The Haunting of Helena (Fairytale) (The Haunting of Helena)

See this insect? It's an anopheles mosquito,

vector of an infectious disease known as malaria,

which still today causes 2 million deaths a year.

The female carries the parasite,

and while searching for blood to nourish her eggs,

she bites humans and infects them.

The disease involves high fevers

and damage to the kidneys, liver, spleen, and brain,

causing death in a matter of Days.

For over 50,000 years,

this mosquito was the undisputed queen of Italy's pontine marshes,

an inaccessible area inhabited only by wild animals and outlaws.

In 1929, dictator Benito Mussolini, founder of the fascist party,

decided to undertake a venture that had eluded even the ancient romans.

He wanted to reclaim the marshes, eradicate malaria,

and transform that area into farmlands.

It was an enormous undertaking,

which required thousands of desperate workers from Italy's poorest areas.

They worked nonstop, night and day, to present the duce

with Littoria, the first fascist new town.

But how many workers lost their lives in the marshes?

Hundreds, thousands.

It remains an unsolved mystery, since the fascist regime concealed all documentation.

Helena! Please wait!

Good morning.

Helena!

Oh yes, this goes in the kitchen.

And to what do I owe this pleasure?

Hey, how's the move going?

How are things in Cancun?

Having fun on the beach with your new girlfriend?

Come on, Sofia, please.

I just asked, "how is the move going?"

Fine.

I feel better now that I'm out of your house.

Remember it was our house.

Plus, uh, nobody forced you to leave.

And you're gonna be paying more expenses now.

You just worry about sending the money for Helena. I'll take care of the rest.

Dad's on Skype! He wants to speak to you!

Later! I don't feel like it right now!

You heard her. - Yes, I heard her.

Just try and have her call me later.

I'll try, but I can't promise you anything.

Sofia, I understand you're upset with me, but don't turn Helena against me, okay?

I never said anything bad about you to her.

Helenajust misses her father. It's been almost a year since she last saw you.

Let's not start this again.

Robert, what is that on your tooth?

Oh, you mean this here?

This is a diamond. You like it?

All musicians got it.

But you're not a musician.

Well, listen, I got to go.

Have her call me later, okay?

Bye .

Mum! Come here!

Coming!

I like that closet! Can I have it?

Yeah, but... When did you see it?

Helena, come on, baby, get up. Come on.

Hurry up. I'll be late for work again.

Helena, come on!

Mum, my tooth is loose.

Show me.

Does it hurt much?

Yes, a little bit.

Darling, it's nothing serious.

It's just your baby teeth coming out, that's all.

Okay?

Come on.

Helena, wait!

Come on.

Mummy, scrooge!

At the end of the road, turn right.

I think, pretty soon, you'll be toothless.

But I don't want a mouth full of missing teeth.

I want a beautiful smile like yours.

Of course, you will.

New teeth will replace the old ones, and they'll be even more beautiful.

And for every tooth that comes out,

you put it under your pillow, and the tooth fairy will replace it with a lot of money.

Follow Franklin boulevard for 4.2 kilometers.

Can we call dad and tell him? - Tell him?

About what?

My tooth.

It's 2:00 in the morning in Cancun, Helena.

If he's still there.

Follow Franklin boulevard.

Mummy, is the tooth fairy scary?

Why should she be scary?

Mum!

Helena! - Still. You're daughter's fine.

Where is she?

She's just in the next room. We gave her a cat scan,

and everything looks fine.

You were both very lucky.

I want to see my daughter.

I'm so sorry.

I got distracted.

My tooth fell out.

Where?

In the car. When we had the accident.

All right. We'll look for it tomorrow.

Go get it.

Helena, I don't even know where they've taken the car.

I want my tooth.

Helena.

I want my tooth. Go find it. - Helena, please.

I want my tooth! Hear me?

Mum!

What is it, darling? - Another one is loose.

Close your eyes a moment. Show me.

What is it, mum? - Nothing, darling. Nothing.

Close your eyes.

Nice and wide.

Okay, it's just gonna hurt a little bit, okay?

Let's go.

Do you feel better? - Yes, mum.

Why don't we go home, put it under your pillow and wait for the fairy?

What are you doing here?

I was just checking if the tooth was in place, darling,

and seeing if the tooth fairy had come yet.

But it already came.

See?

The tooth isn't there anymore.

The tooth fairy already took it.

I see. Come on.

Tomorrow, I'll tell you all about the tooth fairy.

Right now, I'm going back to sleep, okay?

Did you find any money under your pillow?

Yes, I found it under my glass of milk. Thanks, mum.

And why would you be thanking me?

Well, because I know you were the one who put it there.

What are you drawing?

The tooth fairy. She also gave me money.

Look.

Baby, where did you find this?

She gave it to me. The tooth fairy brought it.

Please take a seat. - Thank you.

Excuse me for calling you in, madam.

Helena's never been in trouble before.

She's a very sweet girl.

Please, just tell me what my daughter has done.

Well, she bought these from some of the other children.

I don't know why.

Bought?

Yes, with this money.

Are you a collector of old coins?

So where did you find the money?

Helena.

Can you at least tell me what you intend to do with these...

with these teeth?

They're for the fairy. - Helena, please.

Now she's angry with my teacher.

She wants her teeth.

So how long has Helena been displaying this sort of behavior?

Or should we say disorder?

Since she lost her first tooth.

And this fairy supposedly lives in her closet, does she?

Yes.

Well, children do tend to have very vivid imaginations.

I mean, I remember when I was a kid, I was totally convinced

I had a ghost under my bed.

Doctor, believe me, this is different.

My daughter's behavior is completely out of character.

She's obsessed with this fairy and...

these teeth.

I mean, I don't know. Could it be a head injury from the accident?

Well, nothing came up on the cat scan, but, uh,

if it would make you feel better, we can scan her again.

Yes. Thank you, doctor.

May I show these to a colleague of mine?

Of course.

Oh,just one thing. Helena's never suffered from hallucinations, has she?

No.

Have you?

No.

Anyone in your family?

No, absolutely not.

Well, I really wouldn't worry about anything.

It's probably much less serious than you think.

She may have heard a scary story from one of her friends or seen something on TV.

We'll be in touch.

Ma'am. - Yes?

Is this your daughter's?

You speak English?

I learned it from the from the American soldiers many years ago.

Your daughter draws well.

Thanks. I'll tell her.

She calls me scrooge, doesn't she?

Oh, please don't be offended. Helena loves giving people nicknames.

I know. I was a child once too.

Certain things scare children.

Yes, of course. Well, good night, and thanks again.

You must leave this house before it is too late.

And why must we leave?

Leave now.

I won't be able to help you later.

Thanks, but we don't need anyone's help.