Wait Until Spring, Bandini

Have mercy, father, 'cause I have sinned.

My last confession was… four or five days ago.

I took the name of the Lord in vain about… 68, 70 times.

I did a couple of bad things, like…

I listened to a bad joke and I laughed.

A couple of kids were watching a couple of dogs

and I said something kind of bad.

I tore a picture out of the magazine and she was naked.

I hit Bobby Craik in the face 'cause he called me a dirty wop.

I took a dime from my mother's purse to go to the show.

And, um…

I lied a couple of times. Like… maybe ten or twelve.

Is that all, Arturo?

I probably forgot a few things, father,

but I'm sorry, even for the things I forgot.

Okay.

Your penance will be three Hail Mary's and two Our Father's.

Thanks, father.

Shit! Shit!

Damn it! How many times I tell that little bastard!

Keep your sled out of the front walk.

Oh, no!

Svevo?

Arturo broke the kitchen window.

Broke it? How?

He pushed Federico's head through it.

The son of a bitch!

He didn't mean it. He was only playing.

And what did you do? Nothing, I suppose.

It was an accident, Svevo.

The dirty little son of a bitch.

-You've spoiled him. -He's like you.

You were a bad boy, too.

I was? Like hell!

You didn't catch me pushing my brother's head through the window.

That's because you didn't have any brothers.

Damned winter.

Christmas will soon be here.

Ask God to make it a happy Christmas.

Why should I ask him for a happy Christmas?

He won't even give me luck in a lousy… poker game.

How much did you lose?

More than five?

Ten.

Come here.

Snow!

Hello, sports fans.

We're here in the locker room of the New York Yanks.

And look, there's Arturo Bandini,

preparing himself for the difficult task that waits from on the field.

Arturo, how are you feeling?

Arturo? Hurry up, you'll be late for school.

I'm coming.

Good luck, slugger.

Not eggs again!

It's always eggs.

Be grateful to God that you have something to eat.

Shut your holy face, August.

So…

You pushed your brother's face through the window.

Shut up.

Let someone push your face through the window.

See if you don't cry!

Well?

Why did you push Federico's head through the window?

I don't know! I just did it, that's all.

And how do you know I won't knock your goddamn block off?

Svevo. Svevo, please.

What do you want?

He didn't mean it, Svevo. It was an accident.

Boys will be boys.

Boys will be boys.

That little bastard pushes his brother's head through the window

and boys will be boys.

Who is going to pay for the window, huh?

Who is going to pay the doctor bills when he pushes his brother off a cliff?

Who is going to pay the lawyer when they send him to jail

for murdering his brother?

A murderer in the family! Dio mio! Heaven help us!

Look at him. The poor boy.

Who is going to pay for his funeral?

You won't have to pay for the funeral, Dad. I'll do the service.

Ah, you will?

And did you ever see a priest who wets the bed?

Huh?

Do you think people want a priest who wets the bed?

Svevo, what about the window?

How do I know? I've got bills up to my neck.

Maybe I should write a letter to Mama.

Don't you dare!

I don't need help from nobody. And certainly not your mother!

-That stupid... -Please, Svevo.

Not with the children.

Eat. I'll get you a window.

I'd like to talk to Mr. Helmer, please?

Just a minute.

Mr. Bandini.

I just wanted to pay you a visit and here you are.

What can I do for you?

Can we go into your office?

Why should we?

Well… Mr. Helmer, it's like this.

As you know, it is winter.

And, as you know, there is not a lot of work for a bricklayer

during the winter.

As I always say to my wife, "No work, no money."

Hmm-mm.

So, I was wondering…

maybe I could borrow some money from the bank.

Mr. Coxal, would you give me Mr. Bandini's file, please?

Mr. Bandini, do you know why I wanted to pay you a visit?

Hmm.

I wanted to pay you a visit because the rent of the house we own,

and in which you and your family live,

hasn't been paid for…

for three months.

So, as you can see, I can't give you any money, Mr. Bandini.

As a matter of fact…

I want you to give me some.

I suspect that you don't have it?

I'm a patient man, Mr. Bandini, but don't push your luck.

This is a bank. Not the Salvation Army.

Well, um, we will, uh, speak again in, in the spring.

Svevo?

Svevo!

-Hey, Rocco! -How are you?

I have a cold. In my soul.

I am broke, Rocco.

Oh, I got the same thing. But look what I did.

"Rocco Saccone. All kinds of repair work.

Call Rocky Mountain Hotel."

-Me. -Does it help?

I don't know. It's the first day it's in.

Well, at least it gets you in the papers, hey?

Yeah. I get to be somebody.

Anything to get us out of the shit, hey, Rocco?

Anything.

Wow! What a blow!

I think it's going straight over the center field wall.

Ladies and gentlemen, holy cow! What a great ballplayer.

Another win for the New York Yankees, ladies and gentlemen.

Another win for Arturo Bandini, the "battering bandit".

And there from the sidelines comes his fantastic wife, Rose.

What a great girl for a great guy, Arturo Bandini.

Arturo Bandini?

Bandini!

Bandini!

I heard you.

I heard you, Sister Celia.

I warned you about not paying attention.

You're to stay after school until six o'clock. Sit down!

Rose?

Would you please show Mr. Bandini what we really expect of him?

"I want to give good measure, running o'er,

And into angry hearts I want to pour.

The answer soft that turneth wrath away,

for I am sure I shall not pass again this way.

I want to give to others hope and faith.

I want to do all that the Master sayeth.

I want to live aright from day to day.

For I am sure I shall not pass again this way."

That lousy German…

Telling me I owe him money.

What's the matter with him? Sporcaccione, that's what that guy is.

That German bastard Helmer!

Who the hell does he think he is.

Just because we owe him a few month's rent.

What's this?

Is the old bitch coming over again?

I don't know. You told me not to open letters of Mama.

"To Maria Pascale."

Doesn't she know your name is Bandini? Is there something wrong with my name?

Svevo, don't read it. It will only upset you.

"My dear Maria.

Today is the glorious feast of our Blessed Mother.

And I go to church to pray for you in your misery."

My heart goes out to you and the poor children,

cursed as they are by the tragic conditions in which you live.

I have asked the Blessed Mother to have mercy on you

and bring happiness to those little ones

who do not deserve their fate.

I will come to visit you Sunday afternoon.

All love and sympathy to you and the children.

Donna Toscana."

Svevo.

How's your mother?

Swell, I guess.

What do you mean? Don't you know?

Your mother's a dear person. A beautiful person!

Does your father go to Mass on Sunday, Arturo?

Sure.

Don't you lie to me. I never see him there!

It's a shame for a man to spend his Holy Sunday's in a pool hall.

My father says that if God is everywhere,

then He's also in the Imperial Pool Hall.

He'd rather spend his Sunday's there.

Shame on him!

At five you may leave, but on one condition.

I want you to go to the Blessed Sacrament

and ask the Virgin Mary to bless your mother