A NETFLIX SERIES
[train rattling on tracks]
[man 1] Yo, hey! Can I have a candy?
[man 2] One's in my mouth, want it?
[Giuliana] Hey.
-[snoring] -[Giovà] Here.
[Giuliana] Thank you.
-[loud snoring] -[chuckling]
I admire you.
Why?
[Giuliana] You don't conform. You feel good as you are.
That's not true.
[Giuliana] You're very smart.
And you're very sensitive.
[snores]
[both giggle]
Stop!
[snores]
[both laughing]
Don't you laugh.
[Giuliana chuckles]
It's interesting, Roberto really insisted that you come with me to Milan.
Of course, so you have some company. So he doesn't have to worry.
Giovanna, don't be ridiculous.
Mm… we should get some rest.
I can't.
I swear, I'm too excited. [laughs]
[rattling]
Should I wear it?
Why not?
I'm always worried.
If Vittoria sees I'm not wearing it, she gets mad.
But then she stresses out because she thinks I'll lose it.
Just be careful.
-Do you like it? -No.
How come?
-Don't you know? -No.
This bracelet was given to Vittoria's mother by my father,
who stole it from my grandmother.
My mom's mom, who at the time, was very sick.
Your dad, Enzo?
[Giuliana] Yeah, he stole it.
Does Aunt Vittoria know?
Of course she does.
-Your mom? -[Giuliana] She told me about it.
And we never had much money at home,
and my father was the type of person
who always liked to show off with people he didn't even know.
But he never worried about hurting those of us who already loved him.
My mother suffered a lot because of him.
-Vittoria too. -Vittoria?
Vittoria doesn't suffer, Giannì.
Vittoria hurts others.
To me, this bracelet is a permanent reminder
of all those bad times.
It's sad.
It makes me anxious.
And it even brings bad luck.
I don't think objects can do that.
I really like it.
I knew you would. Roberto likes it too.
Will you help me?
Mmm.
[Giuliana] Thanks.
["E La Vita, La Vita" by Enzo Jannacci playing]
-Hey! -Oh, hey!
Let me help you with that.
This is heavy!
[laughs] I know, I overdid it! Hi!
How was the trip?
Uh, it was okay, um…
A little… a little slow, but it was okay.
We kept each other company.
-Giovanna, wanna give me your bag? -No.
-I'd be happy to help. -It's not heavy.
-Okay. -Thanks.
["E La Vita, La Vita" continues]
CHAPTER 6 TRUTH
-[Roberto] Hi, Vincenzo. -Hey, you.
-Good morning. -[Giovà] Good morning.
[man] Hey, wait for me!
Take me with you!
-[girl] Good morning, Professor. -[Roberto] Hi, girls.
[Roberto] Here we are.
-[Giuliana] Robè, this looks serious. -[Roberto] Yeah, I know, I'm very busy.
[Giuliana] What are all these papers?
[Roberto] Uh… tests to grade and stuff to read…
Roberto. I've gotta tell you something.
-Oh. Sorry, should I come back? -[Roberto] No, no, tell me.
Uh, the dean is furious. He summoned both Rinaldi and Braglia.
[Roberto] Uh, girls, can you give me a minute, please?
-[Giuliana] Should we wait outside? -[Roberto] Yes, just a minute, sorry.
I'm sorry.
-[Giuliana] Okay. -[Roberto] Thank you.
Won't be long.
[echoing slam]
["E La Vita, La Vita" continues]
[woman] Good morning.
So then.
This is the rioters' den. [laughs]
What now?
["E La Vita, La Vita" fades out]
[Giuliana sighs]
Look at these books. It's like they're in jail.
[sighs]
I'm just so annoyed.
He said, "Just a minute." But what now?
What can we do? We'll wait.
[sighs]
[both sighing]
Shall we go home?
[chuckles]
-Wait, did you smoke in here? -I didn't know.
[sighs]
Wasn't there an ashtray?
[Giuliana] You're such a pain.
[footsteps]
[Vittoria grunts]
[Vittoria] Everything's dead around here.
[Andrè] Oh. Well, it's still beautiful.
[Vittoria laughing] No, it's not!
It's a dump. Are you blind?
[Andrè] Hey.
Remember the pizza oven that was here?
-[Vittoria] What? -Here. The pizza oven.
And gelato there. Huh? Remember?
[Vittoria clicks tongue] No. I don't remember.
[sighs]
-[Andrè] I have an offer for you… -Mm?
[Andrè] A job offer.
[Vittoria] Really? I don't need it.
[Andrè] Hey, Vittoria, don't be a pain in the ass.
I came here, but I might as well go back. Come on.
[Vittoria] What's this all about?
The daughter of a friend of Costanza's is pregnant.
[Vittoria] Mm?
They need someone at home with her day and night.
Vittoria, they're very rich.
It's a very good offer.
You'd have to move to Posillipo.
[Vittoria scoffs] To Posillipo?
[laughing]
Ah, that's what you wanted, Andrè.
That's what you've always wanted. [laughs]
[Andrè] What did I want?
You always wanted to fuck rich women.
-To look first-class. -[groans]
But without any of the effort, right?
And theorize.
[laughs]
[sighs]
[Andrè] Sorry, I don't get it.
[Vittoria] You're miserable.
You're a miserable man.
You envy others, and you talk behind their backs.
-What is it you don't get? -[laughs]
Who the fuck are you to talk to me like that?
So tell me, what are your fucking ethics based on?
Just because you were a slut with someone who fell for you--
-A slut? -Yes!
[laughing] You think you lived the greatest love story!
[yells] Fuck you! Your woman is a slut!
-What? -[growls]
-What did you say? Huh? -[yells]
-Ah! No. -Who's the slut?
-Stop it. -Who's the slut?
-Get off! -Don't you dare.
-I said don't you dare, you hear me? Huh? -No! Hey!
[Vittoria] Let go of me!
-You loser! -[Andrè grunting] Hey!
You know what really pisses you off?
That I did everything I wanted in my life.
The life I wanted! And we've had enough of you!
-With Enzo, with… with Posillipo! -[whimpers]
With this fucking bracelet!
-Enough! -[gasping]
And don't you dare!
[gasping]
[sobs]
Vittoria. I wanted to help you.
It's too late.
The only… good thing you've ever done… in your whole life
is Giovanna.
-I know. -[panting]
[man] Here we are.
Get out slowly.
[Giuliana] Thanks, love.
-Here. -Thank you.
-Easy with this one. It's heavy. -[grunts]
Thanks.
-Unhook that. -Okay.
Bye, Luca. Thanks.
-Thanks, bye. -[Giovà] Bye.
-[Giuliana] Thank you. -[Luca] Bye.
-Here. -Thank you.
-You said no. -No.
[chuckles]
That's the building, the gray one.
It might be messy.
-Yeah. -[both chuckle]
And I'll be the one taking care of it, right?
As always.
[chuckles]
[Roberto] Let's run, girls.
-[Giuliana] Hey, wait! -[all laughing]
-[Roberto] Hi, Vincenzo! -[Giuliana] Hi, Vincenzo!
Here we are.
[Roberto] Girls, I'm sorry about the cold.
I had to leave the window open because of a gas leak.
[Giuliana] Are you for real?
-[Giovà sighs] -[Roberto chuckles]
-[Giuliana] Like it? -A lot.
Let's rest a little, then we'll have dinner with my friends, okay?
Okay.
-If you don't mind, I'll stay here. -But why?
Roberto, she's right. She'll just get bored.
But they're all really nice people. You'll like them.
She's already kept me company the whole day.
Let's not make her do something she doesn't wanna do.
I think you're someone who's worried about getting bored.
But then she never does.
Okay, yeah. I'll go.
This is the number.
"Two, three, four, six, one…"
Andrè.
[sighs]
["Habanera" playing on piano]
[singing in French]
[door squeaking open]
[singing in French continues]
[indistinct chattering]
[man 1] People with connections have always existed.
As well as the moguls.
Yet, despite them, we got what we deserved just out of merit.
This means that, even if it's a little flawed, the system still works.
[man 2] We did a good job. Maybe we were lucky.
But who can tell how many like us deserve to be here
yet had to go back to their hometowns?
Yeah.
[yawns]
[waiter] Miss, some more?
-And you, Professor? -Thanks, you can leave the bottle.
I get "miss." You're "Professor."
[Roberto] He must have mistaken you for a student.
Don't say it's a compliment. We won't be back here again.
-[man 2] Take it easy. -[man 1] What's wrong with you?
[woman] Nothing, I've just had enough.
The other day, I was in line at the post office,
and this girl behind us asked me if she could go
and ask for some information.
And obviously, I let her pass,
and then this very large man behind us started yelling.
The poor girl apologized, explained the situation,
and he told her she was a slut.
At that point, I lost it.
I couldn't help it. I started arguing with him.
He threatened me. He told me that if I didn't leave the store immediately,
he would break my legs.
-Then what? -Ugh. I called the manager.
You could have solved everything if you had a good knife.
[chuckles]
[chuckles] I mean, that's how they handle things
where we're from, right?
Sure. And that's probably what everyone would do everywhere.
Because it's the easiest solution.
No, that's not what I meant to say.
Sorry, but how else do you protect yourself from a huge guy?
[scoffs] Unfortunately, I wasn't carrying a knife in my bag.
-Well, I'd like to check. - [man 1] Me too.
Ha ha.
[sighs]
Injustice needs a firm and stubborn response.
Here's how.
"You do this to your neighbor? I'm telling you it's not right."
"And if you keep doing that, I will stand my ground."
"And if you crush me with your strength, I'll get up again."
"And if I can't get up again, then others will get up. Many others."
To abusive strength, you can't respond with weakness.
The righteous can only be weak.
Bravery without strength.
Well, that's the fool's weakness.
Sometimes we should be unfair towards God.
Whoever is given too much meat ends up being full.
That's why they'll turn a blind eye to injustice.
Good job, Giovanna. I'm happy you read such things.
[Giovà] No, no. I don't read that much. I have a good memory.
[chuckles]
[Giovà] The righteous should act crazy
and should sell all the churches and properties.
Give to the poor.
And to the widows and orphans.
Strangers, as well.
Well, if you believe… only in what you like in the Gospel,
rejecting everything else, well, then… you don't believe in the Gospel.
You believe in yourself.
[laughing]
-What's funny? -Why? Can't I laugh?
No problem.
Right. Let's drink and laugh.
Vincenzo!
We're celebrating because Giovanna
turned 16 today.
-[man 1] Happy birthday! -[woman] Happy birthday!
[all] ♪ Happy birthday to you ♪
♪ Happy birthday to you ♪
♪ Happy birthday, dear Giovanna ♪
♪ Happy birthday to you ♪
-[man 1] Happy birthday! -[man 2] Happy birthday!
-[Roberto] Happy birthday! -[Giuliana] Happy birthday!
[laughter and clapping]
Thank you. You really shouldn't have.
There you go. [chuckles]
But do I have to sleep with the window open?
Yes, you should, because of the leak.
Don't worry, I gave you some extra blankets.
Thanks.
I'm happy you're here.
-Good night. -[Giovà] Good night.
[sighs]
Which side would you like?
I'll sleep with Roberto.
You'll be more comfortable.
I love you.
You too.
[pensive music playing]
Excuse me.
No, Giannì, don't worry.
Come, come in. I'm done.
-Good night. -Good night.
[Giuliana giggling]
[door opens]
[pensive music playing]
[Giuliana giggles] Stop it!
[Roberto] Okay, I'll stop.
[Giuliana laughs] Stop!
-[gasps] Yeah? -Yes?
[Giovà] I made coffee. Would you like some?
-Yes! -Wait.
What?
Yeah.
Thank you.
Thank you, Giannì.
[laughs] I swear, I'll never forget this perfect morning.
-[kisses] -Thank you.
What for?
For the party, the cake, everything.
Thanks, love.
You're beautiful, Giovà.
It's true. You're so beautiful.
Roberto loves me.
But I love him much more.
Because he lifted me up from the place I was destined to be stuck in,
and he took me by his side.
But now that's the only place I can be.
[tearfully] If he changes his mind,
if he should leave me, I…
[sniffles]
[sighs] I won't be myself anymore.
And he'll be fine. He knows who he is.
Even when he was a kid, I remember…
You can't imagine what would happen as soon as he opened his mouth.
The son of the lawyer, Sargente, Rosario, he's just an idiot, really,
but… everyone was scared of him, except Roberto.
Roberto would enchant him.
Like a snake charmer.
He had the power to calm him down.
[sniffles]
[sighs]
And did you notice how all the women look at him?
They're all so pretty.
And they're all really smart too.
Take that Michela.
You could tell the only reason she was there was to talk to him.
Giannì, what if one day she decides to take my place?
I'd kill myself.
I'd have to. There's no other way.
Because even if I lived, I'd live without being anything.
Well, you're right. They all look up to him.
But he wants to be with you.
You're really special.
And if you stay like you are, he'll love you forever.
Oh my God, Giannì, my bracelet is gone!
-How is that possible? -No idea. I don't know where I put it.
[Giovà] You must have left it at Roberto's.
No, because it was right here, in this pocket.
-Are you sure? -I'm not sure about anything.
Check in here.
It's not here.
Oh my God, it's gone!
Calm down. We'll call Roberto and figure it out.
I'm sure it's there.
[gasps]
[whispers] Oh God…
[solemn music playing]
[Giuliana] Excuse me.
Excuse me.
Vittoria will kill me. If I don't find it, she'll kill me.
We'll call him now and have him look for it. Don't worry.
No answer.
No answer!
I really think he's with Michela.
Call again.
Please, can you do it for me? I'm really losing my mind.
Zero, two,
seven, six, eleven, twenty-three, nine, five.
-Hello? Hey. -[sighs]
Yes, yes, it's me. No, no, I'm okay. It's just…
It's just that I can't find my bracelet anywhere.
Can you check to see if I left it there?
Okay.
Okay, no problem.
-I think he's with Michela. -Stop it, 'kay?
Yes. Yeah!
Oh my God, Robè, I'm so relieved.
He just found it.
I miss you already, my love.
Yes, but call me too.
Okay. Okay.
Bye.
[sighs] Thank God.
Now the only problem is I can't go home and face Vittoria's interrogation.
-Just don't tell her. -I know, but I don't have the bracelet.
Giulià, you're too stressed. You can't live like this.
I know, I'm always feeling anxious.
Know what I just thought while we were talking?
What if Michela goes to Roberto's, finds the bracelet and takes it?
What's going on?
Giovanna?
Giulià, you're so stressed, you're ripping your own hair out.
I'm not ripping my hair out. It's just falling out.
I'm dying. I'm dying!
No, no one dies because of some hair falling out.
-Let me walk you to the bus. -Okay.
-Mm? -Okay.
Tell Vittoria that, uh… you went sightseeing.
-Temporize. -Okay.
What if Vittoria asks?
Don't worry, and rest. I got this.
[woman] You know what you are?
You know?
You're a fuck-up!
[Giovà] We do things and sometimes never know the reason why.
Or if there even is a reason.
Giuliana needs her bracelet back right away.
I'm coming to get it.
No, no problem. I'm happy to come back.
10:08 p.m. Will you pick me up?
["Soul Express" by Enzo Avitabile playing]
Thank you.
Is it taken?
Yes, I'm sorry.
["Soul Express" continues]
["Soul Express" fades out]
You didn't show up at the station.
I was working. Somehow, I lost track of the time.
Why do you study and read all these things?
Because I'm a human being.
Therefore, I'm scared. And confused.
And astounded. [chuckles]
Does studying God scare you?
That is God.
He's our fear.
-[sighs] -Our confusion.
Our astonishment.
The first time I talked to you, I tried studying it too.
To understand.
I'm already tired of God.
I don't get him.
You won't fully, because he's God.
If you did, he wouldn't be God.
You won't ever understand either?
Then I'm not interested.
I want to get it.
Sentences too sharp are useless, Giovanna.
Give yourself time.
[sighs]
[water running]
["È Stata Tua La Colpa" by Edoardo Bennato playing]
[Roberto] Are you tired?
[Giovà] Yes.
[Roberto] Wanna sleep with me?
[Giovà] No. I'll sleep on the couch.
[Roberto sighs]
Are you sure?
[Giovà] Yes.
[Roberto] Why did you come back?
[Giovà] I'm not sure anymore.
[Roberto sighs]
Here's the bracelet.
Good night.
["È Stata Tua La Colpa" continues]
[Giovà] He gave me the bracelet as if it were some toothpaste or a towel.
He never even mentioned Giuliana.
He seemed to have erased her.
"Is it that easy?" I thought.
"To die in the lives of the people who we can't live our lives without?"
["È Stata Tua La Colpa" continues]
["È Stata Tua La Colpa" stops abruptly]
["Pace" by Almamegretta playing]
[water dripping]
[parcel tape ripping]
[gasps] God!
Giannì!
[gasps]
How's Giuliana?
She…
She's been having some hair problems.
I know.
You've been good with her.
Very, very good.
She really loves you.
So do I.
I've been thinking.
If your father made you this way,
then maybe he isn't such an asshole.
[both laugh]
[Vittoria] Ay!
How are you?
I found a new job.
I'm going to be a maid at a friend of Costanza's.
Day and night. I'm moving there.
To Posillipo?
To Posillipo. With rich ladies. [laughs]
-And the house? -[sighs]
[Giovà] But you love this place.
And you hate Posillipo.
I need to leave this mausoleum.
Or else I'll die too.
Okay.
I brought Giuliana's bracelet back.
-It ended up in my purse by mistake. -You keep it.
It's Giuliana's.
Giuliana doesn't want it.
-Then why did you give it to her? -I gave it to her 'cause she was upset.
This bracelet's been yours since you were born.
Okay.
Bye.
-Giannì. -Yeah?
Come here.
Don't waste yourself.
Don't waste it. Hmm?
Cherish this dearly.
Before giving it away, make sure he's good and not bad.
And if you waste it, your father and I, we'll beat the crap out of you.
-Got it? -Mm.
Don't make my mistakes.
But haven't you been faithful to a dead man all these years?
Yes, I've only ever loved Enzo.
But in this city, a woman alone is a piece of meat thrown to the dogs.
[chuckles]
We're left with nothing. Nothing.
You have no idea how many strangers and useless men
that I ended up in bed with.
Some would bring me groceries or mozzarella…
"Vittoria! Look, I found this beautiful necklace for you."
Or they'd fix my washer.
Like when the heater died.
"Ciro, it's freezing. Can you help?"
"Sure, Vittoria. Don't worry, I got it."
[sighs heavily]
"Thank you, Ciro. More coffee?"
And then…
and then…
Auntie.
Why have you lied to me?
[sighs]
The lie was beautiful.
[Vittoria sighs]
[Giovà sighs]
[sighs heavily]
[pensive music playing]
-[sighs] -Mm.
I love you.
[kisses]
-[woman] That was crazy. -[indistinct chattering]
What are you doing?
-Playing village idiot. -[laughs]
Everyone's leaving. Why aren't you?
Well, I am leaving.
But where? [chuckles]
I don't know.
Giannì, I'm my mother's carbon copy.
We have to accept everything because we aren't able to do anything about it.
Hey, you know what?
As soon as Vittoria's gone,
I'll take that picture of Dad…
and get rid of it.
Stay with Tonino.
Tonino?
Tonino only thinks about himself.
He doesn't give a shit about Mom or Giuliana, me, anyone.
Give me Rosario's number.
You wanna screw him?
If you don't give it to me, I'll go to him.
I'll tell him you didn't give it to me 'cause you were jealous.
And I'm gonna tell Vittoria.
Then we'll see.
I want you to promise you'll tell her.
[kisses]
[pensive music playing]
-Hi, Nello. -[Nello] Hi, Giovà.
[Giovà] "Dear Giovanna. I didn't tell you the truth."
[Ida] It's not true that I was ashamed because I had failed school.
THE LYING LIFE OF ADULTS
My parents, they were ashamed.
I'm actually happy.
I want to leave school,
and I wanna spend time writing.
I don't give a shit about shame.
My parents fear that I will never be worthy of them.
They don't know that I've done much worse things to be ashamed of.
I don't wanna be worthy.
I want to be indecent.
I want to end badly.
So I overcame my disgust,
and that's when I met this guy who, for a period of time,
had worked in the garden of our Posillipo house.
-It was awful. -[rain starts falling]
His saliva tasted of sewage water, and he was constantly cursing.
But at least I got over it.
And I also wrote a novel about it.
Although… I don't want you to read it yet.
You're still a virgin. It would be a huge turnoff.
[kissing]
[Rosario] What is it?
[Giovà] Can we not kiss?
-[Rosario] You don't like it? -[Giovà] No.
[Rosario] But everyone likes it.
[Giovà] If you could avoid touching my breast too, I'd appreciate it.
-But if you need it, it's okay. -[Rosario] I don't need anything.
Touch me.
-[Giovà] Like this? -[Rosario] Yes.
[sniffs]
Giannì, so what do you like?
Let me know. I don't want to upset you.
[Giovà] Can I keep my clothes on?
[Rosario] Well, to make love, we have to be naked.
[Giovà] If I could do it with my clothes on, I'd appreciate that.
[Rosario] You have to take off your underwear at least.
[Giovà sighs]
[buckles jingling]
[Giovà] Okay?
[Rosario] Okay.
But that's not how you do it.
[Giovà] Yes, but I'm asking you this as a favor.
-[Rosario] I'll touch you too. -[Giovà sighs] No.
You can't do it. It's painful.
-[Rosario] But I can do it very well. -You're very kind, thanks.
I don't trust you.
Giannì.
If I don't touch you a little, then it's going to be really painful.
What a beautiful thing you have between your legs.
[Giovà sighs]
[Rosario sighs]
-[Giovà gasps] -[Rosario grunts]
-Was that a moan? -No! [laughs]
-Did I hurt you? -Mm-mm. No.
But keep going. Don't get me pregnant, though.
-Don't worry. -[sighs]
Just relax, okay?
[Rosario moaning]
[Rosario grunting]
[groans]
-Are you out? -[sighs]
-Yes. -[sighs]
It burns.
It's your fault, Giannì.
It could've been better.
-I wanted it to be exactly like that. -[chuckles]
[both laugh]
Your teeth are nice.
Are you kidding, Giannì?
No, really, I like them.
[both laugh]
[shower running]
[Ida] One is the story of two sisters,
who have a friend who sleeps over often.
The older waits for the younger to fall asleep,
and then she sneaks into the guest's bed
and sleeps with her.
The younger tries to fight back sleep,
suffering from being left out.
She surrenders.
One night, however…
she pretends she's sleeping
so that, in silence, in solitude,
she can listen to their whispers
and the kisses they share.
Every night, she pretended to be asleep and then spied on them.
Every time, after the two finally fell asleep,
she would cry,
'cause she…
she thought no one loves her.
Giovanna,
if you love me as you say you do,
I'll wait for you where we agreed.
Giannì. Have a coffee.
Take it easy, Rosario.
["Io Non Piango" by Franco Califano playing]
["Io Non Piango" continues]
We have to run.
["Io Non Piango" continues]
["Io Non Piango" fades out]
[electronic music playing]
BASED ON THE NOVEL OF THE SAME NAME BY ELENA FERRANTE
[female voice in Italian, echoing] When you're little, everything seems big.
When you're grown-up, everything seems small.
Each to their own.
Nobody knows.
Each to their own.
Nobody knows.
Each to their own.
Nobody knows.
When you're little, everything seems big.
When you're grown-up, everything seems small.
Each to their own.
Nobody knows.
Each to their own.
Nobody knows.
Each to their own.
Nobody knows.