Europe '51 (Europa '51)

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- Mrs. Girard, the elevator's out of order. - Good evening. As usual.

Oh, hello, darling. I'm so sorry. I'm so late.

How are you, dear? How are you?

- Is Mr. Girard home? - Yes, madam.

- Is everything all ready? - Yes, I think so.

I'll take a look at the table.

Right. Yes. That's very nice.

Take care of that.

- Have you done your homework yet? - No.

What's the matter with you? Come along.

- - I want to talk to you.

Yes, yes, Michel.

Hello, George.

- What happened to you? You're late. - Yes, I know.

This — this strike business.

The traffic was all tied up.

The police had blocked off all the main streets.

I wanted to come home early so I could tell you I invited...

- Your aunt Margaret and her son for dinner too. - But why tonight?

What could I do? When she called, you had already left.

She's going to be in Rome only three days...

And I don't know when else we can see them.

Maybe with his mother here, he won't make any soapbox speeches.

But anyway, you hurry up. I haven't even started yet.

Tell me, what have you been doing all day?

- Nothing. - What do you mean, “nothing”?

Ring the bell for cesira.

Will you listen to me now, mother?

Of course, but please hurry up, Michel.

- - Come in.

I forgot if / told ll/lafa/da to cook something plain...

For signora casati. She's on a diet.

Mafalda has prepared some fish for her, like Michel is having.

Very good, very good. That was all, cesira.

Please, mother, will you listen to me now?

But I am listening, Michel.

Turn around while I change.

What is it?

I won't tell you anymore.

Are you trying to make me angry? Tell me.

- I was alone the whole day. - Didn't the teacher come?

No, he didn't come this afternoon either.

It's that strike. There weren't any buses running.

Even last week, he didn't come for a couple of days.

Well, you know he wasn't feeling well.

Tomorrow I'll phone him and send the car.

- Satisfied? - No.

What's the matter now?

You know I don't like that teacher. He talks too much.

He always gets too close to me.

He sweats and laughs, and I just don't like him.

What you'd like is to have your old nurse back again.

But you're a man now, and you need a man to teach you.

Oh, my goodness, that cesira.

Cesira! Cesira!

Please bring my white dress and shoes.

- And please hurry. - Yes, right away.

- Good evening. - Good evening, madam.

- Have you put the champagne on ice? - Yes, madam.

The bell rang. Go to the door.

George, they're already here.

You go. I'll be ready in a minute.

- Good night, Michel. - Good night.

What were you saying, dear?

- Where have you been all day? - Well, lwent...

What do you mean? What kind of question is that?

You've got to stop being so spoiled, acting like a mama's boy.

You're 72 years old, and it's time you grew up.

If you want to know the truth, I'm very disappointed in you lately

- - Hello, Michel. Where's mummy?

- I'm in here. - Hello, darling. How are you?

Better hurry. Your guests are here.

- Ill be right with you. - I've got to tell you the latest scandal...

They talked about at the antone/lis ' today you'll ne ver belie ve it.

Hello, everybody. How are you? I'm so glad to see you.

Hello, Irene. How are you?

- Look what Richard brought for Michel. - Oh, that's wonderful!

He'll just love that. Thank you very much, Richard.

- Here's aunt Margaret. - Good evening, aunt Margaret.

- Good evening, Irene, George. - Hello, andré.

- She's looking much better, isn't she? - Yes. A little thinner, maybe.

Aunt Margaret, I want you to meet Mrs. Orange, a friend of mine.

- - Mr. Chandler and Mr. Orange.

You remember Luciana, don't you? Mrs. Casati and her son.

Come and sit down, aunt Margaret.

George, why don't we call Michel to take a look at his new train?

- He's not asleep yet. - Yes.

What shall we have to drink? You already have something.

Aunt Margaret, would you like something to drink?

Nothing, thank you. Well, perhaps a little vermouth, but very little.

- And andré? Nothing? - Not for me. No, thanks.

There. What am I going to have? Luciana, what are you having?

- Dry Martini, as usual. - Good idea. I'll have one too.

Here's Michel.

Here's what Mr. Orange brought you. Say good evening to your aunt Margaret.

My, how you've grown. Last year you were only this tall.

You look a little pale, though. Maybe you've been studying too much, huh?

- He does look a little pale, but — - Michel?

Have you said good evening to Mrs. Orange?

Hello. How are you?

And that's your cousin Andre.

- How are you, Michel? - Fine.

And say thank you to Mr. Orange.

Thank you.

Isn't it a wonderful present? Are you happy now?

Now, say good night nicely to everybody and go to bed, huh?

Now, would you like it very dry?

Very dry, please.

What's the matter with Michel? Doesn't he like his new train?

He's in one of his moods, I guess.

Such a lovely train too.

Yes. Just seeing it makes me feel like a child again.

- I'd like to try it out. - Shall we go?

Let's.

But of course, here you are.

I didn't know that you were there.

What are you two up to?

Are you keeping the train all to yourselves?

Shall we join them?

- Make it stop. - Here's your drink.

Thank you. What else can it do?

- Make it go backwards. - Look how well it runs.

- It's lots of fun. And so realistic. - Dinner is served, madam.

Dinner's ready.

Let's go, huh?

- It's lots of fun, even for grown-ups. - Take your glasses to the table.

Aunt Margaret, Richard, ready to eat.

Now, you are here...

And Eric there, and andré to my left...

And, uh, George...

I made a mistake. Aunt Margaret at the head of the table...

And Richard on this side...

And George over there.

One gets confused with these things.

Here we are, aunt Margaret.

Thank you.

Have you been in Italy a long time?

Yes. I came from america years ago to study in Florence...

With my sister, George's mother.

Then I married an Italian, vladimiro casati.

- Does your son work in Italy? - Yes, in Rome.

- What does he do? - He writes. He's a newspaperman.

Oh, a newspaperman. Now you can tell us:

Are we going to have peace or war?

My guess would be peace.

You certainly are optimistic.

I think we're heading straight for war myself.

- But I still hope for peace. - I don't see how.

What makes you think I'm wrong?

I happen to have definite ideas on the subject.

Now, there you go with politics.

Let's have politics after supper. Have you been to the horse show?

Excuse me, dear.

I'd really like to know why you're so optimistic.

Maybe it's because there are so many of us in the world who desire peace.

Yvonne, darling, I think we'd rather change the subject, huh? André is slightly radical.

- Oh, a socialist? - Worse than that, I'm afraid.

You see what a good hostess I am?

Whew! A real diplomat.

I put the dove of peace on my left...

And the Marshall plan on my right...

And somewhere in the middle I put a neutral buffer state...

Like Switzerland, and look what happens.

Michel has asked me to call you. Can you please go to him?

I'm awfully sorry. I...

I think I have to go and see what Michel wants. Excuse me.

But do let's have peace. Cheers.

Well, I've solved a lot of problems, but that boy still beats me.

- What is it? - I don't feel well.

- Stomachache? - Yes. It hurts me right down there.

- Where? Where does it hurt you? - All over.

- Here? - Ouch!

- Here? - Ooh.

Oh. It's nothing. You know it's nothing.

Don't try to fool me. Listen, you're not a baby any longer.

I'm not sleepy. Please stay with me.

- I can't. We have guests. Don't be silly. - Go away!

- Be quiet and go to sleep. - Go away!

- Behave yourself. - Shame on you! You're all naked!

Stop it immediately!

That's Michel ringing.

Tell him his father will come if he goes on.

Cesira?

Turn off the light in his room. Tell him I told him to go to sleep.

He's been so nervous lately.

He had a governess from the day he was born...

Until six months ago, when George let her go.

- Maybe that's what's wrong with him. - What children Michel's age need is a good boarding school.

Michel is not like other children. He's extremely sensitive.

I am his mother, and even I have a hard time understanding him.

Imagine what would happen to the poor boy in a boarding school.

I wish I could get you to understand that progressive education has changed.

That's very true. Our schools in Switzerland are among the best.

In my opinion, it's leaving a child alone — That's what spoils him so much.

That's exactly what I say.

The Chandler boy goes to boarding school in Boston.

- You couldn't ask for a finer son. - We're pleased with him.

He's only one year older than Michel

last year he flew from Boston and back by plane.