The Basilisks (I basilischi)

THE BASILISKS

Where we live, after lunch we take a nap.

Everyone falls into the arms of Morfea

who could be our patron saint

and carried in procession instead of St Anthony.

I can't sleep.

There are too many questions unanswered.

It's a sacred hour.

Francesco reads intellectual books...

but at the end he falls asleep.

And will dream of being Gordon,

Superman, Nembo Kid.

And Sergio...

had to correct his pupils' homework!

Enrichetta's five daughters get ready to go to sleep.

Brush your hair out... Brush your hair out.

How much time it takes to find a husband!

The old sleep in front of 'The Communist Youth Center'.

Here's the late Salvatore!

Look the house is strangely quiet.

It's rare...

To gain command, mother-in-law and daughter-in-law...

are always fighting.

The barber is taking a nap in his shop.

The pharmacist sleeps peacefully at home...

he has a calm wife... 2 ugly daughters...

but they'll marry anyway:

Having a pharmacy they are very well off.

It's siesta time.

Mrs. Ada...

who arrived from Pisa 60 years ago and married to a rich landowner, doesn't sleep

she does the accounts.

In the next room, her son... sleeps.

He was a good boy...

but he married an ex ballerina... with dyed hair.

She's nervous.

She lives here since one month, no one ever saw her...

but they call her 'long legs.

Who knows how long she walked on those legs.

It was a good idea to relax marrying Pinuccio.

And now she has to have fun.

It's siesta time.

Even Rosina sleeps:

The official who consoles solitary hearts.

Damned by half of the town, invoked by the other half.

In 7 years she gave birth to 5 children.

She can sleep peacefully now, she's a relative.

The doctor isn't sleeping,

she can't: She's an autodidact and a woman.

She must study more than others or else it'll be the end for her.

It's siesta time of a summer day.

Let's pick a day, any day...

even of next year, it doesn't matter...

This is the day of the inauguration of the cultural club.

Silence!

"Finally, after so long..."

"We can meet again at the new Cultural Club..."

"Which had been closed in 1944."

"Today it has been reopened."

"Let me exclaim, being your President..."

"Nominated by all of you..."

"Let me exclaim..."

"Eureka, eureka!"

"This period from 1944 up to today..."

"Has been a sad one..."

"Because we professionals and respectful people..."

You're always bothering me!

Don't bother me anymore!

"We have undergone the humiliation..."

"Of being joined together wit people of little or no respect."

"Today, this is all over."

"Our club has come back to life."

"Let's hear three cheers for the club!"

Did they go by?

- Of course. - They come past just to show off.

As soon as they go by I'm going to stop them.

It's three months you want to stop them

but you didn't even say "good evening".

It's not easy.

But today I'll stop them.

But why go through with it?

Are you in love?

Neither am I. Let's forget about it!

Antonio, is it you?

Sleep...

It isn't decent... for a woman to go on TV.

- Would you go? - God forbid!

It's a matter of prejudice.

Would you marry someone like that?

I don't know... I didn't shave...

See you tomorrow.

You're wooing her, huh?

No, I'm not interested... A teacher...

They're nowhere to be seen.

Here's Mrs. Enrichetta with her brats, where are they going?

To church, to mass.

Only pious humbugs to church.

It's an excuse to show off her daughters.

She has five females to marry.

We're going to church. Say hello!

Good morning!

You have founded a club, organize some nice dance party.

Now that it's open again, get something going!

It's possible that nothing ever happens here?

You youngsters either emigrate or you day dream!

Those who stay... have non initiative.

Thank you.

How rude, you deserve a smack.

Excuse me.

In any case, organize this party.

We'll see... Good bye.

Good bye.

Good evening guys. Here we go.

We could organize one.

No one would come.

I'd try it...

They don't let the girls out around here

they're old fashioned.

No party then.

Many people move to the city... why?

Sooner or later all leave...

because they find a job.

What job?!

For many it's the pits.

Look, the doctor!

She's well off... she's going to buy a car.

I admire her.

A poor illiterate, orphan...

she studied hard and got a degree in medicine.

To earn a living...

she must have been a trollop in the city.

If she can afford a car...

she must swindle someone.

No, she cures the farmers.

Still those girls are nowhere.

He was happy to have emigrated to Austria,

but he died there...

Poor thing, he had a brain tumor!

Shall I stop them?

They're even alone.

What are you doing?

My God, today he's going to stop them.

- Coming to the club? - I'm coming.

By the way, I was looking for you.

Me?

You must have noticed that I noticed you.

Miss... I hope you won't disappoint my dream.

You're a decent boy and I like you

but you'll have my answer in 3 days.

Very well.

Who is the other girl?

- Who is she? - A girl.

My cousin.

She has... two wooers: Antonio and Sergio.

The answer in 3 days.

Rosina knows how to please men!

How are the sewing machine sales going?

No one buys them.

You were so happy to get the agency.

When I suggest them, they seem interested but...

It's the mentality.

It's a good thing my brother is a blue collar worker...

only my father doesn't approve.

Of course, he wanted his son to have a degree.

A town full of graduates.

Every 4 inhabitants at least 3 have a degree!

And with what result?

You're all here barely making a living.

This is a slow death.

If it weren't for my father... I would have left.

What are you waiting for?

What are you waiting for?

I'm studying to get a degree.

Then you'll teach math for 50.000 lira a month?

I'll become a notary like my grandfather.

He desired it so much he wrote it in his will.

It's an excuse to justify you laziness.

You're like me... I'm embroidering my trousseau.

What for... I'm not getting married!

But I still hope to leave this place.

What is it?

Piquant salami: Makes the dead come alive.

It's always harder to find... due to progress!

Before everyone raised their own pig in the bedroom

with the chickens and the donkey

and salami could be found.

Due to progress no one raises pigs anymore

and no one makes their own salami.

I wish real progress... would get here.

Even my uncle up in Turin was looking for salami...

there aren't any there.

We landowners could join together

and form a cooperative

and instead of sowing wheat, we'd produce salami.

Ask Francesco, I'm not into that stuff.

Coming!

- Have a good day. - See you soon.

"Article 1160..."

"Usucaption of the universality of personal property."

"See 816..."