The Children’s Train (2024) | Transcript

The Children’s Train (2024)
Original title: Il treno dei bambini
Genre: Drama, Historical
Director: Cristina Comencini
Writers: Furio Andreotti, Viola Ardone, Giulia Calenda
Stars: Christian Cervone, Barbara Ronchi, Serena Rossi, Stefano Accorsi

Plot: In post-World War II Italy, a seven-year-old boy named Amerigo leaves his impoverished family in Naples as part of a social initiative aimed at rescuing children from poverty. In 1946, he boards a train to the north, where he is taken in by a wealthier family. This life-changing journey exposes him to new opportunities and challenges, highlighting themes of displacement, family bonds, and the hope for a better future.

* * *

FROM “THE CHILDREN’S TRAIN” BY VIOLA ARDONE

[footsteps]

[indistinct conversation]

[women laughing]

[telephone ringing]

VIOLIN SOLOIST

AMERIGO BENVENUTI 18TH MARCH 19948:30 P.M.

[telephone ringing]

[distant orchestral music playing]

[woman] Good evening, Maestro.

Evening.

[door creaks open]

[telephone continues to ring]

[door creaks shut]

[distant orchestral music continues]

[man] Hello?

Hi, Mom.

Yes, I’ve just arrived. I… I still need to get ready.

What is it?

When?

All right.

Of course. Of course I will.

I have to go. I’ll call you after the show, Mom.

Bye.

[knock on door]

[man] Yes?

[woman] Good evening, Maestro.

Ready?

The hall is beautiful tonight.

What shoes would you like to wear?

What’s the matter?

My mother passed.

Should we reschedule?

No. No, no.

[woman] We can. If you don’t feel up to it…

No, of course not. Don’t… Don’t worry about it.

It’s okay.

[musical instruments being tuned]

[sound of instruments builds]

[instruments stop]

[violin note]

[musicians resume playing]

[man] Maestro.

Go ahead.

[musicians stop playing]

[breathes deeply]

[audience applauds]

[exhales]

[nostalgic orchestral music playing]

[woman in Italian] ♪ Your eyes So beautiful ♪

♪ Shine brighter than the stars ♪

♪ They are darker than darkness ♪

♪ Like two sighs ♪

♪ Each sigh burns ♪

NAPLES 1944

♪ But has a sweet fire ♪

[explosions in the distance]

♪ Once it enters the heart ♪

[car approaching]

♪ It never leaves ♪

[man in English] Let’s go! Come on!

[woman] Hurry!

[citizens clamoring and shrieking]

[man 2] Hurry! Hurry, let’s go!

[song stops]

[engines roar]

Amerigo!

[air raid warning siren wailing]

Amerigo!

[boy chuckles]

[boy laughs]

Amerigo!

Hey! Have you seen Amerigo?

I haven’t, no.

But you had to have seen him!

[man] Inside! Inside!

Amerigo!

It’s not safe!

No! No!

[man] Run!

Amerigo!

[chuckles]

[woman] Have you seen Amerigo?

Amer…

[airplane rumble overhead]

[explosion]

[screams]

[screams]

[explosions]

[bombs whistle]

[debris clattering]

[sobbing]

[coughs]

[coughs]

[dog barks]

[hoarsely] Amerigo?

[sobs]

Mama?

Mama?

[coughs]

Amerigo.

[Amerigo] Ma?

Amerigo, where are you?

Mama?

[woman] Where are you?

Ma?

I can’t see anything!

Mama…

Amerigo!

[woman sobs]

Are you okay?

[Amerigo whimpers]

For God’s sake, Amerigo!

[Amerigo whimpers]

[woman coughs]

[baby crying in the distance]

[Amerigo cries]

[sweeping orchestral music playing]

[Amerigo continues crying]

THE CHILDREN’S TRAIN

NAPLES 1946

One point there! Two points!

Zero points.

One point.

Two points.

No points.

[woman] And when do they get the license?

Two months.

[woman] You have to wait?

A double jackpot!

Enough with the shoes, get moving!

But if I get to ten, something good will happen.

Why are we going this way?

[man] Which one?

[boy] This one!

[man] Just that one, please.

[vendor] Here. How about you, boy?

How’s that taste, bud?

Come on, Amerì!

[woman sighs] Good morning.

Good morning to you.

Where are the communists?

On the first floor.

Mm!

[man 1] It’s okay, sweetheart.

[Amerigo] Zero.

[man 2] Russo!

[man 1] Just a few more minutes. I know.

[Amerigo] Zero.

[Amerigo] Zero. Zero.

[man 1] We’ll be home soon.

You and I. Everything will be just…

Zero.

Give it a rest for a moment, will you?

[man 2] Desiano.

But, Mama, what’s gonna happen?

[woman 1] Speranza?

Here!

[man 1] We’re right here together.

Go on.

[man 1] Everything is going to be just…

You’re doing your son a big favor, you know? You got guts.

Amerì…

People don’t trust us here.

Our comrades went door-to-door, but it was like you knew

that we were here for you.

Can’t you just leave things be? Sorry.

[woman 2] No, he’s okay.

It’s all okay. Look here.

Ever seen a medal of valor?

No.

No? What this signifies is bravery.

Only a few years ago, the Germans tried to blow up a bridge in Sanità,

but we fought bravely to save it.

So they gave us this.

I would’ve asked them for some new shoes. ‘Cause yours have holes…

See what he’s like? He’s a punishment from God.

You sure you want this curse?

[woman 2 chuckles]

He’s the only one I’ve got now.

I need a minute.

You can think about it.

[woman] Where are you going?

[panting]

Just one, okay? The pork rind.

[man] Sure thing, ma’am.

Here’s your pizza, young man.

Thanks.

[man] A pleasure.

You heard all that, right?

You’re big now. You’re eight.

And things around here…

I should’ve planned for…

[sighs]

Come on, Amerì, I’m not too good at…

Words aren’t your thing.

Right. Look at your face.

[woman 1] They’re taking all the kids and putting them on a train!

[woman 2] But there are 200 children!

Two hundred? There are more than that! Just think of your poor kids.

[woman 3] They’re gonna work in America.

[woman 4] You got it wrong!

These aren’t Americans, they’re all Russians!

They’ll cut off their hands and feet and throw them in the oven.

I’m telling you, the Russians are going to eat the children!

If the king was here, none of this would’ve happened.

Why do you care? You don’t even have any kids!

Kids aren’t for sale. It’s a matter of dignity!

The communists don’t want us all to die! Ever thought maybe they’re just nice?

The communists are godless heathens! They’ll completely destroy the world.

Ugh, that’s just not true!

Antonietta, you’re selling your son right to the Russians?

I wouldn’t have expected that from you!

Hey. You know my story.

My man is traveling in America. He’s seeking out his fortune.

Antonietta, give me a break, girl! America?

Come on, move it.

Penguins!

Antonietta, you’re a good Christian lady. Christ is watching over us all.

Children don’t belong to their mothers or fathers. They’re children of Heaven!

What is it that you two want? No decisions have been made yet.

Excuse me.

‘Cause a penguin lecture is just what I needed.

Where were they when my Luigi got sick?

Do you really wanna send me to Russia?

Russia? Where’d you get that idea?

Ugh. You sound just like them.

Well, can we go to America so I can meet Dad?

He’s a good man, your father.

When’ll he be here?

He’ll come back.

Sooner or later.

[dishes clink]

[water swishing]

[man] All right. You listen good, kids.

Women and wine are the exact same thing, hm?

You dominate ’em or be dominated.

Do what Capa ‘E Fierro does. Hm?

If you do, you’ll always be free.

Y’all got that?

[all] Yes, we got it, Capa ‘E Fierro.

Mm. Here.

[coins jingle]

Here.

Mm. The last one!

[boy] I want it!

[all] Give it to me!

The last one.

[boy] I want it!

The last one’s up for grabs!

[all] Me! Me! Me! Me!

[children grunt]

[Don Michele] Hey, Capa ‘E Fierro.

Hey, Don Michele.

[woman] Have a good day, sir.

[Capa ‘E Fierro] Same to you, ma’am.

[shouting in the distance]

Hey, buddy. Where’s your mom?

Morning, Capa ‘E Fierro.

Morning.

[Antonietta] You need something?

Two bags.

[rustling]

All right.

COLOMBIAN COFFEE

And this right here… [sighs]…it’s for your trouble.

Don’t worry about it. There’s lots of space under there.

And on top of the bed? Is there any room there?

Offer me a coffee.

[Antonietta] Of course.

And you? When are you on the Soviet train?

That’s none of your business.

Hey, mind your manners!

[Capa ‘E Fierro] Nah, he’s okay. You’ll see.

They’ll beat some manners into you in Russia, boy.

I’d like to talk to your ma in private.

I got here first.

Stubborn as a mule. Go be useful!

Find us some rags!

And don’t you come back with an empty basket!

[Capa ‘E Fierro] Come here.

[both laugh]

[Antonietta] I thought you wanted coffee.

[Capa ‘E Fierro] I don’t, I want you.

[Capa ‘E Fierro chuckles]

[Antonietta] Ah! Keep your voice down!

[both] T-shirts, old socks.

Any old grimy towels ya got!

Yup.

Your filthy rags.

[both] We take basically all of it.

If they had money already, they wouldn’t send us to communists.

Hey, boys. I’ve got rags.

My dad said he’s taking me to Ischia. [chuckles]

Lucky you.

[boy 1] Boom, boom!

Hi, Solachianiello.

Hello, Amerigo.

[boys] Boom, boom, boom!

[boy 1] Boom, boom!

[boy 3] I’m shooting you.

[boy 4] Throw it here!

[indistinct chatter]

[birds chirping]

[man 1] Onions! Garlic!

[man 2] Fine wood for sale! Wood for your stove!

Hey, get your hands off, kid! Get outta here. Go! Get outta here!

[woman 1] Freshly-caught mussels!

[man 1] A great price. Take a look.

[man 3] It’s all good stuff!

[woman 1] Freshly-caught mussels!

What are you doing, huh? We’re working here, huh?

All right, get outta here! Both of ya kids, get outta here, huh? Scram!

[woman 2] Hey, hey! I’ve got the best bread in Naples!

Come and get it! Come and get it!

I got bread, I got beans, right here, I got chickpeas.

Pickpocket! Look out!

[woman 2] A pickpocket? Where?

[man 4] Hey! Hey! Hey, someone catch him!

Who is it?

Put it back, you thief! Don’t let me catch you here again!

[man 5] Feel it. Feel how soft, yeah? It’s good, right? Soft as velvet.

[woman 3] Ooh…

[man 5] Just like ermine.

With that on your neck, you’ll look like a movie star.

Alida Valli! Yeah!

I know.

Three animals, 250 apiece.

[woman 3] You convinced me. I’ll take one.

[man 5] Here, this one’s for you.

You know what? I’ll take one too.

Right away. Here you go.

Thank you.

[coins jingle]

Thank you very much.

[in Italian] ♪ But has a sweet fire ♪

♪ Once it enters the heart They are darker… ♪

[in English] You can’t just take any rags, Amerì.

These aren’t even good enough for the fire.

[in Italian] ♪ Who can forget you ♪

♪ Eyes that reason ♪

♪ Without speaking ♪

♪ Without speaking ♪

[in English] Get your feet off my legs. What am I, your heater?

My feet are freezing.

Yeah, I noticed.

Hey, come on, cut it out!

[melancholic music playing]

[Amerigo] I’ll kill you now!

[boy] You kill me? Can’t you see that I’m stronger?

[Amerigo] Yeah, sure you are! You’ll end up dead here soon!

[boy] Yeah, right! I’ll get you!

[woman] In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

[boys chatter]

[woman] My beloved creator.

This is all I have to offer you.

I’m a widow with five children.

[Amerigo] Bam! I can do this all day.

[woman] Only you can help me.

[Amerigo] Surrender if you want to live!

[woman] Hey! Boys!

[boys become silent]

[woman] You can’t play here!

[boys laugh]

[woman] Show some respect for the dead.

Get out of here.

[tearful voice] My beloved ancestors, bring my son back.

He’s a prisoner in Greece. I love you.

Ancestors, oh, my ancestors…

Tomassì, you can’t steal from the dead!

They won’t know. And they’re dead, they don’t need it. I should keep it.

Look at that! This guy lost his sight.

It looks like a bomb hit him. He must’ve been a soldier.

[rat squeaks]

[boys gasp]

Oh Jesus and his mother!

Tommasì, what do you make of this rat?

It’s just a stupid rat. And it’s a little frightening.

No. It’s gold.

What’s the plan here?

[rat squeaks louder]

That’s gross.

Here. Don’t let my father see.

Thanks, Mariuccia. It’s perfect.

What’s wrong?

I’m being sent off to the communists.

But why?

My brothers work in a warehouse and I’m useless.

I don’t even know how to heat up a plate of pasta.

Yeah, but no one’s born knowing that.

I’m scared they’ll take my hands.

No, the communists will just put you in the oven.

[sighs]

Don’t worry, look at me. Once we paint these rats,

we’ll make money, and then they aren’t going to give us up.

What rats?

These rats.

Ew!

[Amerigo] Get your furs! Fresh, live, new furs!

Look, they’re still alive! With this around your neck,

you’ll look rich and famous!

A good deal, a good deal, get your fresh furs!

Two animals for 200 lira.

No, don’t be silly.

I only want one.

That’s fine.

A hundred lira for it.

[both] All right, all right.

[crowd chatter]

[both chuckle]

Here you go.

[thunder rumbles]

[both] A good deal, a good deal!

Get your wife a present! Two for 200 lira!

We got the best here!

[thunder rumbling loudly]

[rain pattering]

[rats squeak]

[woman 1] God, why? Move! Move!

[rats’ squeaks intensify]

[man] Pasqualino, has the rain put you in a trance?

Give me a hand! What did I bring you here for?

My God, that’s a rat! You disgusting little cheats!

Call the police!

[woman grunts]

I’ve got you! [grunts]

[all clamoring]

What do you think you’re doing?

Call the police!

We don’t need to call the police.

What are you looking at? Go!

Get rid of all this stuff.

[dramatic music playing]

We’re gonna have a chat later, boy.

Honey, can we go home now?

Can’t you see the kids are getting wet over here?

[Capa ‘E Fierro] Let’s go home.

[woman 2] What was that about?

[music becomes nostalgic]

[rats squeaking]

[woman] I know your story, Antonietta.

Mama?

[Antonietta] I’m not sure I’m doing the right thing.

Will he be okay?

[woman] You’ve made the right decision, I promise.

You’ve done what you can on your own, Antonietta, but you need help.

We know that… Oh, here’s Amerì!

Amerì.

What’s wrong? Amerì.

You’re gonna like the train, you’ll see.

Up north they’ll treat you like their own son, all right?

They’ll give you plenty to eat, plus new clothes and shoes.

And I’ll be waiting.

[Antonietta] What do you wanna do?

If I get new boots, I’ll walk to the communists.

Dry yourself off, food’s ready!

[cutlery clinking on plate]

[dogs barking in the distance]

Here. I’m not hungry right now.

[shouting in the distance]

Thank you.

Please, just eat it!

[man 1] Here, ma’am, come this way, move down.

[man 2] Careful!

[man 3] Sorry!

Just stand straight.

Beautiful.

[girl] Mommy, please!

Mama, I don’t want to go!

Fusco? You’re at…

[girl] I wanna go home! Mommy, please!

…desk four.

[girl] Can we?

Next in line.

[woman 1] Quiet! Behave yourself!

Stop scratching!

[man 1] Stand in the center. That’s it.

[woman 2] Speranza.

Yes.

[woman 2] Table five.

[dramatic music playing]

[girl crying]

[man 4] Why are you scared? We’re here to help you.

I don’t wanna go in the oven!

Can you just shut up?

[woman 3] Tell me, does he sleep well?

Yes, he does.

Okay, okay, yes. And he’s not scared?

No, he’s good.

Okay, good.

I’ve got trachoma!

See here? I’ve got trachoma!

It’s not ideal, but please take him.

[woman 5] Does she go to school?

She did, but now she has to work instead.

[woman 6] She can’t walk well. She used to run, but then she got hurt.

[woman 7] When was she born?

Twelfth of May, 1936.

Just in time for the war.

There was a bullet.

It grazed her head.

Can you please take both of them?

[woman 8] The girl’s too young, madam.

[woman 9] Do you have a job?

Well, I did, but they rehired the men after the war.

[man 5] The child’s surname?

Speranza.

First name?

Amerigo.

Age?

Uh, eight years old.

And your address?

Where do you live?

In Naples.

Where?

The Quarter.

What time does he go to bed?

When he wants to. Will you stop that?

What grade is he in?

He’s too stupid to be in school.

No. I’m not stupid. I was supposed to go to third grade this year,

but I didn’t. I can count to a hundred, though.

Brothers? Sisters?

Luigi. Brother.

Luigi died.

He was three and had some kind of asthma.

What’s it called? Yeah.

Bronchial asthma?

I won’t let it happen to him. Can you sit still for five minutes?

[stamp thuds]

[children crying]

[woman 1] Don’t cry.

There’s nothing to worry about.

You’ll come back so nice and fat your moms won’t even recognize you.

Okay? Nothing to worry about.

[woman 2] Martina, Antonio, come here!

Martina, come here! Come on.

[indistinct chatter]

Tommasì! Are you waiting for the ferry boat from Ischia?

[boys laugh]

[woman 3] Are we ready?

Come on, the train’s already waiting for you.

Hey, put on your shoes!

Can I have some shoes, please?

No shoes? Oh, boy!

No.

Bring his shoes, help him try those on.

[boy] I love putting on my shoes, what about you?

Amerì? Do those shoes really fit?

Yeah, they’re perfect. They fit.

They seem a bit too tight, no?

No, no, no, they’re fine, they fit.

[woman 4] All right.

[train whistle blowing]

[man] Come on, no pushing.

[woman 1] Come on, the train’s leaving.

[woman 2] Don’t sell your children!

They’ve filled your heads with lies!

They’re going to Siberia. Then you know what they’ll do?

They’ll throw them all in a giant copper cauldron

and then they’re going to boil them!

Why don’t you listen to her? She’s telling you the truth!

[woman 3] That’s really what happens! She’s not telling any lies!

[woman 2] It’s all true!

No, it’s not! She’s obviously lying! Don’t listen to her.

[woman 2] Yes, it’s true! We know, because the ones who came back alive told us!

What are you talking about? Those are horrible lies!

This is insane!

They’re not God’s children!

They’re beastly!

[woman 1] Don’t listen to her! They’re all lies!

They’ll fatten you up so nicely? They want to eat the children!

No, no! You’re gonna be all right!

[children screaming]

Mama!

[all clamoring]

[man] Everyone just calm down, calm down.

[woman 1] Stop, please!

[indistinct clamor]

[Antonietta] Amerì!

Mama! Mama!

Amerigo!

Mama.

[indistinct clamor continues]

[man] Stop! This is outrageous.

Come on, say goodbye. We need to get going. Come on!

[woman 1] We need to leave!

Look at that outfit.

I don’t care about new shoes anymore. I don’t want to leave.

Don’t listen to her!

They’re going to have shelter.

The nice and cozy kind. They’ll be fed and cared for.

How many of them have been taken from us by trachoma, rheumatism, cholera?

Please think about how their future looks.

Do not take this opportunity away from these kids today.

When the Nazis threatened us all here,

I went and grabbed my gun and did what I had to!

[voice breaking] And I saw my 11-year-old nephew Gennarino shot

and lying dead right in front of us

after he threw a hand grenade at a German truck.

I hope no one has to feel that pain! Babies marching into battle? Not one more!

And this is another battle, against hunger!

If we women don’t think about our children, then nobody else will!

I love them just as much as you do.

And I’ll fight to get them back if I have to. I swear on my honor.

[solemn music playing]

[woman] Bye, baby.

Wait, wait, wait. Okay.

Slowly, slowly. One at a time.

Ma?

Wait one second.

Here, for if you get hungry.

Amerì, run! Just get out of here!

[solemn music continues]

Tommasì! Mariuccia! We’re all going together!

Yeah, it looks like we are! [chuckles]

[train hisses]

[children] Bye!

[indistinct shouting]

[train whistle blows]

[children shouting indistinctly]

[Amerigo] Wait, what are you all doing?

Our siblings need these, so we said we’d throw them back.

[Amerigo] What about us?

I guess the communists will give us new ones.

They’re rich, and they got others.

[Amerigo] Mama!

[woman 4] I love you!

[music builds]

THE CHILDREN OF NAPLES THANK THE MOMS OF MODENA

Amerigo!

Giuseppe!

Amerigo!

Mama!

Mama! Mama!

Amerigo. Amerigo!

Amerigo!

SOLIDARITY AMONG PEOPLE

[panting]

[bittersweet music playing]

[train whistle blows]

[music ends]

I didn’t throw this coat because my brother has one.

Mama’s probably sold mine by now.

[gasps] Our coats had numbers!

How are they gonna recognize us?

They did that on purpose so they can lose us.

What are you saying?

Russians take your hands if you’re bad!

Come on, no way. My mama checked, we’re just going up to the north.

They could’ve lied so she’d think it’s okay.

I don’t want them to come and take my hands!

Let me off the train!

Please stop the train!

Just let us off the train!

[boy 1] You can’t make us stay!

[all clamoring]

[man] Okay, calm down.

[all shouting]

[man] Quiet! Quiet!

[man] What’s going on? Hey! Enough.

[clamoring subsides]

What’s all this racket?

Are you kids gonna yell this entire time?

What in the world are you even shouting about?

Sit down, be good. Come on.

Sit… Sit down.

Give me your hands.

[all yell] No!

[girl] No!

[man] Are you scared?

All right. Your name?

Tommaso Saporito.

[man] Your name. Give me your hand.

[boy whimpering]

[man] And your name?

[boy 3] Vincenzo Esposito.

And what’s your name?

Amerigo Speranza.

[train whistle blows]

[cheerful chatter and laughter]

What are you… Oh, let’s not throw. Come on, put your cap back on.

There now, sit! I’m watching you, hon!

[boy 3] What? What?

[laughter]

[woman] Stop playing with the door!

Hey! Settle down. It’s a long trip.

Everyone get comfortable and quiet down!

Come on. Get some sleep.

Good thing this one’s asleep already.

Amerì, you too. Take your shoes off, get comfortable.

We’ve still got a long way to go.

No, thanks. I don’t want anybody to steal them, you know.

[laughs]

[woman] Who would do that?

Come on. There. Now get some sleep.

How long is this ride?

Does it matter?

[train rattles on tracks]

[ball thuds]

[nostalgic, delicate music playing]

[child coughs]

[child murmurs in sleep]

[music builds]

[train whistle blows]

[nostalgic music continues with guitar pizzicato]

[Mariuccia] Look at all that milk!

[boy 1] That’s so beautiful.

No way, can’t you see that’s sugar?

[boy 1] Oh wow!

What? That’s not sugar or milk.

That’s frozen water out there. Like we get at Don Mimi’s.

Except it doesn’t have the cherry on top.

[boy 2] Whoa!

That’s snow.

[boy 3] I see people.

[train rattles on tracks]

[band playing Italian national anthem]

WELCOME CHILDREN FROM THE SOUTH WITH THE PEOPLE, FOR THE PEOPLE

[man] Welcome to Modena!

NORTH AND SOUTH ARE BROTHERS ITALY UNITED, THANKS CHILDREN

[train squeals to a stop]

[band continues playing national anthem]

[band continues playing national anthem]

THERE IS NO NORTH AND SOUTH, JUST ITALY

[music ends]

[woman] What’s the matter, everyone? Eat! It’s good.

Relax, kids, this is how we treat our family! [chuckles]

Hey!

She’s saying you can eat everything here, and it’s for you.

And you won’t go hungry here, because you’re family! Make sense?

Eat up! All right? I’m sure you’re hungry, aren’t you?

Eat.

What? What’s wrong, kiddos? Huh?

You can’t talk anymore? Your cat’s got your tongue or what?

Uh, sorry, miss, it’s just…

Huh?

What is it?

It’s moldy.

What?

Mold, what?

[whispers] I think they’re trying to poison us.

[whispers] They’re trying to poison us.

Hey, if we eat, we’ll die.

[agitated children’s chatter]

Quiet! Hey, quiet down.

Is there a problem with the food?

No, no, there’s no problem.

Look at this right here. Now these little white dots?

These right here, not mold, you guys!

This is a yummy delicacy. It’s called “mortadella.”

[woman 2 chuckles]

[woman 1] Mmm.

[woman 2] Mmm.

[child 1] It’s good!

[excited children’s chattering]

Mmm, nice! Right?

[woman] Do you want some? No?

You’ve got some already. Does anyone want some milk?

[woman 3] Go on. Put it there.

[woman 4] We have two girls.

And they can’t wait to meet you.

All right? Okay.

[woman 5] Fine.

[woman 4] Here. Let me take your hand.

[woman 6] Oh, that’s right.

[woman 7] Hi, good morning.

I’m Patrizia Ventura.

[woman 1] That little girl there.

Okay. Thank you.

Wait right here.

Are you Maria?

No, don’t be afraid.

What a pretty name. What a pretty little girl you are.

Give me your hand.

I promise you don’t have to be afraid of us.

I brought you a little candy. Take one.

Good girl. You’re okay. Come on, let’s go home.

I have all the candy you could want there.

Ready?

Tommasì, if we pretend we’re brothers, maybe they’ll put us together.

Amerì, these guys are northerners, they’ll know if we lie.

Amerigo or Tommaso?

Tommaso.

Tommaso’s on the left over there.

[man 1] Are you Tommaso?

Yes, sir.

I am Libero.

I’m a liberal too.

Great, this is for you. Let’s get going. We’re half an hour away.

And Gina has already set the table.

Come on. [chuckles] Let’s go.

Let’s hope you’re still hungry after all that mortadella.

Huh?

[chuckles]

This way.

Come on! No, no, no, no!

Come on, now, Derna. Hey, Derna.

Make sacrifices. Right?

[Derna] Didn’t we agree the Rocchis would come?

[woman 1] Yes, we did, but Agostina’s giving birth right now, as we speak.

[Derna] We don’t even have room for him.

[woman 1] What do you want us to do, leave him here?

[Derna] No, of course not, poor thing.

[man 2] There’s no one else from the party who can take him. Come on!

[sweet and melancholic music playing]

[clears throat]

[Derna] Hi.

My name’s Derna.

Mine’s Amerigo.

All right, hoof it, it’s late.

We need to get moving before dark.

[sighs]

You poor boy.

They sent you without a coat in this weather?

It’s a good thing I’ve got a blanket in the cart. Bye.

Bye.

See you.

See you later.

[both chuckle]

[music continues]

I don’t really have much company.

I’m sure you’re expecting a full-fledged clan.

Huh?

We speak differently, do we?

I live alone. And I thought you’d rather be with a family here.

I don’t know. I’d rather be down south with my mama.

Huh. [sighs]

[music ends]

[Amerigo] Mama… Mama? Mama!

[panting and sobbing] A monster! A monster!

[shrieking] A monster! A monster! A monster!

[Derna] What’s the matter?

[Amerigo] A monster! A monster! A monster!

[Derna] Calm down. It’s all right.

What’s going on?

Where are we?

We’re at home, you’re okay. You thirsty?

Yes.

Ma’am, please don’t leave!

No, don’t leave!

I’m coming right back.

Don’t leave me here alone!

Okay! Hold on! See? I’m here.

I’m right here.

There.

Take it easy.

Was it a nightmare?

Can you please sing?

No, uh… No, I don’t really sing, and I don’t know lullabies, sorry.

Can you read instead?

Yes, I could read. Yes.

No, not that one. That’s…

It’s fine.

Not really appropriate. Fine.

Just read it, come on. Come on, read it!

Oh, we’ll see how you feel about this.

[Derna sighs]

Okay…

“The trade unions of Italy.”

“The GLC, or The General Labor Confederation, united,

under one umbrella, all the labor forces.”

“It had a dual structure.”

“Vertical, with a federation of groups,

and horizontal, through the Labor Chambers.”

[nostalgic music plays]

“The federation’s function is to address the groups’ interests,

but the chamber cabinets…”

[music builds]

[gasps] Ma’am, it looks like a bomb went off!

[Derna chuckles]

There are no bombs here. It’s fog.

We need to go and get some fresh milk.

And call me Derna.

[cow moos]

[Amerigo gasps]

It’s okay, she won’t hurt you.

I’m not scared of her.

You don’t have cows back home down south?

Just rats. We ate the other animals. We ate cats too.

[Derna] Hm.

Okay!

Aw. Not bad.

There you are.

Lution’s clothes fit you extremely well. Done.

Perfect.

[Derna] This is Amerigo.

Hello, Amerigo.

That’s my brother, Alcide. And these are my nephews.

Go on, boys, tell Amerigo your names.

They use some different words in the south, okay? Let’s speak plainly.

Well, you heard her. Go on.

My name’s Revo.

And you? What’s the matter? Are you shy?

This is Lution.

This little guy is Nary. There’s Revo, Lution, and Nary!

[chuckles]

I’m pretty proud I came up with that.

[chuckles]

[slams table]

[angrily] Why does he have this?

That’s mine, take it off!

Hey! How many times do I have to tell you that words like “my” and “mine”

have no place in this house?

‘Cause things go to who? “To any that…”? “To any that…”?

“…May need it!”

[woman] Hey.

You’re raising a fascist, you know.

Hey.

With a chip on his shoulder.

Okay, let’s go! You know the deal, we have to get to work.

I should explain, on Sundays, we all have different chores.

On Sunday, everybody contributes here.

Follow Revo for today, all right?

Hey.

Welcome, son.

Let’s go.

[Revo] Come with me.

Go with Revo. I’m going to the party office. I’ll come back soon.

Before the war, we had three. The Germans took the other one, though.

That’s Marta.

Do you like the name? I chose it.

Yeah, I saw her before.

What?

Yes, I saw her before.

[Revo] Oh.

Did you see she’s pregnant?

You can take a closer look.

She’s nice, but the bull is mean.

[Alcide] Rosa!

[Marta moos]

[chickens clucking]

[rooster crowing]

[Amerigo] Hey, Nary.

Whatcha doing? Little man.

What’s going on?

[chuckles]

[soft, melancholic music playing]

Thief! Thief! I saw you!

Ahh!

[Nary cries]

Settle down. Shh, it’s okay! It’s okay, it’s okay, don’t cry.

Please, be quiet. Don’t cry! Don’t cry!

[music continues]

[indistinct chatter on street]

[music ends]

[sniffles]

Okay.

[sighs]

When Maddalena asked me to adopt a child, I told her no.

Because I don’t know how to be a parent.

I know politics, yes, but parenting, no!

[Amerigo] It’s not your thing.

Come again?

My ma’s the same way.

It’s not her thing, being a mom.

Yeah? What’s your mom like?

She’s pretty. She’s the prettiest around.

I see lots of men stare at her, but she walks right on by.

I’m the only man who sleeps in her bed.

She’s lucky a man like you is around.

She says I’m a punishment from God.

[chuckles]

Have a seat there.

[woman] Ah! Good morning. How are you?

[Derna] You getting firewood?

[both] Yes.

[Derna] Good boys.

[Amerigo] Why does Derna dress in black like an old lady?

Because she still thinks about The Wolf.

Who’s that?

The Wolf was a communist hero.

He blew up the German outpost one day in Cavazzona.

He used to hide in the woods.

But then, when he came down the mountain to visit his granny,

the fascists caught him there.

He was alive when they tied him to a truck

and then dragged him all over the town.

He howled like an animal.

Aunt Derna thinks about him every day.

[muffled chatter]

[woman] Oh yes! I think that’s a wonderful idea.

[dark music playing]

[gasps]

[Revo] Hey! Where are you going?

[dark music building]

Amerigo! Come here.

I’ll teach you my recipe for bread.

[woman 1] There he is!

You wanna help? Come on, Amerigo.

[woman 2] Come on. Come.

The oven’s nice and hot!

[woman 3] Bake bread! You’ll have fun.

[woman 4] Amerigo, it’s ready! Amerigo!

Amerigo!

[woman 3] Where is he going?

[woman 4] Come on, Amerigo!

[all] Amerigo!

[woman 4] Amerigo! Where did he go?

[Amerigo] I don’t wanna go in the oven.

I don’t want to go in the oven. They were right!

[Derna] Amerigo!

[music continues]

Amerigo!

[Amerigo panting]

[leaves crunching]

What are you doing here?

I don’t wanna go in the oven.

[chuckles] Go in the oven?

What have they been telling you?

Hey, come on, sweetheart. Time to go home.

There we go.

Home to Naples?

[breathes deeply]

Come with me.

[pensive music playing]

When that wheat’s sprouted, and the fields are all yellow,

that’s when you go back home to Naples. Okay?

When will that be?

Not long, now. Time always flies.

[music ends]

[indistinct children’s chatter]

[Amerigo] I don’t wanna go to school.

[boy] Be gentle, otherwise it’ll break! Like a bayonet!

I don’t wanna wear girls’ clothes.

Everyone wears a smock. So everyone’s equal at school.

I still don’t want to wear it.

Wait. Look. Lution’s here too. Aren’t you happy?

Hi, Lution.

Hey there.

I can’t even look at him.

Listen. That’s enough. You’re going to school now.

[Amerigo] I don’t wanna go to school!

[Derna] You’re going. Got everything?

[Amerigo] Yes.

Benvenuti and Speranza, that’s enough!

But, Miss, I’m not…

[teacher] Silence! Or you’ll be sent out.

Benvenuti, you’re responsible today, because Speranza’s new here.

Well, children!

The war is finished, now we’re here to learn.

Stay alert. Sit nice and straight.

No, no, no, no, no eating bread. Put it away.

No sleeping on the desk. Yes. Sit up. That’s it.

No picking your nose and then playing jokes on your friends. Understood?

Now, who can tell me what two times six is?

Speranza.

Two times six makes 12.

Very good, Speranza.

Have you already learned your times tables, then?

No, Miss. In Naples, I counted shoes. They come in sets of two.

[children laugh]

[bell ringing]

Come on. Come. Easy. Go slowly.

I’ll see you after break time. Don’t run!

Smells like fish. Can you all smell the stink?

[all] Oh boy! What’s that smell?

Naples, you’re the one who reeks of fish. It’s you, isn’t it?

[boy] Like rotten fish.

Just shut it! Who named you “Benito”? Your fascist dad?

[Benito] Whatever, just forget it. Let’s go out to the yard.

Thank you.

They weren’t lying. You do smell like fish.

[dramatic music playing]

[indistinct playful chatter]

[Derna] I got you some notebooks and colored pencils.

Really? Thanks, Derna!

I’ve never had pencils with color! It’s even got yellow!

Well, uh, you… you still need a pencil sharpener.

So…

I can sharpen them on my own.

With a knife.

Anything else you need?

Yes.

At school today, they said I’m smelly.

[music stops]

[Derna] The kids in your class are all ignorant. Don’t listen to them.

Every acorn thinks he can grow into an oak tree,

but most of them will become pig feed. I learned that from Gramsci.

[knife clacking]

You need anything else?

No, I’m done.

[footsteps approaching]

Here. Take it.

I’m freezing.

I’m still cold, though.

[Derna] Is that better?

Yeah.

I stole the mortadella. Please don’t send me away.

There aren’t any thieves in this house.

[violin playing in distance]

[Alcide] Listen carefully.

[violin notes intensify]

Hear how the A string isn’t in tune yet?

Hi, Lution.

Hi.

See this thing right here? To change the pitch slightly,

you just turn this little peg clockwise, and it tightens the string.

It’s called a tuner.

[violin playing]

[nail clacking loudly]

Come on, Lution, will you stop that? Just be quiet, okay?

[violin note plays]

[Alcide] Can you hear the difference?

I admire music. It’s like words, but better.

You think? My dad was a carpenter.

But his truest passion was music. He taught me like this.

[laughs]

But not one of these ding-dongs wants to learn!

‘Cause we don’t like music!

Now you. Have a turn.

Hold it like that. Good. Chin on the chin rest.

Hold the bow like I taught you to. There.

Good morning, Alcide! Hi, Lution.

[Lution] Hi.

I came to pick up the chair you fixed.

Ms. Daniela. I’ve got it right here. [chuckles] And it looks as good as new.

Oh, the poor things.

They make them travel all the way here, show them a better life,

and when the vacation’s over, they send them right back home again.

Yes, well, we…

How much do I owe you for the chair?

Don’t worry about it, you can…

I’m sure it’s very hard.

It’s a generous thing you did since you have three already.

[Lution babbles]

[Alcide] Hey, hey, hey! No!

Well, it’s wonderful to be learning a valuable skill.

What do you want to do when you grow up, huh? Repair instruments like that?

No! I wanna play in an orchestra.

[dramatic violin music playing]

[sighs] He wants to play.

Well…

Right.

[teacher] All right, Benvenuti.

Please write something you would buy at the butcher’s on the blackboard.

BUTCHER? BANGERS

Benvenuti, what are “bangers”?

[children laughing]

Children, please! Remember that we speak properly at school.

The proper word is “sausages.”

Write it, “sau…”

[Amerigo chuckling]

Speranza, you think this is so funny, tell us what you buy at the butcher’s.

What’s a butcher?

[children laughing]

Please mind the noise, just do me a favor.

A butcher is who sells you cuts of meat, Speranza.

Ah, the chianchiere!

A chianchiere?

That’s what we call it.

Ah.

And when you go there, you get ‘o pere e ‘o musso.

Operemus? Is someone teaching you Latin?

It might sound Latin, because ‘o pere e ‘o musso

has been around for ages.

Yes, well, what is it?

On a pig, foot, “‘o pere,” and nose, “‘o musso.”

[children] Ew, gross!

That’s not food!

[teacher] Children, please. Everyone be quiet.

[door opens]

[man] Good morning!

Headmaster! Good morning.

[girl whispers] Who’s that?

This is Rossana Palma. She’s from Naples.

Please, treat her well, okay?

[teacher] Of course, headmaster.

Thank you, headmaster. Bye.

[headmaster] Have a good day.

[teacher] Cantarelli, sit next to Speranza.

Rossana, if you would, sit in the seat that was Cantarelli’s.

Benvenuti. Sit there next to Rossana, so you and Speranza can behave.

All right, back to sausages.

What do you buy at the butcher’s?

Not bangers, sausages. Say it with me.

[all enunciating slowly] Sausages.

[teacher] Well done.

[man 1] On behalf of the party, we’re very grateful

that you’re willing to take Rossana in on short notice like this.

[man 2] Yes, that’s all well and good, I just hope you communists

don’t want to capitalize on this simple Christian gesture.

Because you know our pope doesn’t exactly agree with all these transfers…

Okay, anyone hungry?

[man 1] Oh!

So, Amerigo, you sit here today, okay?

[man 1] Time to eat.

Derna, I didn’t know you were such a good cook.

[Derna] Rosa made the tortellini, I just made the broth.

[man 1] Ah!

[Amerigo] Derna’s a good unionist.

But she can cook too.

[man 2] Can she?

Rossana, sit.

I don’t need charity from you, from any of you.

[man 1] It’s not charity. We want you here.

My parents are supposed to want me with them, not you!

[footsteps moving away quickly]

[man 1] Let her go, it’s all right.

I’ll talk to her later, okay?

[sighs]

[enunciating slowly] “It had rained, and the heat had changed to…”

Are you just doing this all out of charity?

No, Amerigo. No.

Come on. Bedtime.

The wheat’s still green, right?

Right.

We’ve got a bit more time to go. It’s barely sprouted yet.

Well, good night.

Good night.

[reassured sigh]

[rustling wind]

[birds chirping]

[woman] Delicious.

[Alcide] Revo, can you come and sit down?

Oh. Here’s your mother.

[Rosa] Lution! Leave that hen alone!

It’s time for cake.

Cake! Ah!

[Alcide] Come here! Look at you.

[woman] Rosa, that looks lovely.

[all] ♪ Happy birthday to you Happy birthday to you ♪

♪ Happy birthday, Amerigo ♪

♪ Happy birthday to you ♪

Aw!

Here’s hoping you have a hundred more!

[all laugh]

[Alcide chuckles]

Okay, kiddo.

This is for you.

That’s yours, son. Open it before it gets dark.

Lution, no! Behave!

[Alcide] Lution, come sit down.

I can’t believe your manners! You’ve had your birthday already!

You should know better, eh?

Today it’s Amerigo’s turn.

You like it? It’s from Alcide.

It is, indeed. Made it with these mitts of mine.

Made by Alcide? And it’s for me?

Of course, I made it for you.

[man] I didn’t know he played…

[Rosa] All right.

Oh, thanks.

[Rosa] Derna, would you…

And you know what else? I’ll teach you how to play it.

Pass me the violin.

[Rosa] Here you go.

Remember to take good care of it and always keep it with you.

This is a special instrument, you know why?

This is truly your violin. Look right here.

[Amerigo] “Amerigo Speranza.”

[Alcide] Exactly.

[Rosa] All right, shall we eat this cake?

Yes!

No, hold on, give me a second, give me a second.

There’s one more thing for Amerigo.

This came from Naples.

Amerigo, go on.

Go ahead. Read us what your mom wrote to you.

We’re curious.

[melancholy music playing]

It’s okay. He wants to read it alone.

As he should.

[Rosa] So, who wants cake?

Me! Me!

[Alcide] Come on. Pass those plates.

[Lution] Me! Me! Me!

“Dear Amerigo, I couldn’t write to you before today, be…

because I had lots to do

and I was afraid that I might need to ask… [chuckles]…Maddalena.”

“All the women on our street are so grateful,

they’re all communists now, believe it or not.”

“I’m glad they’re feeding you. Capa ‘E Fierro was sent to jail.”

Capa ‘E Fierro is in jail. That’s really good. He’s gone now.

She talks about you too.

She said you can’t be very lucky, because out of all the kids who were left,

you got me, and I’m a punishment from God.

She says you got a raw deal.

[violin music playing]

You’re not bad at that.

You’re really good.

This can’t be the first time. Surely you’ve played before.

No, this is my first time, I swear. I never played before.

But someone must’ve taught you some music. Your mom or dad, for example?

My dad’s in America. According to my mom.

Your mom, then?

My mom has the prettiest voice in the world.

Then you must take after her. You’ve got a natural ear, you can hear it.

Thanks to the art your mom taught.

My ma, she taught me the art of rolling cigs.

[Alcide] The art of what?

Of how to make cigarettes.

All right, all right. You keep playing. But don’t forget, Amerigo,

you need to practice every day. Every day, okay?

[violin playing continues]

These guys think that now the war’s over, we’ll go back to the kitchen.

And they get the pecking order back.

That’s always how it is.

We rolled up our sleeves and worked in factories during the war, and here we are.

That’s always how it is. When the men come back,

whatever we did in the factories doesn’t count for anything.

The union can’t stop representing women like this, it’s not right.

Of course not.

Just because the war’s over now.

We have to act now.

Just a moment.

Yes, but you see, we can’t just walk right up to them…

[Derna] Amerigo!

[violin music stops]

[woman 1] What are we going to do?

[woman 2] We gathered the sign-ups.

[woman 3] No, no.

[Derna] I think you’ve practiced enough for today, okay?

Alcide said I have to make sure I practice all the time.

[Derna] And you’ve really improved, but I’m in a meeting right now.

[woman 2] We have to go in there and we have to try. Yes?

Why don’t we just…

Hi, Amerigo!

How are you?

But we need more.

No, it’s important that they get there.

It’s important for them to speak and talk about their work.

Yeah.

We can put them onstage for it then.

See? That’s a good idea.

Don’t waste time.

Let’s make a list.

Who should we write in?

Go on, write.

So there’s Albertina Vanotti.

And then, uh…

Albertina.

And then there’s Cesarina Sartor…

Yes.

Anna Maria Girone.

Federica Schiatti.

Anna Maria, she’s with Fausto?

You could say that.

Yeah, she was.

She was, then.

Yeah, she was.

Don’t forget Edda.

No, I’m kidding.

He was with Edda?

Please…

Really? No way!

It’s true!

Who isn’t with Fausto?

All right.

Okay, we’ll call Edda.

Go on, then!

[band playing festive music]

WORKERS

[Alcide] Bravo!

[Derna] All right. Take this and go look around.

I’ve got some things to do, okay?

[Alcide] Revo, watch your brother, okay?

[Rosa] Lution! Be good, please.

[Lution] I will.

1ST MAY LABOR DAY

[band continues playing]

[Rosa] Whoo!

[Alcide] Come on, dance with us!

No, no, no.

[Alcide] Aw, come on!

No, no.

[man] Look! It’s a whole article!

[boy] Amerigo Speranza!

Tommasì! It’s been so long! How have you been?

It’s really you.

Yeah.

Wow, you look really great.

Thanks.

Like a movie star, but better.

I think we both look like movie stars.

Isn’t this a communist thing?

Yeah.

Oh, have you seen Mariuccia?

Mariuccia? She’s here?

Come with me.

[indistinct chatter]

[children laughing]

[Amerigo] Mariuccia, it’s really you!

Amerì! Tommasì!

How are you?

Are you well? It’s been ages.

[both laugh]

Mom, Dad, let me introduce my friends to you.

What a pleasure.

A pleasure.

[Patrizia] What a handsome trio.

Hey, Mariuccia, did they cut off your tongue

and give you a northern one instead?

[boys chuckle]

Come on, you two!

Go on, Mariuccia. You can go.

[cans rattle]

Lution, Rossana, these are my friends from the south.

I’m Tommasino.

My name’s Maria.

Okay, children, there are people waiting. Go and play somewhere else. Shoo!

[woman 1] Okay, let’s go!

[woman 2] Okay.

Rossana also came from Naples.

She was on the train after ours. Now she’s my classmate.

Yeah, but she’s not like you three. You’re a whole different person.

I don’t want to stay. And I don’t think they can force us.

Told you she’s different. They can’t make you stay.

[speaks softly] But I wouldn’t mind if you wanted to.

And you, why don’t you go home to your mama?

I bet she’s glad you’re gone. She doesn’t want you either.

That’s why you came here.

[Amerigo] That’s not true!

Nobody wants you. Nobody!

Shut up!

[Lution grunts]

[Tommasino] Guys, stop fighting!

Why are you fighting? Stop fighting!

Cut it out!

[woman 1] Stop!

[Tommasino] Stop fighting!

[woman 1] Where’s your family?

[woman 1] All right, all right.

[woman 2] Boys! Up you go.

Behave yourselves!

That’s enough!

Hey now!

Wait a minute.

Settle down.

[man] The women workers will go onstage with everyone,

but let’s leave the talking to the experts.

Besides, we already decided who’ll give speeches…

Listen, women know politics just as much as you.

Have you forgotten how much we did during the war?

Made food for soldiers, made clothes for civilians.

We killed when we had to.

Got medals of valor for our contributions to it all.

So, what do you want, huh? A medal for putting up some simple decorations?

I deserve a medal for putting up with you! Just for that!

Go.

Get out of here.

My mama wouldn’t have taken that slap. She’d have slapped him back twice.

I’m not afraid of him or anything. I did a lot of things during the war.

Yeah, yeah.

I did!

I don’t know why I didn’t react when he acted like…

Well, I wish you’d punched that creep then and there.

[Derna] Ugh.

Like I just did with Lution. He learned his lesson.

Why? What did he do to you?

Oh, nothing.

There’s only so much I can put up with.

Did everyone really call your boyfriend “The Wolf”?

The party called him that…

but his real name was Giacomo.

[laughs softly]

[whimpers]

[sobs]

I’m sorry.

[sobs]

I’m okay now.

Come on, eat your pasta.

She asked to use the hall pass, but never returned. I’m sorry, sir.

Everything’s all right. Let’s go back to class. Let’s go.

[girl] I’m scared.

[teacher] Come on.

Lution, do you know where Rossana went?

[Alcide] Rossana!

[tense music playing]

[man 1] Hello?

[Alcide] Revo, go that way, we need to look everywhere!

Spread out!

Rossana!

Revo!

[man 2] Rossana!

[woman] If you see her, let us know!

[man 2] Rossana!

[Alcide] Where are you?

[man 3] Rosanna!

[Alcide] Rossana!

[pebbles clatter against the window]

Lution, what’s wrong?

Come here!

What’s wrong?

It’s Rossana! It’s my fault she’s dead!

I told her which way to go. If I hadn’t, then maybe she’d…

What did you do?

She wanted to leave,

so I told her about the… the train that runs back there,

and to follow the tracks out of Modena.

Are you pulling my leg?

[sobs]

[continues sobbing]

[insects chirping]

[Lution] If we hear the train whistle, we jump into the ditch.

[Amerigo] If we have enough time!

Rossana!

[Lution] Rossana!

[both gasp]

Rossana? Is that you?

[Lution panting]

You okay?

Yeah.

Come with us. Please. Everyone’s looking for you. Come home.

No, I’m not going anywhere. There’s a dead body.

What do you mean? Where?

Don’t worry about it. Stay put, I’ll go take a look.

[Lution] Well, what is it, Amerigo?

It’s just an animal, but it’s gross.

Let’s go, come on. We can walk around the dead animal.

Don’t look at it, okay?

Don’t look. Don’t look.

[crows cawing]

[flies buzzing]

What did you do?

I put a penny in his eye socket.

It’s what the ladies in the catacombs do when they pray.

It’s how they honor the dead back home.

It gives the living strength to go on.

[nostalgic violin music playing]

[Amerigo] Lution!

Lution! Where are you? Lution!

Lution!

[music builds and becomes orchestral]

[Lution] Amerigo!

Amerigo!

Are you still hiding?

[Lution] Amerigo!

Amerigo!

[both scream]

Come and get me!

[both laugh]

[orchestral music becomes playful]

[Lution] Ah!

[both laugh]

[Revo] Amerigo! Lution!

That’s it! Gotta go!

[Lution] Come on!

[Amerigo] Okay, hold on!

[music ends]

[Derna] There are the tortellini that Rosa made you.

And here’s some bread and mortadella to eat on the trip.

I’m giving you more salami. You can eat that with your mom.

Then there are your books, your violin, your clothes, all of it.

You know I’ll write.

Write me back, if you feel like it. Okay?

I will.

Come on, son, you’re going home to your mama. Huh?

Back to your city. Aren’t you happy?

Yeah.

Right. Go on, they’re waiting.

[Revo] Are you glad you’re going back to your mom?

[Amerigo] Very. And you? Are you glad I’m leaving?

Yeah! But you’ll come back, right?

[Revo] Of course he’ll come back.

[Amerigo] Yeah.

Now catch me! [chuckles]

[Revo] No, Lution! Lution, come on, that’s enough!

No!

[Amerigo] Got you!

Now you catch me!

[Revo] Enough, enough! That’s enough.

Amerigo!

[Amerigo] Thank goodness. I thought you were gonna stay here.

[Libero] Tommasino!

Keep playing that violin. You’re really good at it,

so practice regularly.

And please come back to visit, okay?

[Amerigo] Okay.

See you, son.

[Amerigo] Bye.

Take care.

[steam hisses]

Right, well…

[sighs]

[Amerigo] Mm.

[Derna] Bye. Bye.

[train conductor’s whistle blows]

[train whistles]

[steam hisses]

Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey!

You knew that one day we’d have to send him back. You knew…

[sobbing] Yeah, I knew, but I…

Yeah, it’s sad. I thought we were ready, but… [sniffs]

[woman] Here, let’s eat. Do you want me to grab you something?

Look what I got from my northern mom.

That way, if I want to come back to see them again, I can take the train.

[woman] Your parents are going to be so happy to see you.

I’ll be right back.

[indistinct chatter]

[nostalgic music playing]

[music builds]

[man over speaker] Attention, passengers. Attention, passengers.

Now approaching Piazza Garibaldi station, in Naples, Mergellina!

Naples Mergellina! Naples, Piazza Garibaldi!

Please take care when exiting the train. Watch your step onto the platform.

ELECTRIC AND OXYGEN WELDING AFFORDABLE PRICES

[engines hum]

[horn honks]

[indistinct chatter]

[pigeons cooing]

[melodic song playing over radio]

[Amerigo] Mama!

[Antonietta] Are you tired, Amerigo? Was it a long journey?

[Amerigo] It was really long, Mom. I thought we’d never get here.

But they gave me so many things to bring home. There’s even salami for us.

And there was a little cow they named after me.

[Antonietta chuckles] Ah, right, because one animal wasn’t enough.

Now there are two that share a name.

[gentle laugh]

Capa ‘E Fierro took his family to live in Afragola.

It’s just me and you again.

You need some food?

[Amerigo] Derna made a sandwich with pink salami.

Eat it, it’s good. It’s called “mortadella.”

What is that?

Mama, this is a violin.

Really? They turned you into a maestro of music?

It’s even got my name on it.

You know I can’t read.

Well, I can still play it for you.

Listen to me, boy. We don’t have time for this stuff.

I spoke to Solachianiello again. You’ll be his apprentice.

Learn his trade, and when you’re good at it,

he’ll even pay you.

No! I don’t wanna!

No! No!

Amerigo!

You don’t need that.

[woman] What’s all this, then? Not even a hello!

Oh, Antonie’! Are you keeping him all for yourself? [chuckles]

Can we go for a walk?

I want to see if he remembers how to make onion frittata or if he forgot.

He forgot. Believe me.

He forgot everything up north, even me.

What are you on about? He’s just a kid, he’ll move past it.

You never forget your ma.

[sobs]

[sobs]

First, she sends me there, then she gets mad at me.

I want to go back. At least they actually care about me there.

My mom doesn’t love me anymore.

Hold on, you. Your ma never got affection as a kid,

and that’s why she has none to give.

She’s taken care of you for years, right?

Well, now you’re all grown-up, and you need to act it.

You hear me?

Yeah, I hear you.

Come now. Let’s go and cut some onions.

We’ve got frittata to make.

Get in.

[baby cries in the distance]

[Tommasino] Every two weeks, my mom goes and picks up a package from Maddalena.

Usually a few blocks of cheese and vegetables.

Mostly things from the farm.

They sent a potato pie, I think that’s my new favorite.

My northern mom put salami in it. My southern mom says she adores it.

It’s just too bad that the jam jars they sent were all cracked.

And you? Anything?

I wouldn’t worry too much about it at all.

I suppose it’ll get here one of these days, right?

It’s been three months. They’re done with me.

Thanks.

[ladle scooping from pot]

[Antonietta] Here, eat. You’ve been working.

[in Italian] ♪ Without speaking… ♪

[continues humming music]

[in English] What does Solachianiello say? Are you behaving?

Hm? Ah.

[Antonietta starts humming again]

Has he taught you anything?

Yes.

Did you really ask Maddalena if I have any packages?

[sighs] I’ve already told you.

There’s nothing there.

When did he say he’ll start paying you, huh?

Hm?

Amerì?

When’s he gonna pay you?

When did you ask her?

Why do you care? I already said there’s nothing!

[scoffs]

You can head out, Amerì. That’s enough for now.

What was it like up north, Amerì?

They’re pretty quiet, and they even listen to you when you talk.

Mariuccia, she asked if she could stay.

She was smart.

[various musical instruments playing from building]

[music intensifies]

[melancholic piano music playing]

[tuba note plays]

[flute music playing]

[soft melancholic music plays over instruments]

It’s not here.

[sighs]

It has to be here somewhere!

[cheerful chatter]

[Maddalena] In May, four Sicilian bandits shot and killed 11 farmers

at the Labor Day festival

right in the open in Portella della Ginestra.

The left has been driven out of the government.

A new war is beginning right over our heads.

We only had two short years of peace in Italy…

Amerì.

Excuse me a moment.

Amerì, where have you been?

I thought something happened to you. I didn’t think you were like that.

I mean, those people not only housed you, but also fed you, clothed you,

and took care of you.

They treated you like their own.

You could at least answer them to be polite.

Your mom told me you’d be here to pick everything up, so I waited.

I kept waiting, but…

Where is it?

There we go.

Here.

There were packages full of food too, but in the end,

I just gave it all to those who really needed it.

Would’ve been a shame for it to go bad.

What’s the matter?

What?

Your mama didn’t tell you anything?

It’s all right. Don’t worry, it’s okay.

It’s okay.

Take a seat while you wait.

Then, once I’m finished with my meeting, you and I can write them

a nice message together, okay?

Just tell them that… tell them there was a problem with the postal deliveries,

and that you got it all once it was fixed.

[stifling tears]

[footsteps move away quickly]

Amerì.

Amerì.

What are you doing there?

Are you okay?

Where is the violin, Mom?

[Antonietta sighs]

Tell me what happened to my violin, Mom.

Violins are for people with money.

It was mine! I want it now!

[exasperated sigh]

I already pawned it.

And then I got us some food to eat, new shoes for you, and I put some aside,

because we don’t know what’s to come.

I’m planning for the future.

Your life is here. You need to wake up.

Your head’s always somewhere else. You wanna be frail and sick?

You’ll be much better off now.

You’re nothing but a liar!

[nostalgic music playing]

[music continues]

[steam hisses]

[music ends]

Hey, where you off to, kid?

This train’s about to move?

It’s leaving any second. Are your parents not with you?

[short whistle blows]

Yeah, they are.

[train whistle blows]

Sit with Mama, sweetheart.

Here we go, are you excited?

[girl] Yes.

Mm.

Are you on your own? Where are you headed?

To my aunt in Modena.

[soft laugh] I don’t know how to read that.

It says that I’m supposed to go and live with her now.

Your mom isn’t going as well?

She passed away.

[conductor’s whistle blows]

Did you hear the whistle?

[train whistle blows]

We’re headed to Nona’s now.

[nostalgic music playing]

[music builds]

[music ends]

NAPLES PAWN SHOP

ANTONIETTA SPERANZA VIOLIN

30 LIRA

REPAID

[sobbing]

[nostalgic music starts slowly and builds]

[panting]

[Antonietta] When you ran away, that woman contacted me.

I told her that she could keep you if she wanted.

Otherwise, you had to come home right away.

I waited for you.

You were all I had.

Oh, you must be cold.

[Antonietta] Amerì, when you ran away…

[Derna] How did you find me?

[Antonietta] …I could’ve come to get you.

You wrote your address on this.

[Antonietta] But I didn’t.

Sometimes, those who let you go love you more…

Come here.

…than those who keep you.

[nostalgic music continues]

[Antonietta takes deep breath]

[in Italian] ♪ Your eyes, so beautiful ♪

♪ Shine brighter than the stars ♪

♪ They are darker than darkness ♪

♪ Like two sighs ♪

♪ Each sigh burns ♪

♪ But has a sweet fire ♪

♪ Once it enters the heart ♪

TO THE CHILDREN AND MOTHERS OF ALL WARS

♪ It never leaves ♪

THE CHILDREN’S TRAIN

[nostalgic orchestral music playing]

[music continues]

BASED ON THE NOVEL “THE CHILDREN’S TRAIN” BY VIOLA ARDONE

WE ARE THE CHILDREN OF THE SOUTH THE SOLIDARITY AND LOVE OF THE EMILIANS

SHOW US THAT THERE IS NO NORTH AND SOUTH, THERE IS JUST ITALY

[music fades out]

[melancholic music playing]

[music continues]

[music continues]

[music fades out]