you write?

Hmm… That you're pregnant? That we're going to an appointment?

You have a devious mind.

I had no idea.

When else do we get Rome all to ourselves?

- I'll go get my jacket. - Go.

[Amanda] So you know that in Australia

the fish in an aquarium closed for Covid stopped eating?

They had to send a diver in to swim with them to snap them out of their depression.

- Everyone needs attention. - It's awful to be alone.

Is that why you got attached to that idiot?

Cosimo's a stray dog.

- He only bites out of fear. - But you're wrong to give him the time of day.

Going out with you was a mistake too.

I'm pretty good at making bad choices.

- So I'm a bad choice. - You figure it out.

I want a family and you already have one.

This isn't going to end well — you know that as well as I do.

I get it — I'm just slightly better than this Cosimo.

And I still don't understand why you haven't reported him.

Because it's none of your business.

Promise me you won't call the police.

- Why? - Because it's my life.

I don't want the police poking around in it.

Promise me.

Fine.

You've got your own secrets too, right?

We're trying to have a child through IVF.

Only I feel like I'm having a baby with my father-in-law.

What do you mean?

He owns the clinic.

He's been helping us.

I don't know, he makes me feel like I'm defective,

when the problem is actually with her.

- What problem? - She has polycystic ovaries.

Me too.

Really? I'm sorry, I didn't know.

- Well, how could you? - Right.

Anyway, as birth control goes, it's pretty effective.

[officer] Turns out it's just a cold.

- Ah, your dad? - Come here.

I'm sorry… It gets complicated when they get old, doesn't it.

[officer] Ha!

Mmh.

Mmh.

Wait, I'll call you back.

Hey! Stop right there!

Let's go over there.

Run, run, run!

There he is, there he is.

But didn't you have a permit?

Yes, but I was afraid they'd stop me anyway.

You're afraid of everything.

[Amanda] Your wife is lucky.

I'm warning you — I'm not.

I'm a mess.

I don't care.

[Amanda] Let's make love here.

Right now.

[phone vibrating]

Wait.

Wait.

- Shit… - What's wrong?

It's my wife.

She's coming home.

They put her in quarantine.

Hey!

- Are you there? - [Luca] I'm in the bathroom!

[Sara] Ok, you can come out.

How is it? Are you worried?

No, I'm furious.

With me?

No, why would I be with you? What does this have to do with you?

With that idiot who ate a bat.

We had to replace the entire department,

tell the nurses how to do the doctors' jobs.

I'm sorry.

You know what, you might be right.

What are we doing having a child? The world is ending.

The world is always ending for each of us.

Is that a roundabout way of saying you still want to be a father?

- Are you there? - Yes, I'm here.

- I miss you. - I miss you too.

Open the door, come on.

I'll come in, do quarantine with you, catch Covid.

No.

Are you crazy? That's the stupidest thing you could say.

Also the most romantic.

[playing "So Many Things" by Orchestre Tout Puissant Marcel Duchamp]

[playing "So Many Things" by Orchestre Tout Puissant Marcel Duchamp]

[playing "So Many Things" by Orchestre Tout Puissant Marcel Duchamp]

Honey!

I'm back.

- Did you get the water? - Yes!

Leave a bottle out here for me — I'm dying of thirst.

- [Luca] Hey. - Hey, what are you up to?

Just scribbling.

Listen, I hate to admit it, but that risotto was incredible.

That's the butter.

Nobody ever wants to use butter, but…

- [doorbell] - How's the thesis going?

Good.

Did you know that Sloterdijk was already talking 40 years ago

about the Great Catastrophe as the goddess of the century?

Ah…

But what if this Sloterdijk is bad luck?

[Cosimo] A little gift to make up for things.

- Honey, are you there? - Open it.

- Yes. - No, I think you froze.

I'm re-reading Camus' The Plague.

[Sara] At high school, I didn't realize what a masterpiece it was.

- There are some wonderful characters. - Put it on.

There's the doctor, the suicidal man, the journalist.

Really?

- [Sara] They all live through the same tragedy. - Do you remember how we met?

- Which makes them more human. - This story doesn't make any sense.

Maybe the same thing will happen to us.

It doesn't make any sense.

- It's the perfect opportunity to change everything. - Take the necklace.

Am I talking nonsense?

Yeah, I think quarantine is, I don't know, making me more sensitive.

I'm getting sentimental.

[Cosimo] Sorry.

- [Luca] No, we need to… - "Son of a bitch."

- [Sara] What's going on? - I don't know, I'm hearing strange noises.

I think someone's robbing the offices downstairs.

- What the hell are you talking about? - Wait a moment, let me check.

Oh!

- [Sara] What's going on? - Shh, wait.

[Amanda] I never want to see you again!

Look what I've done to you, I'm sorry…

Sorry.

- Why don't you love me? - You know why.

- [Cosimo] You want me to disappear? - [Amanda] Yes.

One last kiss and I disappear forever.

- One last kiss. - Yes.

- I mean it. - Swear it.

I swear.

[Amanda] Enough…

Enough!

- Enough! - Wait.

- Enough! - Wait!

- Enough! - Ow! What the—

[Amanda] You disgust me!

- Listen, I'm calling the police, I'm hanging up. - You sure? Ok.

What are you, a dog?

[recording] Covid-19 Emergency.

Due to high call volume, the lines are temporarily busy.

- Please hold. - [Cosimo] You said you liked it.

- What are you talking about? - Honey, I'm going to the police.

- [Sara] Be careful. - Yes.

- [officer] Good evening. - Yes, good evening.

It's an emergency.

You need to respond to an apartment.

[officer] You need to call 113 for emergencies.

Excuse me, there's a man with a gun outside my building.

[lock clicking]

[officer] Are you sure you saw correctly?

Yes, of course I'm sure.

- Was he pointing the weapon at the girl? - Sorry? I can't hear you.

You're right.

- Was he pointing the weapon at the girl? - Not this time, but the last time yes.

I even filmed it.

- So how many times has this happened? - Twice.

Look, I just want to file a report.

No, you're not the victim,

but you can file a complaint and I'll send a patrol car to check.

Give me the address.

It's right around the corner — I can take you there, if you want.

That won't be necessary.

Can you find the video? I'll call the patrol car.

[officer 2] Deputy Chief! Look who I found out here.

Who can recognize anyone with these damn masks on? Who are you?

And who the hell are you?

- Bravetta! - Where should I send him?

[Bravetta] Hey, easy!

- Send him to me… - [Deputy Chief] What are you doing here?

- Weren't you working the Casilino area? - Here.

[Bravetta] I'm always over there.

- I was following a case nearby. - He was getting in the car without saying hello.

- He says I'm too fat. - [officer 2] Right.

- Let me see it. - [Deputy Chief] By the way, Mina…

Let me introduce a nice guy, a colleague.

- Pleased to meet you, Cosimo Bravetta. - [officer] Pleased to meet you.

Come have a coffee with us? Are you still single?

- Ah… - Leave the colleague alone!

They're animals, sorry about that.

- [Cosimo] Make me a coffee. - [Deputy Chief] Let's go.

- [officer] I'll finish up here and come find you. - Ok.

- [Deputy Chief] How's everything going? - [Cosimo] All good.

- The video? - I don't know where…

- Excuse me, my phone broke. - [officer] Right, never mind.

What do you mean "it broke"?

No, I accidentally deleted it. Unbelievable.

- [officer] No one else has this video? - No, unfortunately not.

[officer] If you're afraid of someone, you need to tell us — we're the police.

No, no.

I'm sorry, I made a mistake.

- Goodbye. - Where are you going?

[officer] Excuse me, where are you going?

[doorbell]

[lock clicking]

[Luca] Why didn't you tell me he was a cop?

- How did you find out? - I went to the police station and saw him.

He was there with the other officers, acting all friendly with them.

You went to the police?

Why didn't you tell me?

- Come inside, we'll talk in there. - Answer me.

He's blackmailing me.

False accusations.

- But… - But you're not reporting him?

The accusations aren't entirely false.

Excuse me, but what exactly are we talking about?

Do you know what a sugar baby is?

Someone who has sex for money.

I did it for a while last year.

He showed up as a client at first.

I offered him some coke and he told me he was a cop.

He confiscated it but didn't arrest me.

Then he started coming back more and more often.

He'd never been this violent before.

I'm sorry.

I told you I was a mess.

[journalist, TV] For the sixth consecutive day, a drop in Covid cases

in Italy has been confirmed.

Today, 680 fewer than yesterday.

Hospital admissions, ICU cases, and deaths are also down.

420 in the last 48 hours.

- Doctor! - [Sara] I'm here.

[phone vibrating]

[Sara] Uh-uh!

[lock clicking]

Negative!

- Yes! - Why are you eating in the dark?

- No, I was just… - What a sad little dinner.

- A small aperitif. - Mmh…

Let me make something.

Sorry, but don't you go shopping every day?

What are you buying, snacks? Zucchini?

No, it's just that every time I go to the supermarket,

I forget what to get.

Alright, I'll handle it.

I'll make a list.

Tomorrow we'll make a proper dinner to celebrate the end of quarantine

and spend some time together.

- Oh, you're not going back to work tomorrow? - The day after.

My boss gave me an extra day — things have eased up in the ward.

That's good.

Listen, I've been so caught up in my own drama

that I didn't stop to think about how you've been getting through lockdown all alone.

It can't have been easy.

- No. - I'm sorry.

Let's make up for it right now.

Hey, what's wrong?

Nothing.

I know you — don't try that with me.

I told you a lot of lies.

Such as?

I haven't written a single line — I'm completely stuck.

You're right, I'm not ambitious.

Oh my God, I thought you were going to tell me something awful — you scared the hell out of me!

Who cares about the thesis!

I thought it mattered to you.

Well, everyone knows what academia in Italy is like anyway.

[Ivan] And then they're all feminists — politically correct, Me Too.

All valid stuff, obviously, of course,

but then in real life they go around posing like porn stars,

filling up their lips and asses with silicone.

- They're confused. - Would you shut up?

Shut up about what?

About talking trash about women just because your wife earns more than you.

Maybe you should get a PCR test.

Maybe along with smell and taste, some people lose their sense of humor.

It's true — you talk badly about Betta because she makes you feel inferior.

She's a lawyer! Anyone can make money by selling their soul.

Oh, you're talking? You've always resented Sara for being richer than you, and now you're lecturing me?

What the hell are you talking about?

Sara could have married a plastic surgeon and she married a broke teacher.

She could have worked at her father's clinic and she works at the hospital instead.

She's much better than me — much more courageous, more driven.

- Women are better than us, let's face it. - Well said. Bravo.

- Thank you, ma'am. - What the hell are you saying?

We're trash.

[Luca] Go on, go on.

You're welcome.

[beep]

[lock clicking]

[Luca] You have no idea what I had to go through to get the chicory greens.

- [Sara] Mmh. - I nearly ran over an old lady.

[Sara] Meanwhile, I did something completely illegal.

I invited people over.

- Oh, hi. - Hi.

You remember Amanda from the B&B across the street?

Yes, Amanda from the B&B.

- How are you? - [Amanda] Fine, you?

- Good. - I needed some coffee.

Yeah, I know, contact is strictly forbidden, but she got tested…

- Actually, she's already cleared, so… - Yes.

I'll head out now. Thanks, Sara.

Don't mention it, I'll walk you out.

Come on.

[Amanda] Goodbye.

- [Sara] Bye. - [Amanda] Thanks.

- She's lovely! - Since when are you two so close?

What do you mean, "close"? She asked me for coffee.

She didn't have any, so I gave her some.

Did you see how gorgeous she is? What a body? She's Cuban.

What the hell does "she's Cuban" mean, excuse me?

It's not like all Cuban women have incredible bodies.

- That's a little racist. - Why are you getting worked up?

I'm not getting worked up, but you don't say "Cuban women"…

You can't say anything anymore. Fine.

[Luca] Hi, honey!

[doorbell]

[doorbell]

What did you think you were doing?

I've been trying to reach you for days and you're ignoring me.

- We agreed on no cell phones, right? - Should I have sent smoke signals?

- Better than showing up at my door. - I didn't know she'd be there.

I thought you were avoiding me.

When I saw her, I improvised and asked her for coffee.

You were acting all lovesick.

Now you're looking down on me.

Maybe because I found out certain things about you, no?

So you are judging me.

Anyway, there's something else you don't know.

What?

I'm pregnant.

- What? - You heard me right.

That's why I was trying to reach you.

- And whose is it? - Go to hell!

You told me you had polycystic ovaries.

What do you want me to say?

It was a one in a thousand shot.

What am I supposed to do now?

In a week Sara is scheduled for the implant.

We're about to have a child.

I can't do this to her, do you understand? She doesn't deserve this.

[gynecologist] So, one is to terminate the pregnancy

and the other is to expel the fetus.

Alright.

Listen.

If you're not sure, don't do it.

With ovaries like yours, getting pregnant isn't easy.

Everything okay?

Afraid I didn't take the pill?

[guitar music]

[Fabbri, PC] ♪ I won't be able to ♪

♪ If you drag me down… ♪

[Luca] You can try to pinpoint in hindsight the exact moment a love began.

[Fabbri, PC] ♪ I won't be able to ♪

♪ I won't be able to ♪

♪ You're not breathing anymore ♪

[Luca] But it's much easier to pinpoint the exact moment it ends.

[Fabbri, PC] ♪ I won't be able to ♪

♪ I won't be able to ♪

♪ How can you live ♪

♪ Upside down? ♪

♪ How can you live ♪

♪ Upside down? ♪

♪ How can you live ♪

♪ Upside down? ♪

♪ Uh ♪

Wow, that was incredible!

Bravo, that's a yes from all four.

- That's not true, but thanks. - No, no.

Did you play it for her?

- "Her" who? - Come on…

Did you go see her?

Once, but it was worth it.

A whole afternoon.

Mmh. Before long we'll be able to go out again.

I don't know how I would've managed without her. She's a good person, Professor.

That's not true, but thanks.

[phone ringing]

[phone notification]

What the hell are you laughing at?

[journalist, TV] Starting today, large factories and construction sites can reopen.

[phone vibrating]

[journalist] From May 4th, restaurants and bars will reopen,

but only for takeaway food to be consumed at home.

Also starting Monday…

[Sara] Honey, I'm doing the night shift. See you tomorrow morning.

[journalist] Travel between regions remains prohibited without valid reason.

Alright, see you tomorrow, honey.

Good luck.

[journalist] No.

Transport Minister De Micheli stepped in this afternoon.

[indistinct voices]

[journalist] She clarified the details on using public transit in the city.

It will only be available to those who are wearing…

[TV switches off]

[banging]

[Cosimo] Get out here! You want to talk?

Talk? What is there to talk about?

I'll kill you — nobody around here is going to ask where the hell you are!

[screaming]

[screaming]

What the hell do you think you're doing?

- What are you going to do? - Let go of me!

What are you going to do?

[Luca] No feeling — not even love — is as powerful as fear.

It's time to decide.

To be worthy of my father

or to be the coward I always feared I was.

[children screaming]

[playing "Muori delay" by Verdena]

What the hell was it…

Fourteen… 014217.

[lock clicking]

[racing heartbeat]

[muffled screaming]

[muffled voices]

I'll kill you! I'll kill you! You piece of shit!

[Cosimo] Nobody's coming to look for you here!

Tell me who the hell made the video! Who filmed you?

Tell me! Was it your sister?

[Luca] Philosopher Peter Sloterdijk says:

"What is man, if not the animal from whom too much is demanded?"

Huh?

[Cosimo] And who the hell are you?

- Put that thing down! - [Luca] Yes, yes.

- [Cosimo] Put it down! - Yes.

- Who the hell are you? - Let him go.

Shut up! How did you get in? Why does this moron know the code?

Are you sleeping with her?

- I'm the neighbor, I heard screaming. - You're the neighbor?

- [Luca] Yes. - You made the video?

- No, what video? - Don't give me that crap.

I know who you are — you're Sara Bernini's husband.

- Cosimo, please. - Hey! Shut up!

What, are you sleeping with your wife's sister?

- What? - What? You didn't know?

You know why? Because on top of being a slut, she's out of her mind.

You killed him.

[Luca] When it was all over, I was hit by a revelation.

Not only was I not the hero — I wasn't even the main character in this story.

[Antonello] She suffers from polycystic ovary syndrome.

Has she ever been diagnosed with it?

No.

What made you choose to come to us?

I wanted to meet you.

The interview on "Report," right?

You have no idea how many women came to ask me to get them pregnant

after that appearance.

Doctor…

You haven't told me if you want to pursue IVF.

I wanted to understand certain things first.

About you.

Your condition is nothing to worry about — it's quite common.

My daughter has the same issue.

- Your daughter? - The one love in my life that was never returned.

How old is she?

About your age.

- What's her name? - Sara.

- Why? - Goodbye.

Goodbye.

[Luca] The whole time,

I thought I was the one watching Amanda from my window.

But it was her watching us.

A little like those fish in the aquarium in Australia.

The tourists thought the fish were the show,

but from the fish's point of view, the humans were the show.

That's why they got depressed without visitors.

In the end, life is all a matter of perspective.

[inaudible voice]

[Amanda] He was the one who helped her find Sara's address.

Then he figured out that I'd come to stay here.

You lied to me about a hell of a lot.

What happened between us wasn't in the plan.

I just wanted to get a look at Sara's life.

[Amanda] To understand why she'd had everything and I had nothing.

Then the lockdown happened.

I ended up stuck here.

And you started watching me.

Now it's my fault? How was I supposed to know you were my wife's sister?

I didn't intend to fall in love with you.

- What a mess… - He was about to shoot you — what was I supposed to do?

- Sorry for saving your life. - Thanks a lot.

Now they'll throw me in jail and throw away the key.

- [Amanda] What was I supposed to do? - Keep me out of this mess!

Did I force you into anything? We both wanted this!

No one saw him come up.

It's not like he could tell his colleagues he was coming here.

This building is full of empty offices.

No one heard us.

So?

Amanda…

- Is that really your name? - Are you serious?

Let's make a deal.

I'll take care of Cosimo.

In return, you leave me and Sara alone. Forever.

- Mmh. - Do we have a deal or not?

How are you going to make him disappear?

Antonello's villa on the Appian Way.

The construction is on hold, but it starts up again tomorrow.

Do you have any black garbage bags?

- Who else knew about the two of you? - No one.

I'll go.

[Luca] I don't remember anymore who said that life is a tragedy up close,

but a comedy from a distance.

[officer] Talk to my colleague.

[Luca] The truth is that all irrational actions are driven by an underlying logic.

There's always a reason,

however absurd,

behind the things that can't be explained in hindsight.

My Xanadu.

- But you haven't finished it! - Covid shut down the construction site.

We have everything we need.

[laughter]

Come on, let's celebrate the end of this damn quarantine, Robi!

[muffled voices]

[Amanda] And…

And I can't remember anymore — it all happened so fast.

[Roberta] Aren't you coming?

What are you thinking about?

I was thinking about the end of the world.

Do you believe in it?

You are the end of the world! Just look at yourself!

[Antonello] My God, look at you!

- [phone ringing] - [voice assistant] Capital A.

What is it?

[Amanda] I want to change our deal.

What the hell are you saying? I just did my part.

I'm not my mother — I'm not disappearing.

- You're trying to screw me over? - No, I'm going to make you a hero.

You were at the window, you saw a man with a gun attacking your neighbor.

You want this?

You ran to help her because you're a brave man.

[Amanda] You found the door open, then came up from behind

and hit him with whatever you found — the Buddha statue —

which, by the way, has your fingerprints all over it.

- What the hell are you talking about? - [Amanda] It was a split-second reaction.

Self-defense.

You saved my life.

Given that I was scared because he was a cop who was blackmailing me…

- Cosimo Bravetta. - [Amanda] You made him disappear.

You did it for me.

Who are you with? Who are you telling this to?

You're the one who has to tell the story, Luca.

I've already told the police where you buried the body.

What?

Your brilliant plan was a crock of shit.

How long would it have taken them to trace Cosimo's movements and get to me?

You're crazy! He was right about you — you're out of your mind!

You can become the hero you always wanted to be, or you can tell the truth —

that you were a coward, that you dropped the statue

and then made me do the hard part.

[Amanda] You offered to hide the body if I disappeared from your life.

Either way, you're going to prison as an accomplice.

In that case, I'll tell the truth too.

To your wife, first of all.

But if you're so innocent,

how come you never told me she was your sister?

How come? I'll tell you why.

Because you had it all planned out — that's why.

[screeching tires]

[Luca] You just wanted to hurt her!

If I wanted to hurt Sara, I would've told her everything, wouldn't I?

[sirens]

And she's never going to find out.

Who are you? You're a monster! You're a monster!

Decide, Luca.

[sirens]

The truth.

[officer] Turn off the vehicle.

Or the best possible ending for both of us.

[officer] Alright, now both hands visible on the steering wheel.

[Luca] This is not the story of how I got arrested for murder.

[muffled] No, officer, wait! This is my home! That's my husband!

[Luca] The investigators can't figure out

why I hid the body at my father-in-law's house,

but only because they don't know my father-in-law.

[muffled] Officer, I live here! Let me through!

[Luca] The villa construction site was sealed off as a crime scene

for who knows how long.

[inaudible voices]

[Luca] Small comfort.

When all's said and done, all of this is Antonello's fault.

[inaudible voices]

[Luca] And so, just as the lockdown was ending

and people were finally starting to go outside again,

I was about to be locked up again — in prison this time.

Well, anyway, I'm glad Betta is your lawyer.

You're in good hands. Well done.

She's a killer, right.

Yeah, you know I think much more highly of her than of you, right?

Well, I can't argue with that.

Come on, tell me the truth — did you actually try to kill that bastard?

- A sense of necessity. - What a man!

- You've made me go weak at the knees. - You're an idiot.

[officer] Hey!

You know what I thought?

Your kid is going to have a hero for a father — except you survived.

I mean, you're the evolution of the species, you understand?

- [Ivan] Bye, my friend. - [Luca] Bye.

[Luca] And in a way, I was a bit of a hero for real.

After all, I was the one who picked up that Buddha first.

I wasn't completely making it up.

[indistinct voices]

[Luca] And even if I was a liar, compared to her I was a rank amateur.

[Sara] Would you explain to me what the hell this means? What is this letter?

Is all of this true?

First of all, thank you for coming.

Couldn't you have explained it to me right away instead of making all this mess?

I didn't have the courage.

- So you and I are… - Yes.

What a mess…

Listen, I have a frozen embryo waiting to find out what my plans are.

I need to know if you slept with him.

Sara, please, don't get ideas like that.

Luca only watched me from his window.

He kept trying to convince me to report everything, but I didn't want anyone to know.

It was all my fault.

So it was just courage?

It's not like him.

Look, if it hadn't been for him, I wouldn't be here.

- Why didn't he say anything? - Maybe he didn't want to drag you into it.

I don't know what the hell to do — do you understand?

Of course I understand.

I'd even gone to get an abortion.

[Amanda] Then I spat the pill out.

You're pregnant?

And by whom?

By Cosimo, the policeman.

If I can manage, so can you.

Maybe we can be one big family.

This whole thing…

- Makes me uncomfortable. - Sara, please.

- I'm sorry, no. - Sara, please!

[baby crying]

[judge] In the name of the Italian people,

having considered articles 533 and 535 of the Code of Criminal Procedure

and articles 81 and 584 of the Penal Code,

this court finds Luca Messico guilty

of the crime of unintentional manslaughter.

The charge of voluntary homicide as contested in the indictment

is accordingly downgraded.

- Idiots! - Shame on you!

- That's a ridiculous verdict! - Order.

[judge] And also guilty of the aggravated concealment of a corpse,

pursuant to article 61, number 2 of the Penal Code,

sentences him to a custodial term of four years and six months' imprisonment

and to pay…

- Four years? - But two years and he's out.

- Four and a half years! He killed him! - [Judge] Court is adjourned.

He says two years and he's out.

[Sara] Dad, please.

[Luca] This isn't even the story of how I became a father.

Twice.

With two different mothers.

Two sisters.

Amanda! Wait for me!

Sara, can I talk to you for a minute? Just one minute.

Sara! I'm your father, Sara!

[Luca] This is the story of Amanda and how she ruined my life.

For her, I did some very bad things.

[officer] Yard time! Everyone out!

[Luca] I'm not the upstanding citizen the papers make me out to be, that's true,

but I'm paying for a crime I didn't commit.

When you never take responsibility for anything,

life picks some responsibility for you.

I have no idea how long Amanda's web of lies will hold,

nor what my son — or rather, my children — will think of what happened.

But at least I've started writing my doctoral thesis.

I have all the time I want to finish it.

I'm not doing it to get back my academic career.

It's too late for that.

I'm doing it for myself.

Looking back, this is the story of how, for the first time,

I actually finished something I had started.

[playing "L'odore delle rose" by Diaframma]