Original subtitles

[violin screeching]

What is the matter with that door?

Uncle Martin, what is going on around here?

Can't you hear it?

Well, I'll admit that it's rough on the eardrums, but--

Tim, it just isn't the eardrums, it's--

You know, for a minute there, I thought--

That you could see right through me.

Hey.

It's Mrs. Brown's violin.

When she plays that one abominable note,

my normal three-dimensional self short circuits

with my non-dimensional self. Result?

I alternate between the two so rapidly, I appear transparent.

Do you mean that this happens every time a Martian

hears a horrible violinist?

It's not the violinist, it's the violin.

And I haven't heard one that deplorable in 300 years.

I'll never forget that violin maker, Antonio Stradivari.

He made the worst--

Stradivarius?

Stradivari.

Stradivarius is the violin he made.

It was the worst!

Oh, come on now, Uncle Martin.

Everyone knows that-- that he made the greatest violins

that the world has ever heard.

Of course he did, after I showed him.

Mm-hmm.

It was self-preservation.

[beeping]

[beeping]

[theme music]

[violin screeching]

It's a losing fight, Tim.

If we can discourage Mrs. Brown's interest in the violin,

I'm afraid I'm going to have to find another place to live.

Oh, come on, Uncle Martin.

You can always wear earplugs.

It has nothing to do with hearing.

It's my entire nervous system.

A violin has a very strong, penetrating sound.

It's been known to shatter glass.

Aw.

[glass shattering]

Oh dear.

Did I do that?

It's all right, Ms. Brown.

I got another pair of glasses.

Now this time, you play not so loud, eh?

You see that P there?

That means pianissimo.

Soft-- soft.

Piano, piano.

Piano.

Oh.

[horn honks]

Oh dear, did I do that?

No, no, no, no, that's my boy Giovanni.

[horn honks]

[violin screeching]

Piano.

Piano!

[mumbling in italian]

Ah, Giovanni, you're a sight for sore eyes.

Johnny, Pop.

When are you going to call me Johnny?

Ah, what kind of name is that for a violin maker?

You Giovanni Amalfi.

Oh, Pop, when are you going to give it up?

You know if they accept me for that job

in New York with Consolidated General Music,

I'm going to take it.

Giovanni, who's going to make Amalfi violins after me?

Pop, face it.

Somewhere along the line, we lost the touch.

Amalfi violins haven't got it anymore.

You're lucky you can give them as loaners to your students.

And what kind of success are we running when you have to give

lessons to stay in business?

I can't build a future on that.

But, Giovanni, sooner or later,

there's got to come out a great violin!

[violin screeches]

I think we're closer to a great secret weapon.

Piano.

[doorbell buzzes]

Ah, hello, boys!

My, what a nice surprise.

Come on in.

I hope we're not interrupting.

Oh, no, if you don't mind listening while I practice.

I'm trying to learn to play piano.

Piano?

Yes, and it's not easy on the violin.

Oh, I think everyone should find a way to express himself.

I found mine.

This is the real me.

Yes, so we've heard

Well, of course I'm just beginning,

and I know it's going to take practice,

practice, and more practice.

Well, then since we're going to have a virtuoso

in our midst, we'll confess.

We actually came down so that we might, uh--

hear you play.

We did?

Oh, yes, we did.

Oh, well, I--

I am just beginning.

On, in that case--

Oh, but I do know this one piece.

Oh!

Oh, good grief, it broke!

It's-- it's-- it's not even my violin.

Oh dear. - Oh, now, now, Mrs. Brown.

It, uh, it's just the strings.

Well, can it be fixed?

Well, Tim used to play.

Didn't you, Tim?

And I believe that we have some violin strings, uh, upstairs.

Don't we, Tim?

V-- v-- violin strings?

V-- v-- viola-- viola--

Oh, yes, yes!

Yes, I have a whole bowl of them upstairs in the kitchen drawer.

Now, if you let me, I know a little something about violins.

Uh, I'll have this back for you tomorrow

good as new, maybe better.

Oh, thank you!

Oh!

Oh my, your uncle is such a comfort to have around.

Yes, he's a solid citizen.

Yes, I hope we'll be able to keep it that way.

[whistles]

All that to fix violin strings?

That was a ruse, Tim.

I'm rebuilding the entire instrument

so that it can no longer produce that transparency harmonic.

I knew instantly that we couldn't get her to change

her mind about playing.

Oh?

Well, uh, what made you so sure?

Her mind told me there's an opening

for a lady violinist in the Lonelyhearts Little Symphony.

Mrs. Brown wants to play in an orchestra?

Very badly.

She'll do that, all right.

There we are.

Now it's ready to be returned.

Well, doesn't the glue take time to dry?

Earth glue takes time to dry.

[violin plays smoothly]

Not bad.

Basically, the Amalfi is a fine instrument merely suffering

from the improper positioning of the base bar in the sound post.

[dramatic violin music]

Hmm.

Hmm, not a touch of transparency.

Solid, 3D me.

Molto bene!

Thank you.

TIM: You know, you sounded as good as Heifetz.

Actually, I sounded better, but only because Heifetz

has an inferior violin.

His is only a Stradivarius.

- That's better? - Mm-hmm.

While I was at it, I made a few minor adjustments.

Yeah, well, I, uh--

I believe you.

But look, do you think it's wise to actually

make it sound that good?

With Mrs. Brown playing, who will know the difference?

But, Giovanni, you listen to your papi.

Is the future in Amalfi and Son.

Amalfi is a good violin.

All we need is to find the secret--

and we're going to, I feel it.

Pop, look.

This is a real job, it's a future.

But, Giovanni!

I'm sorry, Papa.

I got to pick up my plane ticket.

I'll come back for you later, OK?

Never mind you come back for me!

[doorbell buzzes]

Hello!

Buongiorno, Mr. Amalfi.

Buongiorno, Mrs. Brown.

Well, I'm all tuned up and ready for you.

I'm ready for you, too.

All right, now.

One and a two and--

that son of mine.

One and a two and a-- bambino mio.

One and a two and--

maybe he's right.

Are you talking to me, Mr. Amalfi?

Maybe Amalfi never make a good violin again.

Uh, Mr. Amalfi?

Oh-- oh-- oh-- uh--

Mrs. Brown, that's fine, that's fine,

but you forget to look at the music.

Yes.

One and a two and a--

one-- one--

[gentle violin music]

Something wrong?

Is-- is my ears.

I'm a hear things.

Violin!

[delicate violin music]

You hear?

Notes like that don't ever come from a violin I'm a make.

Something is a happen to him!

You don't think that I--

Ah!

You do something.

Oh, no, really, Mr. Amalfi.

Mrs. Brown, please.

Something you do to this violin, I got to know what it is!

Please, you just got to remember!

Oh, all right, I'll tell you, I'll tell you.

What?

What?

I broke the string.

You-- you-- you-- you broke the string?

Well, I didn't mean to, honestly.

I didn't think that you'd notice.

I-- I thought Mr. O'Hara fixed it very nicely

and it sounded as good as new.

Who-- who's a fix?

M-- Mr. O'Hara, who's a this Mr. O'Hara?

Mr. O'Hara, he lives upstairs.

Oh, he can fix anything.

Oh, a genius!

Another Leonardo!

And you say he's a live right upstairs?

Yes, over the garage.

Is a o--

over the garage?

Look where he's got to live.

Oh, thank you, Mrs. Brown, thank you!

Oh, tanti grazie!

Oh, que bella!

Que bella, mama mia!

Arrivederci!

Picking up anything, Uncle Martin?

Tim, cannot afford to be associated with that violin.

Obviously, there are certain questions it might be

incriminating for me to answer.

Oh, yeah.

Like, uh, who taught Stradivari, or, uh,

where were you on the night of October 17th, 1684?

Exactly, so I shall now leave the premises.

And I would appreciate it if you would

get Mr. Amalfi to do the same as quickly as possible.

Who?

[knocking on door]

Mr. O'Hara?

Yeah.

Mr. O'Hara, what you've done.

And such a young man, too!

And you're not even Italian.

Oh, well, just-- just a minute Mr. uh--

Amalfi, of Amalfi and Son, since 1680.

Oh-- oh, Mr. O'Hara, please.

You've got to help me.

Help you do what?

Fix violins, like you do Ms. Brown's.

Oh, that!

Oh, well, that was my uncle.

- Your uncle? - Yes.

Oh.

Well, then you uncle, he's got to help me.

Oh, well, you see he's not here right now.

Uh, I don't even know what he's going to be back.

Oh, Mr. O'Hara, please.

Amalfi and Son is a great name--

until is my name.

Now-- it's just another number in the telephone book.

Please don't think that I don't understand.

It's how you understand.

Please.

If your uncle is a tell me his great secret, you tell him--

I no got very much, but I will give him everything I own.

Well, all he did was replace the strings.

But who made the violin in the first place?

I'm a make in my shop--

Uh-huh.

You trying to tell me that I'm a make a instrument

and is a make this a sound?

Me?

It's not impossible.

Who say?

After all these years, I'm a trip over the secret!

Why not?

Yes, why not?

It's what I've been working for.

Well, then that's it.

Well, how you like that?

I'm a do it now!

But I don't know I'm a do.

But, hey, I do it once, I can do it again, huh?

Right.

Think positively.

Positively!

Poor guy.

Yeah.

He certainly is and I'm thoroughly

ashamed of myself, Tim.

Oh, well, Uncle Martin, look, if he--

if he thinks he's great, maybe it'll give him confidence.

Maybe he'll become great.

He'll take that violin back to his shop

and try to figure out what he did right.

He didn't do anything right.

It'll break his spirit completely.

Don't blame yourself, Uncle Martin.

We meant well.

Exactly what Frank James tried to tell me about Jesse.

No, he's my responsibility now, Tim.

I've got to do something for that man.

He now believes that he created that violin, but we

know he didn't and couldn't.

You mean, uh, you can't turn a sow's ear into a silk purse.

Of course you can by merely rearranging

the molecular structure, but that has

nothing to do with the problem.

Or has it?

Uncle Martin, you don't mean you're

thinking of rearranging him?

I'm thinking of working with what he already has,

which should be enough.

He's a good craftsman.

But, Uncle Martin, he's no genius.

That's right, Tim, but we know who is.

Now, all you Amalfis, you listen.

All this time I no can face you.

Eh, but now, I'm gonna look right

into your eyes and you gonna--

What's he saying?

He's talking to himself.

No, no, no, not to himself, to his ancestors.

[gentle violin music]

Ah, you hear that, eh?

You, Pasquale, and you, Dominic.

You think you're such a hot stuff.

You always look down your nose at me, eh?

But you ever make a violin sound like that, eh?

And you, Great-grandpapa Giuseppe.

You're proud of me now, eh?

And you gonna be proud of my boy Giovanni, too.

Amalfi and Son is gonna be right on top again.

Camatti and Guenari-- yes, and even Stradivari.

If only I can figure out how I'm a make him come out like this.

But I gotta do it.

I gotta think positive.

Just you watch me.

All right, now, you stay here and keep anyone, especially

his son, from intruding.

That man needs a helping hand, and desperately.

Oh?

The, uh, the fine Italian hand of Martin O'Hara?

Si.

MARTIN (VOICEOVER): Now, if I can only get his hands

to move the right way.

Hey, you saw!

You go where I'm a push you!

Uh-- uh-- uh--

M-- Mr. Amalfi? - Yes.

I, uh, I--

I'm O'Hara of the Los Angeles Sun--

you see-- and, uh, I'd like to do a, uh,

a feature story on you.

On me?

Well, thanks, but what for?

Yeah, well, it's not on-- on you exactly, but uh--

well.

It's, uh, on the Amalfi family, but from-- from your angle.

Well, you know, the, uh, the last of Amalfi and Son,

the world's great violin maker.

What is this, a rip?

Well, don't you want the publicity?

Publicity?

You ever hear two cats fighting?

They've got more tone than one of our fiddles.

Ah-- Ah, you're putting me on!

I mean, the Amalfi-- the great Amalfi violin.

- Great, huh? - Yeah.

I hope you've got strong eardrums.

[off-key violin music]

Uh, who are you?

I mean, what are you?

'Cause you sure ain't a who.

I?

Who am I?

Uh-- I, sir, am the ghost of the greatest violin maker of them

all, Stradivari.

The ghost of Signor Stradivari?

I have been walking the Earth and searching these 300 years.

At last, I found you.

Me?

Why pick on me?

Because finally I have found a master who can create

a violin as fine as mine.

Well, now, mister ghost of, uh, Signore Stradivari.

Uh, I gotta tell you something, just between you

and me and my family up there.

I don't know what I'm a do different than when

I'm a make that thing that's a screaming out there.

I know, and that's why I have come

to tell you the great secret you have won the right to know.

You gonna tell me?

Oh, mister Signor Stradivari, you a good man.

I mean, you a good ghost.

You save Amalfi and Son!

No, I'm going to save the world from violins like that.

You've got to promise to rebuild every violin in the shop

so it sounds like this.

That not a promise, that a pleasure.

You think I like to listen to that?

Good.

Then here's all you have to do.

Mr. Amalfi, you-- you don't seem to fully

appreciate what my newspaper--

Mr. O'Hara, I appreciate what you're trying to do,

but the answer is still no.

And you must tell no one where you got this secret,

is that clear?

Oh, you betcha.

Who's gonna believe I'm a talk to a ghost?

I no believe it myself.

Then I will say farewell, Signor Amalfi, and good luck.

Amalfi and Son is dead.

Let it be buried.

Yeah, but-- but-- uh, but-- but--

No.

B-- but, uh--

He's a gone!

Who were you talking to, Pa?

Oh, just myself.

That's how happy your papa is.

Oh, Giovanni, I gotta tell you.

Amalfi is a great violin maker again.

We got the secret.

I told you it come back!

Pop, don't try and talk me or yourself into anything, huh?

You do what you want, and I'm a no talk nobody into nothing.

You just listen.

I'm a gonna show you something for your own ears.

Pop, will you listen to me for a second--

You listen.

[delicate violin music]

Well?

What you hear?

Stradivarius!

No, no, is not a Stradivarius, but an Amalfi.

You see right there?

It says Amalfi.

I'm gonna make a whole shop full of like this one,

and violinists, they gonna be proud to play

a violin made by Amalfi.

No, Pop, not Amalfi.

AMALFI: What do you mean no Amalfi?

Amalfi and Son.

Giovanni.

Oh.

Say, Uncle Martin.

Guess what?

All right.

You just met Mrs. Brown, and because the Amalfi violins have

gone up in value and price, she has

given up the violin completely.

Spoilsport.

Well, anyway, you ought to feel good.

With no more violins around, you don't have to worry about, uh,

people suddenly seeing through you.

Uh-huh.

And I'm also grateful that Mrs. Brown

didn't dig up another horrible violin

to torture my nervous system.

[mrs. brown singing off-key]

Oh, no.

Oh, yes.

[theme music]