The Audience (L'udienza)

THE AUDIENCE

As to those who will see him,..

first, everybody kneel when the Holy Father comes.

Second, you are strongly required not to speak to the Holy Father.

I see there are children.

They can speak, because the Holy Father loves to hear the voice of innocence.

As for the grown-ups, another very important recommandation:

if the Holy Father asks you a question,..

do not sin by pride, but with filial humbleness,..

and exclusively, you must answer:

"Yes Holy father, no Holy Father. "

That's it, gentlemen, I'm through. - How must we...

interpret the interdiction of speaking to the pope? - Excuse me?

I was saying, how are we to interpret..

the interdiction of speaking to the pope?

But it is not an interdiction,..

it is only an advice.

We strongly advice not to bother the Holy Father. That's all!

Why? Maybe you intend to speak to the Holy Father? No, right?

But is it prohibited or not?

Come with me, my son.

So, if I've understood correctly, you really want to speak to the Holy Father.

We'll do what is required.

Look at them!

Beatiful and well-beheaved.

Hello, monsignor Banti speaking.

We have a delicate situation to solve.

Find Diaz, and send him in the Statues' Hall.

Praised be Jesus Christ.

What is it? - My son...

- Yes? - Let's see this over.

You really must speak to the Holy Father?

Yes. I've made a long voyage just for this.

Excuse me, I'm going. I'll be back later.

Do like the others, content yourself with seeing him and getting his blessing.

I can't, I must speak to him. - Then you may not enter with them.

Don't be sad, your situation has to be solved differently.

See, my son, this is a group audience. Come, we'll find another way.

Keep calm, calm always bears fruits.

Listen! Please! Listen!

Don't make any noise. - I'm claustrophobic!

I said don't make any noise!

Will it take long?

Where is he?

Ah, here he is!

My son, would you explain your situation to this gentleman?

Do you realize how much time I'm losing? - Calm...

Calm down. You'll see, the wait will be beneficial.

Come, young man.

Aureliano Diaz, official.

Glad to meet you. But I don't understand what's going on. - It's only procedures.

There are some steps to follow. It will be over in no time.

It seems kafkaesque.

Hey, young man, stay away from the window!

We've had some unpleasant precedents.

There's nothing kafkaesque. Formalities, just formalities!

Look, I'm not prevented.

And I don't insinuate at all that there has been any provocation on your side.

However... - May I sit? - Sit, rest. - Thank you.

Comfortable?

However, I was saying, you must admit trying to abuse our trust.

Group audiences are only destined to see...

the Holy Father.

Sir, indecent magazine.

"Playboy"!

Well? Then?

There's nothing to be said.

Do you know it's forbidden?!

I've bought it in the station in Bologna.

The station in Bologna? Alright.

Sir, shall we examine this?

There's nothing to examine. It's mine.

Give it here. Give it here, I said!

And don't you dare hinder our work!

Examine it.

I protest! It's not pornographic stuff. - Oh, no?

Don't be nervous.

The innocent is not afraid. - I'm not afraid.

Do you like Maigret? - No, I don't like Maigret at all.

Rather, can I stretch my legs? - Sure, sure.

Not by the window, though!

- Ready. - Okay, let's begin. - Alright sir.

Step aside, young man. We can't see anything.

An interesting find!

Didn't I say it? A maniac, just a maniac.

Listen...

Have you ever been hospitalized in an asylum?

What a question! - Are you sure? - No, no.

How long have you been in Rome?

Where do you live? Have you got money? Are you a member of the Communist Party?

I'll give you my wallet now. There are all my documents. Here!

A great pope. The pope of peace. Let me see this stuff. Keep it.

My glasses.

"National Union officers on leave." What? You're an officer?

And you didn't mention it?! - Nobody asked me!

And you? Shut it off!

Don't you search the pockets? Don't you look into the wallets?

Frankly, we forgot.

Take it, and excuse us.

Here's your suit. Please get dressed.

It was a misunderstanding.

But you must understand that our preventive suspicion is necessary.

Well, what are you waiting for? Go and prepare his suitcase! - Yes sir.

But, since you're an officer on leave... - Give me that.

And if I weren't an officer, how would it have ended? Huh?

All's well that ends well.

Don't worry, those responsible took note of your desires.

Go, go to your hotel. Hotel Columbro, isn't it? - Too kind of you!

Go to the museums. You'll see, we'll let you know once the right moment comes.

Alright? Thank you for the magazine. See you soon. - I hope not.

Here, I must go through.

You can't with this one. You need our card, it's different.

How's that? I'm an officer on leave! "Italian Army"!

You can't. - Check it up.

What is the matter? - He wants to get in.

It's not possible. - Are you Italian?

Hello.

You need a pass to enter the Vatican.

Go there. I can't do anything...

Stop! Where are you going?

I must get in. Officer on leave.

Private house! - I seek an interview with the Pope.

Officer wants to speak to the pope!

For audiences, there.

Can't you read?

Private house! - For visits, down there!

Military pass.

Private house!

Private house! But I won't move from here!

Here, anteroom private house.

What are you doing with that tool?

Put down that halberd, German!

Away, please! - Dear Sir, the Middle Ages is over!

Come, we can see the Pope's gardens from here. - I'm coming.

Good day, sister. - Good day. May I help you?

Have you got a record with pope John?

Yes, we have a Long-playing.

Thank you.

Would you like to listen it? - Yes, thank you. - Please.

Mine is only one voice,

But it carries the voice of the whole world.

All the world is represented here.

You could say..

Do you sell a lot? that even the Moon..

was in a hurry tonight. Watch it in the sky...

Here we are. - What do you want? - Nothing, just looking.

You know that with your mania for walking, you're ruining my feet?

Say, do you ever tire?

I don't have to answer. Or is this a regular interrogatory?

No interrogatory.

Pope John. Formidable voice.

Listen Amedeo, you really suffer from persecution mania.

But I don't tail anyone. It happens that for my work I..

have to walk a lot, and so we meet. Clear?

Thank you, sister.

The truth is that you're tailing me!

So, will you spend Easter in Rome, or with your family?

I'm an orphan. You'd like me gone, huh?

But I'm not leaving. I've got to solve my problem.

You must see me as a friend.

Do you have your card with you? - Why?

Take out your officer card.

Swear you'll keep the secret.

How, swear? - On your honour.

Alright. - There, see.

Let's swear.

I'll show you the right way. - Lord.

I swear upon my honour.

Good. Now, write down this phobe number:

45-50-33.

Wrtite this name as well:

Aiche.

Write it, write it. Call her up, follow my advice.

Did you write it? - Yes.

Sometimes, the winding roads are the best.

But I'll deny having said anything.

I'm a curious woman.

Who gave you my number?

I'm supposed not to reveal his name.

I'm sorry.

Aiche, try this one, it should fit you.

Don't be mean, tell me.

What's your opinion?

My friend Diaz!

And how can I help you?

I really can't imagine!

It's a privatre matter.

I'm going to try it. Come.

The gentleman is really mysterious. - Does it fit here?

What am I to do for you?

Help me... meeting the Holy Father.

Me?

Yes.

And what have you to say to the Pope?

I'm sorry, but I'll say this only to the Holy Father.

Is it such a big secret? - Don't smile.

I'm not mad.

Sorry.

What an ordeal! It might look incredible, but..

but I write everything down.