The Lady Without Camelias (La signora senza camelie)

- Yes, signorina? - I would like to go inside.

- It's nearly finished. - Let her in.

- Go on in. - Thank you.

Anyway...

They're still not lost

and you will feel them

I still think I can have you

but I have deluded myself

But if one day you'll return

I won’t come back to you

Your lies...

I could kick myself.

It's useless, I have to do everything myself.

Imagine if we had put Clara in the first half too.

Sit down!

But for the one we're making now, don't screw me!

The protagonist has to be Clara. I know how to fix the script.

Melli told me your ideas. He doesn't think they'll work.

He's right, we're too far into the film now.

Listen to the script writer, It’ll be great!

Right...

What do you want me to say? I love films full of passion.

- Of course. - Who's the brunette?

It's Clara Manni.

- She's great, really great. - Which one?

- Not great, but that girl... - The main scene...

Was she from a beauty pageant?

No, I discovered her in Milan. She was a shop assistant.

You guys are out of it. In America they know how to launch a girl like that!

Listen to him - "in America", thanks!

We're doing another film with her - The Man without Destiny.

Which from tomorrow will be The Woman without Destiny.

Where do you find them? There are no beautiful women around...

- Is la Manni not here? - No, she's not well.

Ha, it rained! You need to tell Maria to get her wool dress out.

Ask Melli where that other intellectual is, they've got a big night tonight.

For tomorrow they have to rewrite the first scenes.

- I can't stop work to let them sleep! - Yes... Melli!

Think it went well? It couldn't have gone worse!

Go get Sivieri and we'll go to my house.

I'll get the car and catch up with you.

I'm sleepy! Where can I find Sivieri at this hour?

- You'll find him. - Here he is! Sivieri!

Let's not joke around, because I'm not writing a line!

- We'll have a nice coffee. - The money has to turn up too.

- It will! Goodnight. - Goodnight.

- Albonetti! - I'm coming! Goodbye.

I was going to call you.

What are you doing here? Were you at the screening?

I came at the end to hear what people were saying about me.

What did you think they'd say? That you're ugly and shouldn't work?

Come here. Don't be silly. Everybody is over there.

You'll be treated like a star, you're the protagonist after all.

Shall we have a drink alone?

Sorry, not tonight, sir.

- You still don't call me tu? - I tried, I can't!

The whole of Rome thinks we're lovers.

No!

- Would it be that strange? - Don't you think?

Well... I think I deserve a kiss tonight.

In all modesty, you've had a great success.

Thanks to you and signor Ercolino, I should kiss him too then.

If that's the way you see it, let's drop it.

- It went well, they liked it? - Yes, they even applauded.

Will you do me a favor?

Pick me up later than usual tomorrow?

I know I won't be able to sleep.

- So why go home? Stay with me. - I need to be alone.

Bye.

No, I doubt it.

Signorina Clara, please come.

Wait for me, we're not shooting much. We'll have breakfast together.

- Do we have petrol? - A little.

But I got loads this morning!

- Good day. - Good day.

- Dr Renzi! - Yes.

Telephone!

What's happening this morning?

Albonetti hasn't shown up, and everybody's on edge.

- Apart from you, sir. - It's all your fault, Clara.

My fault?

They're changing the script.

They say my part is too long and there's not enough time to do it.

They cut your part and you're this calm?

Why are they making these changes?

You've had a great success and they're betting on you.

They want to develop your role, and I'm willing to give way.

- Poor Lodi. - Why?

The world of cinema doesn't end here!

I take it you're not eating today.

I suppose you have to pay for success one way or another.

I would have paid more for it.

- Good day, Clara. - Good day.

- Good day, Lodi. - How's it going?

One moment please - Clara, Lodi!

- I wanted to tell you something... - Dr Franchi!

- What do you want? - I waited until ten for your call.

I was busy.

- What about tonight? - No, I can't.

I'll call tomorrow or the day after, or I'll come directly.

- Like this morning? - So?

After tomorrow then.

Wait, let's see what fate decides. What time can I have breakfast?

- Well... - I'm busy, we'll do it another day.

We'll have breakfast together, we need to talk.

We need to hurry today, we need to dismantle the set.

We're doing the scene of Sergio's return. More or less as it was.

- As it was...? - Easy. No line. No one will be bored.

We don't need dialogue!

Lovers need to do one thing, and that's all.

- The less they talk, the better. - Of course.

That's great for me.

I know we're supposed to be lovers, but as we were married...

Not married! You're lovers now.

The storyline works, and everything becomes more...

- Just "more"! - Exactly.

And the scene we already shot?

We can change anything during the dubbing process.

But I repeat, nothing has changed. No married couples, lovers!

- See? - It changes nothing.

- How have they dressed her? - They've just dressed her!

- It's the dress from the first meal. - And the braids?

Wear your hair down, it's so lovely.

- Why is she dressed like this? - I just did what I was told.

Are you blind?

If they told you I was a shoe, you'd polish me!

- Be quick now and change her look. - That's fine with me.

Listen, Lodi...

What can I say? This film is what it is.

I had to do it because,

frankly, I need the money.

So I try to do what I can.

Honestly, I do what the others want.

It will be a fast success, trust me!

Come with me and we'll try the scene.

Understand? Leave me some light in here!

- And be quiet! - Sure.

You go into the girl's house,

who's your lover, not your wife any more.

- I know. - You take your coat off because it's hot.

- It's summer. - Where's my lover?

She's by the window. Signorina Manni!

- She's getting dressed. - Wasn't she supposed to be undressed?

- He will undress her. - What about the censors?

Don't worry.

- Where's the camera? - It's there.

Well done, signorina Manni, very good.

When he enters, you will be here. Follow me to the window.

- In the meantime... Renzi, the peasants! - Ready!

She's supposed to be a peasant from Calabria?

If the public asked those kind of questions

we might as well shoot ourselves.

To think I'm losing sleep because she's earning millions showing...

Don't I do films for you?

I'd like to see how you'd earn a living!

Let's see if we agree on this. Off the set please!

- Silence! - Yes, come here.

Let's try the kissing scene, you know what you're doing.

Let's see how it turns out.

- But... - Go ahead.

Excuse me, Clara, but I have to.

Sit down...

The blouse...

That's it.

Down...

Down like I explained before.

- What about the censors? - What about it? Keep quiet!

- Was that good? - That was great!

Great, perfect.

- It's very hot. - Right, now...

- Assunta, the dressing gown please. - Yes.

Get ready and we'll try with the lights. Go on.

Well done.

- And you said nothing's changed? - What? It works better this way.

Why would you need to talk in a scene like that? Words are useless.

On the top.

Was I good as the femme fatale?

It's an obsession.

Hello, Renata.

Why didn't you call me?

You risked coming over for nothing.

I'm off today anyway, they're rewriting some scenes.

I brought you these flowers, aren't they wonderful?

- That crazy man sent me a big bunch! - Who?

Gianni.

- He asked me to marry him. - Really?

He wants an answer now and he wants to get married now!

I need to go to the office and meet him.

- What will you say? - I don't know, I haven't thought about it.

I bet you haven't even kissed.

Yes, once. Three days ago at the theatre.

- Do you like Gianni? - Yes, I like him.

What do you think I should do?

The idea of getting married is very strange for me.

There once was a guy who wanted to marry me

but he was so shy!

- Not this one. - He wants it now, he always does that.

He came to the shop, I was serving a lady a black and grey textile print.

I told you about it, I think.

Gianni came in and said: