Bread and Tulips (Pane e Tulipani)

Bread and Tulips

In the year 273 B.C. when the Romans came here

and encountered the Greeks for the first time,

history took a huge leap forward. What do I mean by that?

Greek idealism, a civilization of music and philosophy,

and roman pragmatism,

a civilization of law and rationality,

blended perfectly to create a new culture,

that forms the basis of Western civilization,

of which we Italians, the greatest people on earth,

should be the proud heirs. Our blood contains the genes

of Greeks and Romans, the greatest civilizations of all time.

These genes are what urge you

to leave the train of rationality

in the main station of your town: Verona, Turin, Milan...

- Pescara. - Why not? Pescara too...

for the ship of fantasy to sail the routes of ancient peoples

and drink to their enthusiasm.

We're now in the temple of Ceres.

Although scholars claim that it is dedicated to Athena.

Athena in Greek, Minerva in Latin.

Do you know who Minerva was, apart of a brand of matches?

Minerva, china bathroom fittings with porcellain and chrome piping.

Please shoot me!

Come on, you know your father likes these kinds of jokes, don't you?

That's what I meant!

- Can you put this in your bag? - ... does anybody know, who Aphrodite was?

- The goddess of beauty - And love too.

Because love is more important than beauty.

- Hi Grandma... - What's the matter?

Grandma, can you lend me 10.000 lire?

- Samy, you already had your allowance. - So did her cousins. Shut up...

- Mom... - Salvo, film us...

Come on, Alba. Get us here, right here, by the column,

with the temple behind us. Closer.

Eight steel pans with a double bottom.

Take a look at the new microfiber line. It's a perfect fit.

I'm sorry, but I've had mine for 40 years and they're fine.

This is the "young" line Anyhow I was talking to Rosa.

- Samy stop it. - Go away honey...

Ask dad if we need the pan with the drainer.

I even got slips from Positano.

It's lithium. It lasts 96 hours.

They say you don't have to change it. It lasts a lifetime.

I recharged it last night and it's still going.

My other phone's battery is useless.

- Still got the same number? - It's a GSM.

- Dad, can I call Cinzia? - One minute then! It's day rate.

Nic? Call your friends in Rome, those with the house in Francavilla.

Nic!

You coud see your friends in Rome, while we're at St Peter's.

- What friends? - Those with the house in Francavilla.

Be careful!

I hate this thing!

Lello, where are the restrooms?

Hello? A sandwich and a coffee please!

Oh my gosh... How can I get it?

My tweezers...

Disgusting.

Taken!

God, what an idiot!

Maybe with that...

There they are.

What are they doing?

They left!

But...

0-3-3-6-7...

He's changed his number!

For God's sake, what now...

They don't even notice I'm not there!

Attention please. Mrs. Rosalba Barletta please come to the phone...

That's me!

I don't believe it! Always you!

You all left without me! I was in the restroom, Mimmo!

- You fell asleep in the can? - Of course not!

- Now we should go back and pick you? - I don't know...

- We'll end being 2 hours behind! - You should have checked before leaving.

So it's our fault? You're the one who's missing!

- I noticed. - Do me a favour: wait there and don't move.

- Okay? - Yes, okay.

Sorry, I'm hopeless.

- Join the club. - Believe me, I'm unequalled.

Now he controls it all. He makes 10.000 kinds of bread:

with seaweed, truffles... He's raking the money in.

Before I never even realized, he had such a head for business.

He was stoned around the clock, but we screwed like crazy.

When I came back, I forgot about him.

I had problems with my bar and then, one fine day he turned up!

Him, the asshole! There I was, holding Brussels sprouts and

he says: "Hi, kitten. " No one had called me "kitten" before.

Now, when he whistles, I come running.

I'm boring you to death with all my talk, aren't I?

So, they forgot you and you're standing them up.

Not exactly. I want to get back to Pescara.

I never get to spend time at home alone.

I've always got loads of things to do.

Until recently, I thought "housewife" was an insult.

Nowadays, I envy you. Oh holy Christ, have I offended you?

- No... I used to work too. - What did you do?

For a while, I worked in my uncle's hardware store, then I helped to

keep my husband's accounts. He's in bathroom fittings with his brother.

- Then the boys were born. - How old are they?

One's almost 18, the other's 16.

- Wow! You got married young. - I was 21.

At 21, I was in Copenhagen for my second abortion.

My life could have been different. I'd surely made a terrible mother!

Why do you say that?

- Are you from Udine? - No.

I thought you lived there.

- Are you going there for work? - Not exactly.

Before he moved to Germany, my brother spent 2 years in Udine.

He kept inviting me to go to Venice. I've never been there.

- You've never seen Venice? - No.

I can take you, have to go there.

Do you drive?

"New parents wanted"

Thank you and good night.

Pension Mirandolina

Watch your head.

Here, please.

It's clean, you know. We've let it go a bit,

because we're closing down. You may well be our last guest.

- It's perfect, thank you. - The bathroom is down the hall.

Where can I get something to eat?

There's a Chinese around the corner or...

the "Marco Polo", to the left outside, second on the right.

Left and second on the right...

I'll leave you now. The Key! Excuse me.

Motel Elma.

Hello. Can I speak to Mr. Barletta?

- Barletta? - Si.

- Hold the line. - Thanks.

Hello?

Mimmo, it's me.

Alba, where are you? What happened?

I'm fine, don't worry.

"Don't worry"? Where the fuck are you?

- Calm down. I'll see you at home tomorrow. - What d'you mean? Are you nuts?

Cut that out! I waited 2 hours in that service area!

I even called the cops! And you tell me to calm down? What the...

Hello?

Good evening.

I must advise you, the cook has come down with the appendicitis.

- Poor thing! - Therefore, I regret to inform you,

that we can only serve cold dishes.

That's fine. Something cold would although do it.

- Please be seated. - Thank you.

I hope it is to your liking.

It's better than to go to Chinese.

Forgive me, but the Chinese are the best restauranteurs in the world.

I can mend it.

How does this thing work?

Nancy, what's up?

My balcony's packed with these. I don't know where to put them.

Try one, they taste good!

Here, they cook in no time.

Nancy, tell Nic not to dye his hair. He wants to go blond.

He said red to me.

- To be honest, I agree with him. - What?

This wallpaper's so depressing! Why don't you change it?

- I'm just passing through. - Who isn't?

Guess where

I am.

Oh my gosh!

Hi, it's me. I'm calling to say,

that I missed the train. And... I'm in Venice.

There is some lasagna in the oven... in the refrigerator:

10 minutes in the microwave and it's done.

I'm really sorry. I'll be back tomorrow at 3:30.

No, wait. The train arrives...

at 3:28 p. m. to be precise. Lots of love.

May I ask you something?

I missed my train and need to spend another night here,

but the pension where I slept last night has closed

and I don't have much left.

I don't wish to pry but how much is at your disposal?

About 38.700 lire.

I'm afraid it's an inadequate sum for any kind of befitting accomodation.

This is it.

I've slept here a couple of times

and its appearance does rather go against it.

I'll retrieve you a pillow and some sheets.

I'll do it.

I don't know how to thank you.

The bathroom is located a few steps from the entrance.

You're not Italian.

No. I come from Iceland.

Reykjavik!

Nearby.

As a girl, I'd recite all European capitals

- and my grandad'd give me 100 lire. - I'm delighted.

Feel free to lock the door,

if that can make your night more serene.

"I hope you spent a happy night.

I'd ask you to lock the door before you leave and

deposit the keys in the letterbox.

I wish you all the best. Fernando Girasole. "

He writes his "T"s like Napoleon.

"I won't forget

your