Conversation Piece (Gruppo di famiglia in un interno)

Exquisite.

No doubt about that.

Yes, yes, indeed. Hm.

- Forgive me. Er, excuse me... - That's quite unnecessary.

Actually, I'd like to take a look at the veranda.

- Please do. I'm afraid it's a bit untidy. - Oh! Don't bother! I can manage.

- Well, Professor? - It's exquisite, as I've already said.

But...

- I can't buy it. - The price is not unreasonable?

- Last spring at Sotheby's you'd pay... - £3,000, not a penny more.

Now, Professor, I put in a bid myself for 3,500.

I'll show you the bill of sale.

Really, Professor, that's quite unnecessary.

Though, I am surprised.

Congratulations, in any case.

Still, you must admit that prices

have risen considerably since last spring.

Only yesterday, we had a request for...

Anybody here?

Is anybody here?

- Ah! May I ask a favour of you? - Yes, of course.

We'll leave it. You think it over.

I've thought it over. I'm not bickering about the price.

It's the wrong time of the year, anyway - taxes, work to be done on the house.

Take it away. I don't want the responsibility.

It shouldn't be weighing on you that much.

Don't worry. You will be doing us a favour.

We have to look at some things in a villa off the Via Cassia.

Wouldn't want to leave it in the car, nowadays. We'll send for it later.

If you don't, I'll send it back myself. I'm not in the market, gentlemen.

I'm still hoping that you change your mind.

Don't worry, Professor. We know the way.

I only hope we haven't disturbed you.

- Not at all. Have a good trip. -Thank you. Goodbye.

Goodbye, Monsieur.

- You really should have this one. - I don't change my mind. Goodbye.

Good bye, Professor.

Have they gone?

Hm?

- Yes, just this moment. - Good.

Excuse me, er...

Are you the, er...the owner of this painting?

That? Good God, no!

Are you sure it's worth all that money?

A frightfully oily pair, those two. They're not fences, are they?

They are the proprietors of the Blanchard Gallery, Paris.

But...weren't you with them?

Oh, no. I bumped into them on the landing.

Then, to what do I owe this pleasure?

Your housekeeper and the porter told me that your upstairs apartment is empty.

- I would like to rent it. - Rent it?

It's not for rent. I'm moving part of my library up there.

- I have no more room here. - Now, Professor, really?

I've looked! The corridors, the service area.

An enormous amount of shelf space.

And mind you, if you had simpler shelves in your study,

there'd be no more problem.

Thank you for your advice, but if you don't mind...

Listen, Professor, my husband, who has never read a book in his life,

unless I'm very much mistaken, has a mania for rooms lined with books.

Insanity, if you ask me.

Well, he's had some other shelves made.

Not metal ones - I agree, they're ghastly -

but of wood, cherry wood.

You have no idea the amount they hold!

I like the shelves I have and the apartment is not for rent.

- Now, if you... - At least let me see it. Hm?

- See what? - The apartment.

I may not even like it and that would settle everything.

It will only take a second and you needn't budge.

Your housekeeper can show it to me.

Erminia, I think she said her name was. Isn't that it?

Erminia!

She told me she's been with you for 25 years.

You're a lucky man.

Erminia.

Erminia!

The professor has kindly given his...

Bring me the keys to the upstairs apartment.

The upstairs, yes.

I don't wish to be rude, but I must repeat this is a waste of time.

Oh, yes, of course, but couldn't I have a little peek?

For years, I've been looking at those windows up there.

I often park in Piazza Campitelli when I come down town on errands.

Parking has become such a problem.

That's another reason why I'm trying to get a flat in this neighbourhood.

I live 15 miles out of town.

Well?

- My daughter, Lietta. - Hi.

By the way, excuse me, I'm Bianca Brumonti.

Your coat, sir.

What have you been doing here all this time?

- There's no heat up there. - That's all right.

Very difficult situation. Sh.

Wait, Lietta.

It's really nice up here.

Remind me to ask Stefano if he knows the owner of the Blanchard Gallery.

- They look like crooks to me. - La Galerie Blanchard?

They're famous, like Christie's or Sotheby's.

But that doesn't mean they wouldn't rob you blind!

Ha-ha.

I won't open the windows because they're barred.

- Lietta. - Besides, I'm in a great hurry.

- Lietta, lend me a hand! - Really, Signora, I must...

I'll shut it again, don't worry. It's just to get an idea.

Anyway, it's so musty in here.

It's beautiful! Absolutely perfect!

Bianca, you're a genius!

- It's perfect. - All right, calm yourself.

- He's not renting to us. - What do you mean?

It's probably being kept for mice or bats.

- He just wants more money. - (Professor) That is not the case.

- Shall we look inside? - Huh!

Idiot!

Mummy!

Come here, look!

If it's for rent, what's the problem?

From the beginning, I informed your mother

that this apartment was not for rent.

Your mother insisted upon seeing it.

He's no son of mine, thank God!

They say he looks like his father, but it's only a coincidence.

Hey, Bianca. You'd better get down here real fast!

The joke may be on you!

- What's Konrad doing here? - Excuse me.

- I can't see him. - I saw him.

- Why is he staying down there? - I don't know.

He said he couldn't come with me because he was meeting you.

- Why meeting me? - Hm.

Stefano, I heard him tell you he was coming by to pick you up.

Oh! I must have got it mixed up or something.

I really don't...remember.

I said I would do that, didn't I? You'll get yourself all dirty.

Wait. You have to put on the bar.

The police are towing away your car.

You couldn't stop them?

I've never been permitted to have the keys of your car, my dear.

It's infuriating!

Aren't you going to show me my little nest?

Don't be funny.

Lietta, Stefano, if they already hauled it away, try and catch them in your car.

- All right. Come on. - Yeah.

Signorina, is Monsieur Blanchard there?

Yes, yes, it's I.

Blanchard, is my concierge still there?

The man who brought back the painting.

Well, that's too bad.

Because now you'll have to take the trouble of sending someone back here.

I've changed my mind. I've decided to buy it.

Sold it? I don't believe it. When?

Professor, Signor Micheli.

- Come in, Micheli. - Am I disturbing you?

No, no. Come in. Sit down.

- Why are you standing there? - Eh? Oh, yes.

Yesterday morning, I had a phone call

from the Marchesa Brumonti, whom you know.

We've met, but I don't know her.

- Nor do I wish to. - Yes, I understand.

I hope she's not the reason you've come.

- No... - (Lietta) Here I come, ready or not.

Were you talking about somebody's mother?

If you don't say you're pleased, I'll have a coronary.

We bought it. Where shall I put it?

Put it over there on the divan.

- Are these people with you? - We won him over.

As I was saying, Professor, yesterday, I received a certain telephone call

- with a proposal of considering... - Proposal?

Yes. And as your lawyer, I felt it was my duty

to listen to an advantageous offer and also to advise you to...

What are you trying to tell me?

We forced him into it. Listen, Professor, I know how you feel.

I know how Mummy can be but, I beg you,

please listen to me for a minute.

Just one year. One year?

I swear, if you knew what it meant to us,

you'd probably give us the apartment free.

I believe, Professor, that Signora Brumonti

failed to explain to you yesterday

that she wants the apartment only for one year.

You told me that you don't plan the renovation before this next spring.

- That's why I took the liberty of... - No.

- No, I'm sorry. - (Lietta sighs)

Rome is full of the kind of fancy apartments that will suit you.

But Mummy will invent a thousand excuses not to look at them.

From what the Marchesa told me,

it seems that the young lady is engaged to the...

That's silly. We're only trying it out.

Mummy's agreed that I can leave home

and live here in Konrad's house with Stefano.

Who's Konrad?

Come on, Professor, you met him yesterday.

The apartment's his. I mean, it's for him.

You're an extraordinarily frank young lady.

I will answer you with equal frankness.

I'm in no hurry to move my library upstairs.

And I'm an old man - neurotic, slightly hysterical.

Often disturbed by strange noises and strange people

and having to put up with any sort of formalities.

Now you see why I cannot rent you the apartment.

Oh, you're not old and you're not hysterical.