Marcello Marcello

First, there is water.

And water is life.

And where there's life, there's love.

But where there's love,

there's also hate.

That's the way of the world.

So...

you're the genius?

Sit down...

Marcello Romei.

Let's see what you can come up with, in two hours,

on the immortal verses of Catullus:

'Odi et amo', or rather:

'I hate and I love'.

Each morning,

in my village, surrounded by water,

the theatre of hate took place,

some were actors, others spectators.

Sooner or later I'll kill it! You hear me, Rozzani?

I'm going to kill that rooster!

Nobody in my village realized how imprisoned we were.

Good morning, Miss.

Resentment was second nature to the people of my village.

-Good morning, Mayor. -Morning.

But in my village

there was a peculiar tradition.

A tradition that should have led everyone to happiness.

No one remembered how it started.

But everyone followed it without questioning it.

There you are.

Papa told me that I must leave you a tip.

-Thank you. -Well, I'll go now.

I think I might have a chance with the rector's daughter.

Pietro, I found some more!

Have you no shame? This American music!

-Where do you find those records? -There's nothing wrong with them.

You're a hero, my son. You must set the example.

I'm sorry, Don Tommaso, but l just can't stop him.

Your son isn't the only one tempted by the Devil.

But he's the most dangerous.

No one can imagine the power of music.

But if you took a close look,

this tradition had brought very little happiness.

Many had ruined their lives by following it.

And I was the son of two of them.

How do I look?

It's useless, Armando always wins.

At least I'm trying.

I always liked the rector's daughter.

Then go off and get married!

You talk like that because you've never been in love.

The ritual of this tradition took place

on the 18th birthday of every girl in the village.

-Good luck, Pasquale. -Let's hope.

Any boy interested in her had to bring a gift.

At 3 o'clock.

But the gift was not for the girl.

It was for the father.

And my decision is...

Signor Armando Cesari!

Always him!

Excellent choice, Sir.

She has to be back by 8 pm.

Trust me, Sir.

Unfortunately, that's how most couples came together.

Papa!

You forgot your lunch!

Go back to bed! Go!

I was a son of this tradition.

But I was also a witness to the unhappiness it brought.

Signor Romei?

May I have a moment of your precious time?

You know that I consider you to be a promising student.

There's a foundation in Rome, the Carlo Pisacane Foundation,

that pays universitytuition for a deserving student.

I signed you up for the qualifying examination.

Professore, I want to stay here, with my father.

A delegate from Rome is coming on Saturday at three o'clock.

You'll get 3 hours to write an essay.

About what?

Only the delegate knows.

And please don't disappoint us,

neither me, nor the school.

You shouldn't get up so early.

You'll fall asleep in school.

Anyway, I'm coming fishing with you soon.

Get your diploma first and we'll see.

You know what I do on Saturday?

I stay home and give this place a good cleaning.

Don't worry, dad...

We're getting by just fine.

Even without mom...

I often asked myself how I could escape from this tradition.

So I was taken by surprise when it actually came to me.

-Do you still need me? -No.

Damned dog!

Bloody hell!

Thank you.

I'll take care of the rest.

You're Marcello Romei, aren't you?

Do you remember me?

Are you alright?

Yes, I'm fine, thanks.

So, is everything ready for the gift carousel?

What did you expect? You're already one year late.

First you send me away for a modern education,

and now that I'm back, you treat me like an object?

Elena, I am not fond of this tradition either.

But certain things can't be changed.

-Not even by the Mayor? -Especially not by the Mayor.

-If your mother were here, she... -My mother isn't here anymore!

And I don't think she would have approved.

I won't be here on Saturday.

No?

And what shall I do when all the boys come at three?

Play football?

I didn't tell you, Pasquale,

but yesterday I saw Elena at the harbour.

So I was right after all. How is she?

I can't find the words.

You? The best student in the class?

She is...

Don't tell me 'different'.

I've got to find away to be alone with her.

You know the way: Find a gift for her father.

-No, not like that! -How else, then?

It's the only way a fisherman's son can win the Mayor's daughter.

That's what I don't accept. There must be another way.

Oh, yeah? If you find one, let me know.

Hey, Romei!

You know who came back to the village? 'Gasping Elena'.

-Don't you dare, Armando. -I see:'Marcello the Gentleman'.

How long is it since we last saw her? 5-6 years?

She should be ripe enough for the picking by now.

-You might be surprised this time. -How?

By the Mayor's contempt for your father.

Romei, everything has a price.

Help me out here:

You haven't participated before,

maybe because you don't like girls?

It just seems to be my fate,

I shall get them all.

Are we doing nothing today?

No.

-No? -No, I'm already done.

We'll see about that.

Hurry it up, boys!

10 more minutes!

Fate had trapped me

and forced me to do what I never intended to.

But how?

Yes, how?

Damn rooster!

I'm going to slice its throat right open You hear me, Rozzani?

Right open!

I'll have my revenge one day!

Who the hell is it?

Do you know what time it is?

Excuse me, Signor Rozzani. It's me, Marcello Romei.

We're not all fishermen. Butchers are asleep at 5.

I was just wondering:

Would you sell me your rooster?

Huh?

How much would it cost?

You got me out of bed for this?

You sell fish and I sell meat.

We're not made to do business together,

Understand?

Good night, my boy!

The butcher in our village was a creature of habit.

Every hour on the day he had to deliver meat to the bar.

What are you doing here? Where are you going?

The gift! Rozzani has it!

Didn't you want to find another way?

Rozzani's rooster wakes the Mayor up every morning...

If I bring it to him, he'll finally be able to sleep.

And he'll give me Elena!

Are you out of your mind?

If Pizzuti asks about me, tell him I'm sick.

Sick?

What's your problem, my boy?

Why are you following me?

Believe me, Signor Rozzani,

it's not easy for me to ask you this,

but I really need your rooster.

But what do you need it for?

-As a gift. -As a gift?

Ah, as a gift...

Del Ponte's behind this, isn't he?

Listen:

I hate the Mayor.

Even if you brought me all the fish from Mar Tirreno,

I'd still keep that rooster.

At that point...

I knew she was mine for the taking.

So what did you do?

I put my hand on her knee.

Marcello's not coming today. He's looking for a gift for Elena.

So he's really going for it? And what's the gift?

-I hope I misunderstood that part. -Misunderstood what, Mr. Curti?