The Climber (L'ambizioso)

THE CLIMBER

OK, see you tonight.

- Hey, Aldo. - Hey.

Get a move on, it's late. I need to open up the office.

What was the delay this morning all about?

Nothing important. There's some news for you.

Come in, then.

Put it on the floor. Don't make a noise, you'll wake the boys.

The price has gone up. It's 300 lire for a pack now.

What the hell are you on about?

Don't shout, you'll wake the customers.

Well, then?

300 lire a pack. Pay up or I'll take them away.

You know we won't eat if we can't have them?

Don't worry, Joe. Sleep. Sleep.

Where did you put that money?

Here. You and your boss just rob poor people.

OK. I'll see you tomorrow, yeah?

Aldo, see you at lunchtime. Bye.

See you later.

Here I am. Sorry.

- What's going on? - The money hasn't come.

Frenchie, there are 90 boxes.

What's this price rise business?

We're ten boxes short. Are you going to tell me why?

You don't need to know why. I just need to take 13.2 million.

I've always paid this much for 100 boxes, not for less.

I said it's 13.2 million.

This much or nothing. In cash.

What's all this shit about?

Don't do that, Frenchie, or you'll have a heart attack.

You're too old for this.

Give me the money so I can go. I've got other deliveries to make.

- Come on. - You're hurting me.

Move it.

Here. Now get out.

See? It's easy.

They paid you, then?

The Frenchman tried to pull a gun on me

but he finally paid up, like they all do.

They need the goods just like they need to eat.

They can't break the cycle, there's too much demand.

They've got too many debts and deadlines.

They made a fuss but they paid up in the end.

And we've made a cool million without taking anything from Don Enrico.

If you put it that way, it makes pretty good sense.

But things are different in the real world.

If you put prices up it increases competition

and Don Enrico could lose customers.

That's his problem.

And ours. Don't you see?

You want a business of your own.

You've already tried once.

But this isn't the best way to do it.

Those guys are too powerful.

Be careful.

I've made my mind up. Do you want in?

Do you even have to ask me, Aldo?

I'm always with you. Always.

No doubt about it.

Aldo, the bike's ready.

The clutch isn't great, though. Be careful.

Don't worry. Are you done or not?

Why do you ride such an old bike?

What you need is a carburettor like they've got in the Guzzi.

It's not going to fall apart on me, is it?

Don't worry. But why don't you get a new bike?

Because I'm the only person in Naples with a bike like this. See you.

We need to finish loading up this morning.

It's due in Marseilles the day after tomorrow.

I don't want to make them wait.

Don't worry, Don Enrico.

It'll all be loaded up this morning.

Nice bike. Good for you.

Business must be going well.

We need to christen that bike, don't we? Come on in.

We've got some sums to do.

Everybody's paid, right? No trouble?

- Do you mind if we check? - Go on, check.

Count it, Sarracino.

It's not that we don't trust you. You know how it is.

We're answerable too.

And you never know.

Did the Frenchman pay up as usual?

Just as well. He's always got something to say.

Are you done, Sarracino?

It's all there.

All good.

Nobody gave you a bit more, then?

Where are you going? Come here.

Don't mess with us! Understand?

I'm going to smash your face in.

That's enough now. Let him go or you'll end up killing him.

Stop, you son of a bitch! Don't drive off.

I want to tell you how much you make me sick.

You're ripping everybody off for the sake of a few pennies.

Go on, stop.

We're done.

I'm going to get you.

I'm not afraid of you. I'm not scared.

No! No!

Who is he?

His mother's a local slut, his father's an American.

He came back from America five or six years ago.

He's a pain in the arse. Pardon my French.

It's best if he disappears from Naples, then.

- Drive safely. - Thank you.

- Listen... - Yes?

If you say no I won't be offended.

I wouldn't give someone who looked like me a lift.

Where are you going?

As far away as possible.

I'm going back to Rome.

Get in.

It's not much of a car, you didn't get lucky.

I need to be at work by eight. My boss is a bitch.

She loves handing out fines.

But I'm never late and I fool her.

You know what it's like. After a while you get used to it.

She'd even get there 15 minutes early the first few days. What an idiot.

Excuse me for asking but what job you do?

This is where I live.

Do you know where to go?

I'll manage.

Where will you sleep tonight?

I'll find somewhere.

- You can stay at mine if you want. - You trust me?

No need to be afraid of someone like you.

As soon as I start talking you fall asleep.

The coffee machine's all ready. You just need to turn on the gas.

You can sleep as long as you like.

I have to go out in a few hours but I won't wake you up.

I'll go and get you some blankets.

You're going to have to rough it.

I'm not very well equipped, I never have guests.

You've already done a lot for me. Thank you.

I hope you won't judge me too harshly.

I never judge.

I don't even know your name.

You must think I always bring guys home.

I don't think anything.

Maybe it's because you feel lonely.

Yeah... maybe.

Is something wrong?

Why are you crying?

Sorry.

I'm happy.

It... It all happened so fast.

I've never been so happy.

Never.

Can you understand that?

Yes, I understand.

- When did you get here? - You found a good hiding place.

It took me a long time to find you.

Do you remember what you said?

"Come to Rome, it's a good life, easy money for everyone."

Is this your good life?

That was the case a few years ago when I wrote and told you to come.

Everything was easier.

Then things changed.

Come to my house and have something to eat.

The view's better from here.

Are you staying long?

No.

No.

She's not very happy to see me, is she?

You need to see it her way. Things haven't turned out well.

At first we made some money. We sold quite a bit of stuff.

But things changed a couple of years ago.

The Sicilians and the Marseillais handle the good stuff.

Anyone who tried it on with them is either dead or has left town.

As far as petty cash is concerned,

there are dozens of gangs of teenagers running around.

They'd shoot you in the mouth without thinking twice.

I'm not involved in the big stuff.

And I'm too old to be a hero.

I know what you're thinking.

But what could I do?

Compete with the big guns and end up in the Tiber?

I've got two kids.

I'm happy just scraping along.

But you're better off not following my example.

You've given in to everybody. Isn't there anyone who counts anymore?

There is someone, but just for petty crimes.

- Who is he? - You want to meet him?

Who is it?

- Who is it? - Friends, Corrado. Friends.

- Hey. - Oh, it's you, Carlo.

- What do you want? - Nothing. Don't worry.

I was in the area and wanted you to meet my cousin who's just come from Naples.

- And? - And you know what it's like.

If you can find him a little job, just for the first few days.

He's still getting used to it here but he's well known in Naples.

- No hotels. - No.

I was asking him.

OK. No. No hotels.

- When did you get here? - Two days ago.

There might be something...

Come with me.

No, not you.