Stark System (1980) Movie Script
1
Filthy, murderous thugs...
Kidnapping a lady, cowards.
Eh, there you go, it doesn't work.
Eddie?
Eddie?
Eddie!
Oh, who is it?
What do you mean
who is it? It's me, Stark.
Ah, it's you.
You've given me a fright.
Eddie,
the heater's not working.
I can't sleep and I keep
thinking about Ferocious Struggle.
But what time is it?
With this clock I can't see.
It's a quarter past three.
Stark, you don't have to
worry about Ferocious Struggle.
It's the best movie you
ever made. Sleep easy.
- Sleep, Stark.
- I don't want to sleep.
Take a Mogadon.
No, no,
one, one.
Better make it two, Stark.
That way you get all the pull.
It won't hurt me
all these mogadons.
No, no, these are good,
they relax you.
Here.
Take them now, huh.
Good night.
Good night.
It's Lauda, I'll pick you up
tomorrow night to go to the screening.
Kisses.
It's mom.
I'm coming to the screening
with your sister, too.
You're happy, my son, huh?
It's your producer
who loves you.
All our films have scored.
And this will score, too.
Take a rest, eh.
And don't wear yourself out.
Ferocious Struggle posters are
daubed all over town with your ass face.
Ferocious Struggle is shit.
You're finished, Stark.
Castrated,
castrated, castrated.
Eddie!
You have reached Stark's
automated answering machine.
I am temporarily absent.
They keep leaving insults
on my answering machine.
But I've got
Bandini, my dubber.
So, what then?
Then what?
Ah, yes.
Well, I had thought...
if...
I wrote this, if you could
record it for me with my voice.
I mean, with your voice.
With my voice.
- With his own.
- Yes, sure, gladly.
Yes? Thank you, Bandini.
Ready, Bandini?
Ready, ready.
You have reached Stark's
automated answering machine.
I'm temporarily absent
because of the release of my latest
film, Ferocious Struggle.
Whatever, that
seems a bit much.
No, no, what I...
You know,
doing some publicity.
But no, what publicity....
I wouldn't want to then...
No, no, let's do it like this.
Go.
You have reached Stark's
automated answering machine.
I am temporarily absent
because of the release
of my film, Ferocious Struggle.
I will get back to you
as soon as possible.
You have 45 seconds
to leave me your message.
You may speak after the signal.
I will listen to you
when I return.
Thank you.
Thank you, Bandini, bravo.
There.
If...
If you could do it
also in English.
Even in English?
Yes, sure, as you wish.
Thank you.
- Ready, Bandini?
- Yes, yes, ready.
Go.
My name is Stark.
I am temporarily absent
for reasons
concerning my last picture
'Ferocious Struggle'.
Which is to released.
You can leave your name and phone number
I will listen to your message...
Good morning.
Listen, Stark, wouldn't you
have anything else to wear?
Why? Is this not good?
This is my house
and I do what I want.
And what do I tell this guy?
Nothing, you don't have
to tell him anything at all.
This is an important director, someone
who goes to New York, to Cannes.
He has an international market.
He came to see you, that's all.
He came to see me?
And did he give you the script?
He never gives anything to read.
In these cases, you never read anything.
He doesn't even reveal his
films to the distributor, go figure.
- I don't want to see him.
- Stark, be reasonable, please.
Scared, huh?
That Ferocious Struggle goes down.
We will see about Ferocious Struggle
tonight. Come on, let's go.
A pleasure.
What's he doing here?
I don't know, they know each other.
Hello Stark.
Hi.
How come you're here?
You better put your
feet in another stirrup.
Make your point.
Even series only
last for so long.
I myself am making
arrangements to work in television.
And maybe even in theater.
You have to
reinvent yourself, Stark.
If you can.
Who is the lady?
No one, she's the director's partner.
She knows everything about German cinema.
And also about Italian cinema.
- She's a very smart lady.
Hello.
- A pleasure.
- Hello.
Here I am.
Stark, Antonio's outside.
Excuse me.
You should be my agent,
and you put me with the kids.
This is a kid.
He just looks young.
And then, what does it matter,
some people become famous right away.
I've already told you, he's important.
You might find him useful, you never know.
It's not like there's only your series.
A pleasure.
What's up?
Eh, thank God,
some people have it worse.
This is Eddie, my stand-in.
Eh, stand-in, in a manner of speaking.
I'm more of a friend.
He always does it himself.
Eh, the house is not finished yet,
because they kidnapped the architect.
Ah, yes,
they've kidnapped the architect.
English.
How is your English?
Ah, with English there is no problem.
I, Eddie, my friend, Eddie,
and I speak English all the time.
Eventually, for the voice,
I can do the operation.
What operation?
As a result of an accident I had
when I was a carabiniere
in the industrial area
in the north of Milan,
I had a trauma.
As a result of this trauma,
I had developed this disfigured voice.
I never had the operation,
but it can be done.
When there is a purpose,
everything can be done.
You don't need to. If I make my film,
you will be dubbed.
Is that so,
with dubbing there is no issue.
There is the voice of Bandini.
The weight, rather.
I imagined you to be thinner.
Ah.
This jacket is padded.
It's, uh, Korean.
If you want to see me, I can-
No.
This one, rather.
Yes, I know.
With a small operation,
they make two little cuts here,
you can't see anything,
and they pull everything up.
Good.
And what about this film of yours
that's coming out today?
Ferocious Struggle.
Ah, the pacing,
the suspense of a crime film,
full of action and shoot-outs.
Alex, rightly,
plays the role of the leader
of a gang of criminals,
filthy thugs,
who kidnapped a lady.
A wife of
a wealthy palace constructor.
The character I played,
Agent X,
was tasked with breaking up
these delinquents,
filthy murderers.
A ferocious struggle, then.
Up until the final conclusion,
which sees the triumph of justice
and the release of the captive.
Double liberation for the kidnapped.
Because during the struggle,
between Agent X and the captive,
a sexual relationship is formed,
which causes the kidnapped woman
to discover a dimension
that she had never known before.
A very important person,
whose name I cannot mention,
saw the film's first cut, a wide cut,
said that Ferocious Struggle
is not only a crime film,
but it is also a film that is...
emblematic.
And he dared
to raise the hypothesis
that the character of the kidnapped woman
even represents Italy.
And that Agent X,
who frees her and erases evil,
represents that feeling of
peace, of order, of justice,
for which we all aspire.
There is also symbolism
in the figure of
the lieutenant colonel,
this mysterious character
who acts in the shadows
and who has given Agent X
the task of cleaning up,
and has established
a pact of steel with him,
all encapsulated in a password.
There is no mercy for murderers.
Eddie, make something,
an appetizer, some shit.
Right away.
It's getting late.
I'll call you later.
I'll see you out. Let's go.
See you at the screening, Stark.
But how...
And you're not coming to the...
I can't.
I will.
Maybe, I will.
Bye...
Good, wasn't it?
It was this type of meeting,
quick, informal.
You met,
you talked to each other.
Well, let's move on.
Take it easy, Stark.
Take it easy.
Eddie!
Storytelling is more than
the films one can make.
Huh?
No, the films are much more
than the storytelling that one can do.
What are you
talking about, Eddie?
Don't worry, Stark.
Sleep now for a few hours
and then we're off to the screening, huh?
Be quiet.
Lie down.
Be quiet.
Take a rest, take a rest.
I'll close the
shutter for you now.
I don't care about others anyway,
for me, Ferocious Struggle is beautiful.
Of course.
Hands up!
Stop!
Don't move.
Hands up,
everybody stop.
No need for the army.
Enough with the special corps.
Uh...
Enough with the special corps.
But what did I say?
For...
To...
To punish your grave sins.
To punish your grave sins!
Hands up!
Hands up!
Stop, all of you!
No special corps.
No spectacular operations.
Let the army
stay where it is.
The others are on their way.
They already know all about
your dirty double-dealing.
Be careful,
you shit cop.
You're walking
into a mousetrap.
Let them come!
To punish the grievous deeds
of which you have been guilty...
one man is enough.
Filthy thugs.
Then...
In my opinion
the film is good.
And who here says it is bad?
Eh...
And then, when you
think about it, it's current.
To...
To punish their sins
you have to kill them all.
How do you feel?
Courage, ma'am.
Think about what your
husband has been through.
It has been
a hellish few months.
But, now, have courage.
Courage, ma'am.
Ma'am.
Ma'am.
How are you feeling?
Baby.
Baby.
Baby.
Wake up.
We have to go
to the screening.
What is
my little big Stark doing?
All asleep like that.
What's he doing?
Wake up.
Baby.
Are you worried,
my little Stark?
But, now, his mommy's here
to take him to the screening.
Lauda knows that Stark
is having a hard time waking up.
Baby.
But Lauda also knows that
her baby must be awakened gently.
Do you like it?
You like it?
Lauda now...
starts to move.
Dindolo.
Dindolo.
Dindolo.
Do you like it?
Do you like it a lot?
Tell me you like it.
You like to wake up
this softly, don't you?
Lady, it makes me...
You like it, don't you?
Tell me you like it.
I know you like it, come on.
You're crushing...
Now, my love brings his hand,
big, big, to his little beast, tiny, tiny.
That's it, that's better.
But what is he saying?
Now, Lauda takes off her clothes.
Take off my boots, come on.
What's the matter, baby?
Oh God, where are they?
Stay down.
But stay down.
Oh, my God, Lauda.
Why did you wake up now,
at the most beautiful moment?
Didn't you like it?
You're here
with your mommy, Lauda.
You have to explain to me why
you always interrupt things at their most beautiful.
Why?
Because...
all good things
come to an end.
Go fuck yourself, then.
We have to go to
the screening, Lauda.
Yes, yes.
You hurt me.
You know,
the movie is really good.
I'm glad you like it, Lauda.
My role is a beautiful role.
It is a role of a woman,
a real woman, you know?
Not an objectified woman.
It's a psychological western.
But what film are you
talking about, Lauda?
About the film
I'm going to make.
So, she...
She manages to give meaning
to the life of a man who is a killer.
With no past,
no future, you know?
After various adventures,
ambushes, shootings, fights, you know?
She convinces him to
leave that absurd life,
dense with danger,
without prospects.
And so, at the end of the
film, we move to the West,.
where the state distributes land.
And there, we set up
a small farm, where we raise animals.
We become one with nature.
The sunrise, the sunset,
the rain, the snow, the sun.
And the film ends
with me giving birth.
And he takes our son in his arms,
lifts him up high and says:
"I will make a man out of you!"
Do you like it?
"I will make a
man out of you."
But do you like it?
I liked it very much.
But how, "I will make a man out of you"?
"I will make a man out of you"!
- What are you telling me?
- Didn't you like it?
The moment our film,
Ferocious Struggle, is about to come out,
you come to me and talk about
"I will make a man out of you".
To me, who is counting each and
every hour left until the screening,
to see if the theaters
will be full or empty,
you come talking about
"I'm going to make a man out of you".
Lauda, for you,
Ferocious Struggle might be a bomb,
or it might explode,
you don't give a shit!
I don't give a shit, no!
Crammed into
a plastic bag for the whole film
is not that big
of a deal for an actress.
Actress? Actress?
But you lousy bitch,
like I didn't see you
in Playmen with a rose in your ass!
And don't put your hands on me!
Don't put your hands on me!
Ex carabiniere!
But what do you want,
there's nothing in there!
Actress!
Stupid idiot!
Fuck you, too!
My love, why do I love you?
What is it, Eddie?
It's me.
Ah, it's you, Lauda.
I felt an impulse,
so I called you.
I'm alone.
I'm alone, too.
As alone as I was in the hotel room
when we were filming Ferocious Struggle.
We were so tired
that we hardly met.
But you used to
phone me, remember?
I used to phone you, too.
My love, do you remember?
Yes, alone in the hotel room.
How lonely you were that night when
to see what room you will come out of,
I stood in the hallway
and shouted "Fire, fire"!
And I didn't see you
coming out of Alex's room.
Alone.
Sure.
What are you doing?
Nothing, I'm here.
I am... undressed.
All naked.
And I feel big shivers
down my... back.
Your hand, where is your hand?
My hand?
My hand is on my... hips.
It goes down on my thigh,
then up and reaches my breast.
It stops, and
squeezes it, squeezes it hard.
Ouch, that hurts!
Won't you tell me
where your hand is?
I don't know
where you have it anyway.
Where do I have my hand?
Where do you want
me to have my hand?
How far along are you?
On the way.
I'm feeling very hot,
I'm feeling chills down my back
that go: dindolon.
Dindolon, dindolon.
I'm shaking all over.
Concentrate,
concentrate, Lauda.
Let's try to come together.
I'm so concentrated, baby.
Me too.
Madonna!
- What...
- Nothing, nothing.
Concentrate!
But I am focused,
we were in the hotel room
we were filming
Ferocious Struggle.
You used to phone me
and call me.
I'd call you and you'd call me.
Tell me about Ferocious Struggle.
How was it? How did it
seem then, equal to the others?
But who?
But what who?
Ferocious Struggle!
Oh! Oh! Oh, God!
Oh, I'm coming!
No! No, Lauda, no!
No, wait, we have
to come together!
Sorry, sorry!
Women are all idiots!
No! No!
No, Eddie! Eddie!
Damn it, you are provoking me!
Turn it off!
Turn it off!
Hello, I'm Lauda.
I have to take care
of my teeth, too.
Stark, how about if I do
the toothpaste commercial?
Do toothpaste, do appetizer,
do whatever you want!
You all do whatever
you want, you cowards!
I go ahead with her on a
motorcycle, you take her car!
They call the director
the Corpse!
Shut up!
Do you want to
go home? You promised...
...that you
wouldn't cry anymore!
Let's go, then!
Come, ma'am, don't let
Stark see you like this!
You know that your son worries!
I'm going to call a cab
and it will take you home.
What are you doing?
Reading the papers?
Well, once it starts,
it goes on its own.
Excuse me...
...a little love for one's work.
Schioppa!
You are the producer,
and you are leaving!
Don't you worry, I am going to the office,
to make lots of nice phone calls...
...to all
the major cities, all right!
And in the morning I'll give you
an overview of our whole situation!
No, not tomorrow,
tell me tonight!
I won't sleep until you
tell me the takings from all of Italy!
I will call you tonight!
But take it easy,
you can't waste yourself like this!
Why, am I wasted?
Yes, you're
a little bit out of it!
You must take it easy,
you must have confidence!
Gary Cooper.
And Jack Palance.
And here...
...the great
Italians in America!
Sylvester Stallone,
Al Pacino...
If my father had
emigrated to America...
...and I had been born there...
...who knows!
Stark!
Eddie!
It's strong, it's strong!
Strong enough!
Meet these two friends of mine.
Genuine spectators.
A pleasure!
A pleasure!
A pleasure!
I'll drop them off and
then come back for you.
It's strong!
I will wait for you here!
- Hello!
- Hello, Bandini! Did you like it?
Yes, good, good!
Never had you
dubbed me so strongly!
Yes, I could have
done it even better, but-
Yes, of course!
Did you hear
that Bandini voice?
Yes, yes, I heard.
In the union,
we hear many voices.
Well, then...
...we're leaving, eh!
- Bye!
- Bye!
See you!
Goodbye!
Stark, I want you to
meet my daughter!
Oh, young lady! Did you
like Ferocious Struggle?
No!
And they called him the Corpse!
Aren't you ashamed?
- Me, ashamed?
- Do the math!
Let's go, let's go!
But why did you bring
her here, this ugly fool?
I didn't like myself!
I believe you!
Oh!
- Hi!
- Hi!
- And mom?
- It went well!
- Good, right?
- I think everything went well!
Yes!
Listen, by the way, I met
these two young producers!
I thought we could
go out to eat together! - Yes!
No, maybe,
it's better not to. - No!
It's better they keep a certain image
that they saw in the film.
- I'll go then!
- Yes!
I'm staying home,
because Schioppa,
will call me about
the takings from all over Italy!
- So, I'd rather wait at home!
- Perfect!
- Shall I go or shall I
phone you later, too? - Yes!
Don't worry, everything's fine!
Let's see ahead! - Call me!
Here he is, our Agent X!
And this is the reporter
I told you about!
- A pleasure!
- A great pleasure!
I would like to meet you
at a quieter time,
to interview you,
to talk to you!
Sure, anytime!
You are very beautiful!
Thank you, then,
I'm counting on it!
- Thank you!
- When would be possible?
Whenever you want to!
- Shall I fix it up with him?
- Yes!
Thank you, goodbye!
Thank you!
Relax, Stark, it's all right!
Let's go!
I'm waiting for Eddie!
Here it is!
They all left!
Who knows what is
really in people's heads.
You never can tell!
Eddie's friends told me...
It is strong, it is strong!
And Schioppa...
Schioppa,
was thrilled up, all tense!
The Corpse!
With his daughter!
To be ashamed and to be an actor!
But the shame is on her!
Ah, Alex!
"I didn't like myself"!
The guy doesn't like anything!
It's unprofessional, it doesn't count!
My agent...
he seemed...
serene, calm...
optimistic!
There, that's a good sign, Stark!
This is a good sign!
The prop master!
And the machinist
who both came with their wives!
You can tell they
will talk about it at home!
And that is a good sign.
Lauda!
Poor thing, she got so sick!
I shouldn't have
made her come on a motorcycle!
She seemed moved!
Stark!
They all left!
Yes, it's over!
Shall we eat
something at the Killer?
No, I'm going home!
And then, Schioppa will call me
about the takings from all over Italy!
You go to the Killer.
No, if you don't come,
I won't go either!
How was the mood?
On the positive, Stark!
On the positive!
I'll make something to eat.
A bit of pasta,
while we wait for news.
Thanks, I'm not hungry, Eddie...
You haven't...
found...
any areas of failure?
Some areas of failure...
are always there!
That's it!
I knew it already, anyway!
Go ahead, speak up!
Don't hold back!
Did you ask me
if there's any failed area?
Yes!
Eh!
To be honest...
and to tell you the truth...
there is an area!
An area I'm not sure about!
And what would this area be?
The fucking
with the kidnapped woman.
Oh my God!
All of the fucking?
No...
Not all the fucking.
But only when you say...
"I do a shitty job...
I have little time left for women."
I do a shitty job...
I have little time left for women.
Why are you unsure?
Explain to me, Eddie!
- I don't know!
It seems demeaning to me!
You say...
"I do a shitty job, I have
little time left for women", right?
I do a shitty job,
I have little time left for women!
It could be
the way you said it.
It sounds to me like
you're begging to fuck!
Get into the character!
I do a shitty job...
I have little time left for women.
I want to know
what is happening to me!
I don't want to know!
Yes-yes,
I do want to know.
Never!
Ever since my mother's
driver raped me!
Never have I
felt such emotion!
Your husband
must never know!
No, never!
My husband, my husband!
Marriage initials!
Never a vanishing point!
Never such a thrill!
So...
after eliminating Alex
and the other two...
after filling them with lead...
I slowly approach...
the plastic bag containing...
the kidnapped...
is there, groaning...
I remove the gag...
untie her...
help her out of the plastic...
and then, I must have said-
There.
There you go!
Eddie, get the script
for Ferocious Struggle!
Maybe it sounds like you're
begging to get laid...
not least because
Lauda is too easy, it's vulgar!
For a lady,
it is not believable!
No, no!
It is not Lauda's fault!
The fault... is the Corpse's!
Here it is!
The script says...
X, bandaging his wounded arm...
And the Corpse cut it out!
The arm!
Beginning to untie him,
the captive says...
Do you remember
that speech, long, human...
that I just couldn't
get into my head...
How was it?
How did I say it?
Ah, you said it well!
And the Corpse... cut it out!
Here it is!
I am Agent X
of the special team....
they didn't know it at first...
They thought I was
one of their own.
Usually, on duty,
I never wear a uniform,
since my job is
a so-called secret.
I usually wear
vests like this one...
that don't let you
guess the automatic
fixed on the side of the heart.
The last few times,
I have often been shooting...
even outside the firing range.
I learned that to save my skin...
which I care a great deal about.
One must know
how to do it to others.
But you are wounded...
The bullet must have
remained in my arm.
But I don't feel pain.
Once we make it
out of this filthy affair,
my husband will be grateful.
He will make you a monument,
I swear it.
No, ma'am...
I am only doing my duty.
Well, let's go.
No, we can't leave.
My mission is to catch all the bad guys,
but three are still missing.
But they will arrive at sunset.
Life is strange sometimes.
Yes.
Life... is strange sometimes.
I do a shitty job...
I have little time left for women.
What is happening to me?
I want to know
what is happening to me.
I have little time left...
for women.
Never!
Not even when my mother's
driver raped me!
Never have I felt
such an emotion!
Never...
My husband, in ten years...
Never, never...
Ma'am...
Not like this!
My husband...
Never...
Never...
Never such an emotion...
Never told me anything...
He never told me
me it could be like this!
Never...
Such an emotion...
So tremendous!
Ma'am...
Your husband must not know...
No...
Yes...
Yes...
Ma'am...
Not like this...
Ma'am...
You see, Eddie...
The wounded arm and
the long, human speech...
were essential...
Because they
illuminated the whole fuck!
And instead, let's cut these
long, human lines because they're long.
Let's cut his wounded arm
because it's unrealistic...
...and then, you're right, Eddie!
It fails!
All these directors are the same.
They rush...
Shoot, edit, cut,
even after the dubbing...
Dialogue is boring.
Boring like hell!
Because if they'd left in
the long, human lines...
and the wounded arm,
even the fucking with the kidnapped girl
would acquire a whole different force.
Because, if Agent X,
even though, he is wounded
has the strength...
to make a long, human speech...
and afterwards...
even to fuck!
Well, dear Eddie,
it means that this is an agent
who has a pair of balls like this!
Just smoking!
Then, there wouldn't be
this impression of weakness, of giving in.
Did you follow my reasoning?
Did you follow my reasoning?
Yes, yes, I followed it.
And you?
What would you have done?
Me?
Am I an actor?
And why? I'm an actor?
I was a carabiniere!
Well, all right...
But you're still more
of an actor than I am...
Well, yes.
Listen...
Good night.
What 'good night'?
But no! you must tell me
what you would have done!
Wait a second.
Let me think.
There.
I would have just
fucked her and that's it.
Without standing there
talking so much shit.
I would have fucked her
and that's it.
Eddie.
What are you talking about?
I meant that what
would you have done as an actor,
if a director, the Corpse,
had cut your arm
and the long, human speech.
I told you, didn't I?
I would have fucked her...
and that's it.
Like you always did
in all the other films.
I see.
Go to sleep, Eddie.
If you want to...
I'll wait with you
for the phone call.
No, go to sleep.
Go, go.
Oh, God...
I can't take it anymore.
I can't take it.
So...
now...
they even got his arm.
Hello?
I got back now.
I was only able to get partial results.
But as far as I can tell
it seems that in the South, it holds up...
Of course.
And there are
no responses from the North.
Well, the North...
Anyway, it would be premature
to draw conclusions.
All things considered, it's good!
Yes, yes, of course...
Let's move on!
Let's move on, Stark.
Now, let Eddie
give you a Mogadon,
you relax and
rest assured that all is well.
Yes, yes, thank you...
Hello?
Now, open up your ears!
You're listening?
I have here
the overview of the whole situation,
so, listen well:
a disaster!
Empty cinemas everywhere...
North to South, you understand?
You understood?
Good, better that way.
- Ten people in Rome-
- Ten?!
Let's not make
a tragedy out of it, eh?
No need to fuss over
it, absolutely... - No, no...
Why are you always
saying no to me?
The defect is probably in the title,
Ferocious Struggle, which
nauseated the public in this climate.
You understand?
Bye, good night!
Ten viewers...
Damned, filthy cowards...
But where did they go?
Where did they go?
Cowards!
They don't give a
damn about you!
They don't give
a damn about agent X!
They have abandoned him!
As soon as the struggle
becomes ferocious
they lock
themselves in their houses!
Cowards!
Cowards!
Cowards!
Alex...
Alex!
It's you...
You're the one leaving messages
on my answering machine!
I'll have an inspection
and send you to jail!
You destroyed my series!
Now, what do I do?
What do you and I do?
You have to answer me.
What do I do?
What do I do?
What do I do?
That's it!
That's where they went!
At home,
watching television!
Locked in the house in slippers!
Here it is.
Here you go.
We give burial
to the corpse of agent X.
This night was a mess.
I have made a mess!
Passing in front of a mirror
I even scared myself.
I made myself afraid!
What is he doing here?
Nothing, we were going
somewhere together,
but when you phoned
we rushed over here.
The earnings?
The accountant is
calculating them,
he will be here
in the afternoon.
Satisfied?
Come.
Look!
The plant!
So, what?
Come.
Let me through!
The hole.
The plant.
I ripped it out!
Why?
Because Stark has a force
but an uncontrollable one!
And you should
think about this Stark force
every morning when you wake up,
every night before you fall asleep,
every day, every night!
But what are you saying?
You're taking it out on me now?
If you have
something to say, be clear.
Be calm, I am speaking clearly!
- But, look, I'm very calm-
- I insist, be calm...
Last night I watched Ferocious Struggle
and for the first time, I realized
the systematic, day-by-day destruction
of the boycott that you set up!
What are you saying?!
But this makes no sense.
I took part in the film
and that's it!
You crawl like a worm
at the feet of directors
who want to give me work.
Alex, you plotted in the shadows
to make the Corpse cut my arm!
Alex, I'll have an
inspection done
because you distort
your shitty voice...
to leave me voice records
on the answering machine!
And then, at 8
in the morning, in my house,
with my agent,
what are you doing?!
Eddie, take his arm
and walk him out.
No, no, that won't be necessary.
Because I'm leaving by myself!
Do you know
what all this means?
Paranoia.
But what do you think you are?
Look at yourself, once and for all!
Clown, megalomaniac!
What the fuck do you want from us?
But, Eddie, take him
by the arm and walk him out!
Wait, I'm not done.
Look after this Stark guy!
He is in need of it.
Clown!
I'm leaving by myself.
Idol of shit!
Narcissist!
Coward!
Murderer!
You all deserve to be kidnapped!
Kidnapped, all of you!
Terrorist!
Carabiniere!
Go back to the barracks!
Stark has a force
but such a force, a force...
Go away!
And who are you?
A nurse? A service woman? A slave?
And how much does he
pay you- if he pays you?
It's for the better
that this shit of a series collapsed.
Stark.
Stark, sorry to bother you
but Maria's here with Robertino!
Come in Eddie, I can't get
anything done today either...
Sorry Stark,
but I didn't know.
Well, what's the big deal?
Why can't my wife
and son visit me?
It seemed strange to me.
They never show up,
never get in touch...
But what do you know
about my life?
What do you know about my life?
No, Stark, sorry,
I didn't mean that.
You see, Eddie, sometimes,
you have to recognise
that one
is entitled to one's privacy.
One does a project.
And maybe
this project interests him...
and others don't care about it.
For me,
for Maria and for Robertino,
there is a project.
Maria has five or six
apartments that her father left her,
there it is, we sell everything.
But really everything,
not a single thing should remain...
and we go to Canada.
We go to Canada?
We go to Canada.
Canada is a great country.
But in Canada, it is cold.
No, look, Eddie,
only ignorance makes people believe
that it is cold everywhere in Canada.
We are going to Vancouver.
We are going to Vancouver?
And it's hot in Vancouver.
It's hot all year round.
And in Vancouver...
they give you
everything you want.
They give us everything?
Everything.
They give you mountains,
forests, valleys, grasslands, wood...
trails with animals...
cows, bulls, coyotes, parrots...
turtles, monkeys, fish...
everything!
A big ranch!
A big ranch.
And in the morning, at 8 o'clock,
me, Maria and Robertino
wake up,
breakfast,
and onto the horse.
You, Maria and Robertino.
And me?
See? Nothing today either.
I am sorry, Eddie...
but this project...
I've been considering it
for a while now.
Look, now, Eddie,
there is a department
in people's brains
that works like this.
On its own.
Me, Maria and Robertino...
we're going to Vancouver.
Maria.
Thank you for coming!
Here he is!
I've always known that in
difficult times in life I could count-
I always knew that
in the hard times of life
I could count
on your presence.
Hello Maria,
how are you?
I'm fine.
He was telling me,
your agent,
- that your film came out yesterday.
- Yes, Maria.
I didn't know that.
Otherwise,
it would explain the mess.
But why...
You call me at
5 o'clock in the morning,
you make me wake up Robertino,
you tell me to come immediately!
But for what?
To show me these disasters as
if I hadn't already seen enough of them
when we were together?
For that, I had to wake up
Robertino at 5 o'clock?
You're crazy!
Sorry, what did you say?
I said I woke up Robertino at 5,
but are you crazy?
No, Maria...
You said "your film came out
yesterday and I didn't know that".
And I didn't know that.
I missed it.
Robertino!
Robertino!
Robertino!
Did you know that
dad's film came out yesterday?
No, dad.
I watch television.
Does it seem normal to you,
that a mother...
I said, a mother!
Does not tell her child
"your father's film came out yesterday"?
And does it seem normal to you
that I should keep up with
every film that comes out?
No, not with every
film that comes out.
It is the film of
the father of your son!
Bastard.
Robertino.
Let's go, Robertino...
Ugly hag...
There you go.
Ah!
Before we leave...
will you tell us why
we were summoned here?
And I should leave
with you for Vancouver?
Vancouver?
Do me a favour...
All right, wait a minute, I'll see.
Hurry!
I can't wait here all day!
My life is waiting...
The reporter is outside.
What do we do?
I introduced her to you yesterday,
she came to interview you.
It's only that, here,
I don't think it's appropriate.
It would be better
in a restaurant, right?
You go to the restaurant!
I'm not moving from here.
I have no statements to make.
But where is Vancouver?
Come, ma'am,
let's leave him alone.
I'll see you out.
He says he wants to leave,
that he wants to go to Canada...
To Canada?
See, ma'am...
Mom, mom let's go!
Eddie!
Look, I know you felt bad
for Maria and Robertino...
Don't do this to me!
So, I found the house like this
after an absence.
They didn't take anything,
they only came to destroy!
And so they did.
But you, Mr. Stark,
have you reported it?
Yes!
The detectives
are already at work.
Hooliganism!
Terrorism! Vandalism!
A public figure,
a citizen in this country,
has to get used to
living day after day,
with destruction, with death.
Or else, go abroad.
Madam or miss?
It doesn't matter.
Me and Eddie, my stand-in,
decided to move
to Vancouver, Canada.
That's why
I'm selling the house.
But why, Mr. Stark?
You are also
leaving the country?
You never asked
for the bank statement,
but now you are?
Sooner or later...
Can't you transfer it
to me somewhere?
I have already transferred the extra
to his mother, wife, sister... I cannot.
Architect Petronio has his own style,
recognizable, like a signature.
- Like a signature!
Do you think, through your agency,
you can find a buyer immediately?
Certainly, the condition
of the house is not the best.
And then, rumours get around...
An assault, such as
the one you suffered,
makes you risk 30-35%
of the total value of the house.
30-35 percent?
You understand, Mr. Stark...
people
leave the city to feel safer.
To find some peace, some tranquillity.
Yes, yes, I fully realize
but have you seen the boundary wall?
Well, honestly...
It's only a matter of two or three days
until the release of architect Petronio,
then everything will be
absolutely and definitively settled!
And, then...
Then, there is the small house.
For the bodyguard,
for the servants.
Also, the entire house is surrounded
by an American electronic alarm system.
All houses in the area
are practically impregnable.
Then how did they get in?
Who?
Who? The attackers!
Was the alarm not working?
It wasn't working.
Detectives suspect that the break-in
was carried out during a power outage.
Eddie.
The young lady from real estate.
This is Eddie, my stand-in.
- A pleasure.
- Good morning.
Now, for us, the most important thing is
to leave the country as soon as possible.
Leave the country?
Yes, I have decided,
we are going to Vancouver.
But how?
Could I leave
with Maria and Robertino?
You saw them, didn't you?
Madam or miss?
It doesn't matter!
Excuse me.
So, I am willing
to sell even at half price
you know, by now, there are
many of us who are leaving the country.
Thieves!
Abortion surgery,
Miss Lella, seven-
seven hundred and fifty-but what,
another abortion?
What? Now, there is
the new law.
You get free abortions!
For your sister,
she has always...
What free abortion?
For my sister?
And who told me
that there is a new law?
Who told me?
Thieves!
Thieves!
Payment, Pettini lawyer,
three million...
Tax payment,
five and a half million...
Payment, Pasquini lawyer,
two million seven-
What? Another lawyer?
He's a criminal lawyer, you know,
your wife's accident...
My wife's accident?
Then, what does Pettini do?
He's the civil lawyer, he sues
the newspapers, and other things.
See Eddie, I'd have done well to get
a nice trade unionist like Bandini did!
Instead of all these fucking lawyers!
Thieves!
Thieves...
Payment, Eddie,
an extra 1.4 million.
Pay-
But how?
Did I say Eddie could get
an extra 1.4 million?
I thought you told the young lady.
I told the young lady that you could
take a million four hundred extra?
No.
I did not tell the young lady that
he could withdraw 1.4 million extra.
Yes, but the money
was withdrawn anyway.
He says the money
was withdrawn anyway.
Yes, it was withdrawn.
Eh, yes, it was withdrawn.
Precisely, as I was telling you.
Precisely.
Then, you stole it.
Let's say, I took it.
And I should have left
with a thief for Vancouver.
A thief?
What thief?
There is no price
for what I suffer.
I wash for him, iron for him,
nurse him, put him on a diet...
and now, he has anxiety,
now, he has depression, now,
he has insomnia,
but when do I rest?
Never a holiday, never a Sunday,
Christmas, Easter, New Year...
Who am I?
Eddie.
They may even take me
for a homosexual.
Accountant!
For this...
I could give
him a good lawsuit,
instead of the one million
and four hundred.
There is no price...
There is no price...
I always thought...
he enjoyed
spending Sundays with me.
Take a Mogadon, Stark,
take a Mogadon...
And in the meantime
he was taking them secretly.
Damn thief,
filthy thief, thief...
He even took away
the barbiturates.
Who are you?
What do you want?
I brought the encyclopedia.
What encyclopedia?
The one that
architect Petronio ordered.
They freed him?
Freed who?
When did he order it?
Eh...
Okay, put it there,
put it there.
What do you want?
Can I get a signature?
Thanks.
But I'd rather not,
not in this moment...
It is better if we know
each other like this.
Okay, but
what do I say in the office?
Ah, in the office?
Ah, yes, in the office.
I thought the signature...
you wanted for yourself.
For me?
Thank you, eh.
You're welcome.
Don't you ever go to the cinema?
Cinema? I'm happy when
they burn down cinemas!
So?
This is how far it's gone.
Read, read.
Stark, this is but the first warning...
you, Schioppa and the Corpse,
have been detected.
But what do you mean
you have been detected?
We have been detected!
Read, read.
You have made yourselves
rich with Agent X...
and his series
on the backs of the audience...
Rich!
With all the thieves around me!
Go on, read it.
This warning also
applies to your partner
complicit in the ideology
of a violent state
that commodifies women
for its own gains.
She and others
like her who undress...
...pose a threat to
the struggle women carry onward
to free themselves
from exploitation
that has reduced
them to sexual objects
and market products.
Watch out, Stark,
watch out, Lauda!
Who wrote this?
The terrorists!
Unbelievable.
Look, Lauda-
Excuse us for a moment.
I am in the process of leaving.
- Where are you going?
- Away!
But this is terrible...
Listen, baby, listen.
Why would we stay in a country
that treats its citizens like this?
Baby...
Why don't we start
our lives again from scratch?
A life...
without anguish,
without tension...
without fear.
In contact with nature.
Baby...
Would you be willing to leave with me
for Canada, Vancouver?
You go to Vancouver!
I'm staying here, get it?
I have to make my movie!
I'm staying here!
Ugly, lousy-
I knew it!
And then, I control my body
how I see fit!
I do what I want with my body!
Look, what you have
reduced me to!
Nothing but wretches-
We have ruined you?
Yes, you!
You ungrateful, lousy whore!
Me, a whore?
How dare you?
Go to hell!
You wretch!
- I'll crush you, you know?
- What do you crush, you?
But will you tell me
what's the point of this letter?
I mean, will you
tell me who wrote it?
I wrote it!
Ah, you wrote it...
I copied it
from the newspapers!
Did you think
he didn't write it?
To expose! The three years
of lies of our relationship!
Lousy...
The crazy love, the little letters
with the pierced hearts,
running away together...
You don't know what
she put me through-
Stark! It's good
that it's happened.
I have to talk to you.
Excuse me.
Yes, baby, I'm listening.
The time has come, you know...
I cannot continue...
I cannot anymore, Stark.
I don't love you
anymore, you know?
I feel empty inside!
Oh god, oh god...
I'm sorry, Stark...
I'm so sorry...
No, baby, you can't tell me
you don't love me anymore...
I feel so bad...
Do you believe me?
Yes, baby...
I feel so bad right now
you have no idea...
But we will remain friends?
- Yes.
Are you sure?
Sure?
Sorry...
Go, and rest, eh...
Yes...
I didn't mean to hurt you...
Goodbye!
Goodbye, my love...
And since when
she doesn't love me anymore?
Since the tanking
of Ferocious Struggle!
What are you saying again?
Whore!
But fuck you!
Ferocious Struggle!
And what's he doing here?
Enough, Stark!
I'm not in your house,
I'm outside.
And I'm waiting for Lauda!
He is the one
who wrote the letter!
That's enough now.
Listen to me, Stark.
I am tired of going
back and forth every day
every time you summon me.
Sorry.
See you tomorrow, Stark.
I'll talk to you tomorrow.
Calm, now...
See you tomorrow...
He, instead of being guillotined,
decided to end his days
using the venom
hidden in his ring...
Maybe... maybe in here...
Here we are.
There.
Damn rats.
Rat poison.
For domestic use.
Stark...
Stark!
Stark...
Stark!
What have you done?
Where am I?
In the guest room.
In the guest room?
But what happened?
I poisoned myself.
- You poisoned yourself?
- Yes!
I spent twenty-four hours in the toilet
with fierce cramps, vomiting and diarrhea.
I lost consciousness.
But where am I?
In the guest room.
What guests?
Eddie!
How are you feeling?
I see
you've changed your hairstyle.
Check out this instead.
- Milan.
- Milan.
17 million in two days.
Naples.
10 million on Sunday alone.
7 million?
What are you talking about?
A global box office never reached
by your other films is expected.
Turin.
13 million.
7.5 million...
Bari.
7 million.
7.5 million
Saturday and Sunday.
Taranto.
5 million.
Palermo. 8 million.
- 7 million.
Bologna.
Cagliari. 5 million.
Reggio Emilia.
Eddie!
Palermo, 8 million.
Eddie!
What if it was the poison?
Don't make me think about it, Stark.
Don't make me think about it...
Do you know what
these are called? - Cagliari.
Weekend movies, Eddie!
Heist movies, Eddie!
Cagliari.
5 million.
Ancona.
4 million Saturday and Sunday.
Trieste.
4 million.
4 million Saturday
and Sunday, Eddie...
Eddie, Florence!
Florence!
7.5 million!
A place that was always
so hostile to my series!
Eddie, look,
look, Florence...
5 and a half million Saturday
and Sunday...
My God, Eddie-
- What is it?
With all I've been through...
but is it true?
Stark.
Think about it.
- It isn't true.
Yes, it's true, but what
do we care about the box office.
They don't go
into our pockets.
What are you saying?
No, Stark, sorry to insist
you say millions, millions,
hundreds of millions....
Yes, millions, millions...
- Do we pocket these millions?
- They go into our pockets.
No! And the way
you're looking at this paper,
one might think that
these millions are yours to pocket.
But no!
No!
However, people leave the house
to see your series, right?
Who invented your series?
- And who invented it?
- You invented it, no?
Stark invented it!
And without Stark
there are no takings!
Do you understand?
There are no takings without Stark!
So what?
- What?
What, then?
Eddie...
until today
I have been an anvil.
Now...
I become hammer, Eddie!
I become a hammer...
And I hit!
Oh God, you hurt yourself!
My goodness,
what a knock you gave yourself!
Let's go, let's go!
To the bathroom right away!
I'll give you ice cold water!
- Where am I?
- In the guest room.
Let's go to the bathroom!
I'm in the guest room.
Going to the bathroom.
I hurt myself.
Let's put you in water and it
will all pass. Ice cold water.
That's it, Stark!
Stark!
What I told you...
you have to think about it seriously.
Don't miss the chance, Stark!
Don't miss the chance!
You must say it like this:
"Mr. Schioppa,
I am Mr. Stark's agent.
My client is asking for double!"
White, black, in advance, deferred.
I don't give a shit!
Mr. Stark is asking for-
More, more, more!
More than double!
Two hundred and fifty million!
Two hundred and fifty million!
Thank you, Eddie!
Let's erase the past!
I have treated you badly...
But no, Stark!
Yes, yes, Eddie!
I've been doing a lot
of thinking, you know!
You must have
everything to live comfortably!
You must have the pension,
payments, the contributions...
the... the health insurance.
You have to have
holidays, Eddie!
That means that me,
on Sundays...
You must have
your contract, Eddie!
Two hundred and twenty thousand
a month, plus board and lodging!
Are you happy?
What about my film?
I now hunt for images...
as if for... butterflies!
Can you cry over a butterfly?
Can one laugh?
Think?
One can only
contemplate it, a butterfly.
Look at it
as you look at my characters.
Even more!
How the camera looks at them,
which I put there in the corner,
so that you don't realise it is there.
Stationary.
Ruthlessly recording
these characters of mine
who are no longer
even characters.
Exhibits.
Of that magical object
to which they had moved.
Who knows when.
Why?
Reality splashes out
from the holes of torn consciousness.
It's clear, isn't it?
Reality splashes out. Reality!
Ineffable, unspeakable.
And then, these
noncharacters sink
into the material dimension
like into a swamp.
They produce words
which are... noises
mingling with other noises.
They consume!
More than performing those rites
which testify to their presence
but not to their existence.
So, do you...
think I could do it?
No.
You are not good enough for my film.
I'm... not good.
Then...
I... don't understand.
So, we cannot make the film
only with foreign actors.
We are forced to get an Italian actor.
Yes.
Right now, your film
is leading the box office.
Yes, Ferocious Struggle.
The distribution wants you.
With you, I close
the film for the Italian part.
I'm glad!
But... if he doesn't want me
what can we do?
Don't worry about it.
It's the contradictions.
Thank you, very kind.
Stark.
There are two
carabinieri looking for you.
Two carabinieri?
- In uniform.
Excuse me a moment.
Two carabinieri?
Hi guys!
What's up?
What's up?
Mr. Stark, we read
that you are one of ours.
We have seen all your films.
And especially Ferocious Struggle.
Guys, I'm very pleased!
Are you serving nearby?
Yes, we were in the area
and came to say hello.
This makes me very happy.
It gives me peace of mind
that you are around here.
Come in for a moment!
No, we wouldn't
want to disturb you...
Come!
Come, come boys.
Excuse me.
Here you go.
Just so you know,
I've never forgotten.
This is Eddie, my stand-in.
Thank you, yes,
we've met before.
Yes, yes.
Can I bring you a drink?
Never on duty!
Eddie, you should learn!
Thank you, guys.
I really enjoyed meeting you.
And if you stay around the house,
keep an eye on me.
But where did they go?
They left.
Stark, we have an audience.
Try not to betray them.
One of our best directors
has offered you a role in the Nonanist.
Will you accept, Mr. Stark,
to play this role?
This is Eddie, my stand-in.
- Good morning.
- A pleasure.
Stand-in only in a manner of speaking.
I'm more like a friend.
He always does it himself.
The house is not finished yet
because they kidnapped the architect.
Ah, yes, they kidnapped the architect.
Interesting.
Maybe you want to talk
about this kidnapping?
No, sorry.
I don't want to disturb
the work of the detectives.
The family members have
asked for a press silence.
A silence
that has lasted for a while.
Thank you, Eddie.
Not finishing your coffee?
Eh, thank you.
Shall we continue?
Eh, yes.
Well, Stark.
What is cinema for you?
A means of making money, of not being
bored, of gratifying your narcissism?
You could say that cinema...
is made up of many genres.
And everyone should
stay in his own genre.
I stay in mine.
And as long as it lasts,
I'm fine.
You could say that
cinema is a bit like life.
Where everyone should
be in their own places.
The baker at the bakery.
The soldier in the barracks.
The doctor in the surgery.
The minister in the ministry.
The housewife at home.
That's life.
In cinema...
Those who make crime films
should be in the crime genre.
Those who do history films
must do history.
Those who do pornography
should do pornography.
Those who do westerns
should do westerns.
Et cetera, et cetera, et cetera.
And the stand-in
should be the stand-in.
He should.
And all people...
should do their best
in my opinion...
for these genres to stay.
But excuse me,
weren't you a carabiniere?
Yes.
Then why didn't you stay
in your carabinere role?
I'm surprised
you would ask that question.
The incident for which
I left the service is well known.
In February 1970, in
the industrial area north of Milan,
I was ambushed
by a group of workers
who literally tore me to pieces.
After four months in the hospital,
I left the police force
with high honors.
Subsequently,
on my way to the gym,
I had the good fortune
to be seen and picked up
by producer Schioppa of
Magnum Cinematografica,
who had me play the character
of Agent X for the first time.
Is that okay?
Yes, yes.
Look, everybody knows
that I was doing well in the force.
This one in the fourth desk, this one...
...is me.
This...
...is me.
During the Hot Autumn.
- Ah, yes.
This...
No, not this one.
This is me.
Before a demonstration.
And here...
...is us.
Now I can't remember...
...where I am.
For the photo shoot...
...would you like to put one
of these photos as well?
Certainly, thank you.
And to complete
the interview, if you want,
you can interview
two young carabinieri...
The afternoons are long.
Ah, yes.
...who are out here on duty.
They saw Ferocious Struggle
and they liked it very much.
I...
so cold...
They offered you an
important role in The Onanist.
Yes.
Alongside famous
American actors.
Directed by one of our
most important directors.
For you, The Onanist could be an
opportunity to make good cinema.
My position. Can't say yes, I do
this film or no, I don't do this film.
I have to think about it!
Whatever, that doesn't
make the scripts read.
But I have to come to understand anyway,
what movie this young man wants to make.
Here it is!
"Onanism: named after
the biblical character Onan."
You can see that I have to do this Onan.
At least we've understood that.
Eh, you have to see
if they let you.
There are a lot of
American actors in the film.
Eh yes, why are they making
an American actor play Onan now?
Onan...
...has to be a movie
with a religious background.
Why not? I can't make a movie with
a religious background? Today, religion...
Yes, yes, religion
is going strong today.
"In moral theology,
sin against nature."
Huh?
Read it again.
"In moral theology,
sin against nature."
And what is this
sin against nature?
Eddie...
It will be a religiously motivated
film with a component...
...a homosexual component.
A movie--a fag movie.
How vulgar can you get, eh!
This problem exists too, of fags!
Aimed to prevent
the generation of offspring
by means of
contraceptive practices.
Ah, I get it.
So it's a movie about women, abortion,
there's the pill, all that stuff.
Women, abortion...
You ever see this.
At the very moment
when the woman
wins her right to orgasm,
do you make an anti-woman film?
Then what do you have to say?
It's a risk,
Stark, it's a risk.
But what do you care?
I care. Because then what
am I doing in this movie, huh?
What do I do with it? You won't
need the stunt double anymore.
Eddie, you have to be patient,
it's not an action movie.
But why? Do you
lack something here?
Do you lack something here?
No, that's not what I meant.
Then why are you saying it?
Because I like to work.
And why don't you work here?
Do you lack something here?
Do you have the contract?
Then let's not start
with this every time.
"In medical language
and in current use...
...it is used as a synonym
for masturbation."
Eddie, I have a suspicion.
The guy wants to make
a film about a wanker.
That's a problem of today, too.
This son of a bitch!
Who does he take me for?
I am Mr. Stark!
Masturbation.
Stark, but...
didn't the Corpse send
you a new script today?
Yes, "The police left him alone".
"The police left him alone"?
No, they didn't leave him alone!
Why would the
police leave me alone?
No, no, Stark...
Sorry, I was confused.
Have you read the script?
- Yes, I have.
Tell me the ending,
just to get an idea.
I don't remember.
- Of course you do.
- How do you want it to be?
Come on, attack, Stark.
A crane appears...
coming down...
down, down, down...
and the audience is introduced...
to a...
graveyard of cars.
The film here takes a broad sweep
across a dramatic landscape.
And the camera goes poking around
in all this trash, all this filth,
in this graveyard of cars, that is.
And there I am.
In one of these cars.
Impassive, petrified.
- And you are just there.
- As if at home.
Guess, dressed as what!
- As a carabiniere?
- No, Eddie!
As a worker!
As a worker?
For the first time
in the history of my series,
X is dressed as a worker!
So that,
when she, the lady,
returns from Switzerland-
The lady took refuge in Switzerland
with her husband for some peace.
And at some point, when she
comes back to fuck him,
and she does fuck him,
she thinks she is
having sex with a worker.
The great thing about
the film is this, Eddie:
that she, until the very end,
must not know he is not a worker.
She has to be convinced
that she's fucking a worker.
Also because throughout the film
I am dressed in the white
overalls of a factory worker.
But must the lady be Lauda?
You can tell she's not a lady.
Instead, why don't we get one
of these tall, leggy, American actresses
who also have
the English-speaking market?
A tall American woman who
opens up the market for me?
A good idea.
One can think about it.
When, all of a sudden,
with that special feminine intuition
that American women have
she senses a looming danger.
And, indeed,
there is the usual Alex
setting up one of his usual
traps in the car graveyard
exactly where these
filthy, murderous thugs
have hidden large
quantities of weapons.
The American, who thinks I am a worker
when she sees me armed,
is impressed and starts asking me:
Who are you?
Hey, you gonna tell me,
who are you man?
But this one is disturbing!
It won't work well, Eddie!
No, Eddie, we can't take
Lauda out of the film.
After the success of Ferocious Struggle,
audiences became attached.
I also know that she's a bitch.
But we can't replace her.
And then, Lauda is intense.
She has beautiful dramatics.
Then, maybe, you
could change Alex.
Let's give a new face
to your antagonist.
Bandini!
Sure, then who dubs me?
Bandini dubs you, as always.
What does Bandini do?
He doesn't speak?
No, you dub Bandini.
Oh yeah, a good idea.
I didn't think of that, Eddie.
X!
Give it up!
Your dirty double-crossing
has been exposed!
You got yourself into a rat trap!
Fucking cop!
No, Eddie, Bandini
cannot play my antagonist.
He is not a dramatic actor.
He looks like a variety actor.
Eh whatever, then
let's put Alex back in.
Let's put Alex back in.
And here we are at the very end.
Finally, face to face.
X! Give it up!
Your dirty double-crossing
has been exposed!
You have walked into a rat trap!
Fucking cop!
The confrontation was very tough.
A rapid succession
of blows, until I fall
into a pool of blood.
What pool of blood?
Why did you lie to me?
Meanwhile, the lieutenant colonel arrives.
We lost one of our best men.
Why did we leave him alone?
No, but I don't like the
lieutenant colonel from last time.
I don't like him anymore.
You know what, Eddie?
A Soviet actor.
[Russian]
But how?
Do we let X die?
No, Eddie,
I'm just hurt.
Severely, but only hurt.
I'm alive, Eddie.
Because when the character is wounded,
gravely wounded,
he becomes more human.
Did you enjoy it?
Did you enjoy it?
What can I tell you, Stark?
To me it looks like
all the other films we've made.
In fact, it looks like
the same film to me.
But it has to be the same movie!
And try to think:
if the audience liked
the first six films in the series,
why shouldn't they like the seventh?
"The police left him alone".
The Police Did Not Leave Him Alone
Stark!
The whole mansion
surrounded by thugs.
The gang leader enters resolutely.
He rushed through
the first halls of the mansion.
Until...
There he is!
He is here.
In this closet.
Badly beaten,
but alive.
But what are you doing?
- Reading.
- Reading?
You send me ahead
two hours earlier
and then you hide here?
The screening has already begun.
You go to the screening.
I'm not moving from here.
Stark, and if
"The Police Did Not Leave Him Alone"
becomes a breakthrough
like Ferocious Struggle?
What will you say?
Listen, Eddie.
If, by any chance,
let's say,
a one-in-a-million chance...
The Police Did Not Leave Him Alone should
break through as Ferocious Struggle,
then I'll become hammer.
I'll become hammer
and then I hit!
No!
Eddie...
Do something.
I shattered my hand.
Oh, God...
Eddie...
let's not tell the others
that I hurt myself.
Let's say it was...
the criminals!
Cowardly, filthy murderers...
They caught me
alone in the house
and they broke my arm.
God, it hurts.
You know, Eddie?
I tried to defend myself...
but they were many.
Cowards...
murderers...
Until...
I had to give in.
Filthy, murderous thugs...
Kidnapping a lady, cowards.
Eh, there you go, it doesn't work.
Eddie?
Eddie?
Eddie!
Oh, who is it?
What do you mean
who is it? It's me, Stark.
Ah, it's you.
You've given me a fright.
Eddie,
the heater's not working.
I can't sleep and I keep
thinking about Ferocious Struggle.
But what time is it?
With this clock I can't see.
It's a quarter past three.
Stark, you don't have to
worry about Ferocious Struggle.
It's the best movie you
ever made. Sleep easy.
- Sleep, Stark.
- I don't want to sleep.
Take a Mogadon.
No, no,
one, one.
Better make it two, Stark.
That way you get all the pull.
It won't hurt me
all these mogadons.
No, no, these are good,
they relax you.
Here.
Take them now, huh.
Good night.
Good night.
It's Lauda, I'll pick you up
tomorrow night to go to the screening.
Kisses.
It's mom.
I'm coming to the screening
with your sister, too.
You're happy, my son, huh?
It's your producer
who loves you.
All our films have scored.
And this will score, too.
Take a rest, eh.
And don't wear yourself out.
Ferocious Struggle posters are
daubed all over town with your ass face.
Ferocious Struggle is shit.
You're finished, Stark.
Castrated,
castrated, castrated.
Eddie!
You have reached Stark's
automated answering machine.
I am temporarily absent.
They keep leaving insults
on my answering machine.
But I've got
Bandini, my dubber.
So, what then?
Then what?
Ah, yes.
Well, I had thought...
if...
I wrote this, if you could
record it for me with my voice.
I mean, with your voice.
With my voice.
- With his own.
- Yes, sure, gladly.
Yes? Thank you, Bandini.
Ready, Bandini?
Ready, ready.
You have reached Stark's
automated answering machine.
I'm temporarily absent
because of the release of my latest
film, Ferocious Struggle.
Whatever, that
seems a bit much.
No, no, what I...
You know,
doing some publicity.
But no, what publicity....
I wouldn't want to then...
No, no, let's do it like this.
Go.
You have reached Stark's
automated answering machine.
I am temporarily absent
because of the release
of my film, Ferocious Struggle.
I will get back to you
as soon as possible.
You have 45 seconds
to leave me your message.
You may speak after the signal.
I will listen to you
when I return.
Thank you.
Thank you, Bandini, bravo.
There.
If...
If you could do it
also in English.
Even in English?
Yes, sure, as you wish.
Thank you.
- Ready, Bandini?
- Yes, yes, ready.
Go.
My name is Stark.
I am temporarily absent
for reasons
concerning my last picture
'Ferocious Struggle'.
Which is to released.
You can leave your name and phone number
I will listen to your message...
Good morning.
Listen, Stark, wouldn't you
have anything else to wear?
Why? Is this not good?
This is my house
and I do what I want.
And what do I tell this guy?
Nothing, you don't have
to tell him anything at all.
This is an important director, someone
who goes to New York, to Cannes.
He has an international market.
He came to see you, that's all.
He came to see me?
And did he give you the script?
He never gives anything to read.
In these cases, you never read anything.
He doesn't even reveal his
films to the distributor, go figure.
- I don't want to see him.
- Stark, be reasonable, please.
Scared, huh?
That Ferocious Struggle goes down.
We will see about Ferocious Struggle
tonight. Come on, let's go.
A pleasure.
What's he doing here?
I don't know, they know each other.
Hello Stark.
Hi.
How come you're here?
You better put your
feet in another stirrup.
Make your point.
Even series only
last for so long.
I myself am making
arrangements to work in television.
And maybe even in theater.
You have to
reinvent yourself, Stark.
If you can.
Who is the lady?
No one, she's the director's partner.
She knows everything about German cinema.
And also about Italian cinema.
- She's a very smart lady.
Hello.
- A pleasure.
- Hello.
Here I am.
Stark, Antonio's outside.
Excuse me.
You should be my agent,
and you put me with the kids.
This is a kid.
He just looks young.
And then, what does it matter,
some people become famous right away.
I've already told you, he's important.
You might find him useful, you never know.
It's not like there's only your series.
A pleasure.
What's up?
Eh, thank God,
some people have it worse.
This is Eddie, my stand-in.
Eh, stand-in, in a manner of speaking.
I'm more of a friend.
He always does it himself.
Eh, the house is not finished yet,
because they kidnapped the architect.
Ah, yes,
they've kidnapped the architect.
English.
How is your English?
Ah, with English there is no problem.
I, Eddie, my friend, Eddie,
and I speak English all the time.
Eventually, for the voice,
I can do the operation.
What operation?
As a result of an accident I had
when I was a carabiniere
in the industrial area
in the north of Milan,
I had a trauma.
As a result of this trauma,
I had developed this disfigured voice.
I never had the operation,
but it can be done.
When there is a purpose,
everything can be done.
You don't need to. If I make my film,
you will be dubbed.
Is that so,
with dubbing there is no issue.
There is the voice of Bandini.
The weight, rather.
I imagined you to be thinner.
Ah.
This jacket is padded.
It's, uh, Korean.
If you want to see me, I can-
No.
This one, rather.
Yes, I know.
With a small operation,
they make two little cuts here,
you can't see anything,
and they pull everything up.
Good.
And what about this film of yours
that's coming out today?
Ferocious Struggle.
Ah, the pacing,
the suspense of a crime film,
full of action and shoot-outs.
Alex, rightly,
plays the role of the leader
of a gang of criminals,
filthy thugs,
who kidnapped a lady.
A wife of
a wealthy palace constructor.
The character I played,
Agent X,
was tasked with breaking up
these delinquents,
filthy murderers.
A ferocious struggle, then.
Up until the final conclusion,
which sees the triumph of justice
and the release of the captive.
Double liberation for the kidnapped.
Because during the struggle,
between Agent X and the captive,
a sexual relationship is formed,
which causes the kidnapped woman
to discover a dimension
that she had never known before.
A very important person,
whose name I cannot mention,
saw the film's first cut, a wide cut,
said that Ferocious Struggle
is not only a crime film,
but it is also a film that is...
emblematic.
And he dared
to raise the hypothesis
that the character of the kidnapped woman
even represents Italy.
And that Agent X,
who frees her and erases evil,
represents that feeling of
peace, of order, of justice,
for which we all aspire.
There is also symbolism
in the figure of
the lieutenant colonel,
this mysterious character
who acts in the shadows
and who has given Agent X
the task of cleaning up,
and has established
a pact of steel with him,
all encapsulated in a password.
There is no mercy for murderers.
Eddie, make something,
an appetizer, some shit.
Right away.
It's getting late.
I'll call you later.
I'll see you out. Let's go.
See you at the screening, Stark.
But how...
And you're not coming to the...
I can't.
I will.
Maybe, I will.
Bye...
Good, wasn't it?
It was this type of meeting,
quick, informal.
You met,
you talked to each other.
Well, let's move on.
Take it easy, Stark.
Take it easy.
Eddie!
Storytelling is more than
the films one can make.
Huh?
No, the films are much more
than the storytelling that one can do.
What are you
talking about, Eddie?
Don't worry, Stark.
Sleep now for a few hours
and then we're off to the screening, huh?
Be quiet.
Lie down.
Be quiet.
Take a rest, take a rest.
I'll close the
shutter for you now.
I don't care about others anyway,
for me, Ferocious Struggle is beautiful.
Of course.
Hands up!
Stop!
Don't move.
Hands up,
everybody stop.
No need for the army.
Enough with the special corps.
Uh...
Enough with the special corps.
But what did I say?
For...
To...
To punish your grave sins.
To punish your grave sins!
Hands up!
Hands up!
Stop, all of you!
No special corps.
No spectacular operations.
Let the army
stay where it is.
The others are on their way.
They already know all about
your dirty double-dealing.
Be careful,
you shit cop.
You're walking
into a mousetrap.
Let them come!
To punish the grievous deeds
of which you have been guilty...
one man is enough.
Filthy thugs.
Then...
In my opinion
the film is good.
And who here says it is bad?
Eh...
And then, when you
think about it, it's current.
To...
To punish their sins
you have to kill them all.
How do you feel?
Courage, ma'am.
Think about what your
husband has been through.
It has been
a hellish few months.
But, now, have courage.
Courage, ma'am.
Ma'am.
Ma'am.
How are you feeling?
Baby.
Baby.
Baby.
Wake up.
We have to go
to the screening.
What is
my little big Stark doing?
All asleep like that.
What's he doing?
Wake up.
Baby.
Are you worried,
my little Stark?
But, now, his mommy's here
to take him to the screening.
Lauda knows that Stark
is having a hard time waking up.
Baby.
But Lauda also knows that
her baby must be awakened gently.
Do you like it?
You like it?
Lauda now...
starts to move.
Dindolo.
Dindolo.
Dindolo.
Do you like it?
Do you like it a lot?
Tell me you like it.
You like to wake up
this softly, don't you?
Lady, it makes me...
You like it, don't you?
Tell me you like it.
I know you like it, come on.
You're crushing...
Now, my love brings his hand,
big, big, to his little beast, tiny, tiny.
That's it, that's better.
But what is he saying?
Now, Lauda takes off her clothes.
Take off my boots, come on.
What's the matter, baby?
Oh God, where are they?
Stay down.
But stay down.
Oh, my God, Lauda.
Why did you wake up now,
at the most beautiful moment?
Didn't you like it?
You're here
with your mommy, Lauda.
You have to explain to me why
you always interrupt things at their most beautiful.
Why?
Because...
all good things
come to an end.
Go fuck yourself, then.
We have to go to
the screening, Lauda.
Yes, yes.
You hurt me.
You know,
the movie is really good.
I'm glad you like it, Lauda.
My role is a beautiful role.
It is a role of a woman,
a real woman, you know?
Not an objectified woman.
It's a psychological western.
But what film are you
talking about, Lauda?
About the film
I'm going to make.
So, she...
She manages to give meaning
to the life of a man who is a killer.
With no past,
no future, you know?
After various adventures,
ambushes, shootings, fights, you know?
She convinces him to
leave that absurd life,
dense with danger,
without prospects.
And so, at the end of the
film, we move to the West,.
where the state distributes land.
And there, we set up
a small farm, where we raise animals.
We become one with nature.
The sunrise, the sunset,
the rain, the snow, the sun.
And the film ends
with me giving birth.
And he takes our son in his arms,
lifts him up high and says:
"I will make a man out of you!"
Do you like it?
"I will make a
man out of you."
But do you like it?
I liked it very much.
But how, "I will make a man out of you"?
"I will make a man out of you"!
- What are you telling me?
- Didn't you like it?
The moment our film,
Ferocious Struggle, is about to come out,
you come to me and talk about
"I will make a man out of you".
To me, who is counting each and
every hour left until the screening,
to see if the theaters
will be full or empty,
you come talking about
"I'm going to make a man out of you".
Lauda, for you,
Ferocious Struggle might be a bomb,
or it might explode,
you don't give a shit!
I don't give a shit, no!
Crammed into
a plastic bag for the whole film
is not that big
of a deal for an actress.
Actress? Actress?
But you lousy bitch,
like I didn't see you
in Playmen with a rose in your ass!
And don't put your hands on me!
Don't put your hands on me!
Ex carabiniere!
But what do you want,
there's nothing in there!
Actress!
Stupid idiot!
Fuck you, too!
My love, why do I love you?
What is it, Eddie?
It's me.
Ah, it's you, Lauda.
I felt an impulse,
so I called you.
I'm alone.
I'm alone, too.
As alone as I was in the hotel room
when we were filming Ferocious Struggle.
We were so tired
that we hardly met.
But you used to
phone me, remember?
I used to phone you, too.
My love, do you remember?
Yes, alone in the hotel room.
How lonely you were that night when
to see what room you will come out of,
I stood in the hallway
and shouted "Fire, fire"!
And I didn't see you
coming out of Alex's room.
Alone.
Sure.
What are you doing?
Nothing, I'm here.
I am... undressed.
All naked.
And I feel big shivers
down my... back.
Your hand, where is your hand?
My hand?
My hand is on my... hips.
It goes down on my thigh,
then up and reaches my breast.
It stops, and
squeezes it, squeezes it hard.
Ouch, that hurts!
Won't you tell me
where your hand is?
I don't know
where you have it anyway.
Where do I have my hand?
Where do you want
me to have my hand?
How far along are you?
On the way.
I'm feeling very hot,
I'm feeling chills down my back
that go: dindolon.
Dindolon, dindolon.
I'm shaking all over.
Concentrate,
concentrate, Lauda.
Let's try to come together.
I'm so concentrated, baby.
Me too.
Madonna!
- What...
- Nothing, nothing.
Concentrate!
But I am focused,
we were in the hotel room
we were filming
Ferocious Struggle.
You used to phone me
and call me.
I'd call you and you'd call me.
Tell me about Ferocious Struggle.
How was it? How did it
seem then, equal to the others?
But who?
But what who?
Ferocious Struggle!
Oh! Oh! Oh, God!
Oh, I'm coming!
No! No, Lauda, no!
No, wait, we have
to come together!
Sorry, sorry!
Women are all idiots!
No! No!
No, Eddie! Eddie!
Damn it, you are provoking me!
Turn it off!
Turn it off!
Hello, I'm Lauda.
I have to take care
of my teeth, too.
Stark, how about if I do
the toothpaste commercial?
Do toothpaste, do appetizer,
do whatever you want!
You all do whatever
you want, you cowards!
I go ahead with her on a
motorcycle, you take her car!
They call the director
the Corpse!
Shut up!
Do you want to
go home? You promised...
...that you
wouldn't cry anymore!
Let's go, then!
Come, ma'am, don't let
Stark see you like this!
You know that your son worries!
I'm going to call a cab
and it will take you home.
What are you doing?
Reading the papers?
Well, once it starts,
it goes on its own.
Excuse me...
...a little love for one's work.
Schioppa!
You are the producer,
and you are leaving!
Don't you worry, I am going to the office,
to make lots of nice phone calls...
...to all
the major cities, all right!
And in the morning I'll give you
an overview of our whole situation!
No, not tomorrow,
tell me tonight!
I won't sleep until you
tell me the takings from all of Italy!
I will call you tonight!
But take it easy,
you can't waste yourself like this!
Why, am I wasted?
Yes, you're
a little bit out of it!
You must take it easy,
you must have confidence!
Gary Cooper.
And Jack Palance.
And here...
...the great
Italians in America!
Sylvester Stallone,
Al Pacino...
If my father had
emigrated to America...
...and I had been born there...
...who knows!
Stark!
Eddie!
It's strong, it's strong!
Strong enough!
Meet these two friends of mine.
Genuine spectators.
A pleasure!
A pleasure!
A pleasure!
I'll drop them off and
then come back for you.
It's strong!
I will wait for you here!
- Hello!
- Hello, Bandini! Did you like it?
Yes, good, good!
Never had you
dubbed me so strongly!
Yes, I could have
done it even better, but-
Yes, of course!
Did you hear
that Bandini voice?
Yes, yes, I heard.
In the union,
we hear many voices.
Well, then...
...we're leaving, eh!
- Bye!
- Bye!
See you!
Goodbye!
Stark, I want you to
meet my daughter!
Oh, young lady! Did you
like Ferocious Struggle?
No!
And they called him the Corpse!
Aren't you ashamed?
- Me, ashamed?
- Do the math!
Let's go, let's go!
But why did you bring
her here, this ugly fool?
I didn't like myself!
I believe you!
Oh!
- Hi!
- Hi!
- And mom?
- It went well!
- Good, right?
- I think everything went well!
Yes!
Listen, by the way, I met
these two young producers!
I thought we could
go out to eat together! - Yes!
No, maybe,
it's better not to. - No!
It's better they keep a certain image
that they saw in the film.
- I'll go then!
- Yes!
I'm staying home,
because Schioppa,
will call me about
the takings from all over Italy!
- So, I'd rather wait at home!
- Perfect!
- Shall I go or shall I
phone you later, too? - Yes!
Don't worry, everything's fine!
Let's see ahead! - Call me!
Here he is, our Agent X!
And this is the reporter
I told you about!
- A pleasure!
- A great pleasure!
I would like to meet you
at a quieter time,
to interview you,
to talk to you!
Sure, anytime!
You are very beautiful!
Thank you, then,
I'm counting on it!
- Thank you!
- When would be possible?
Whenever you want to!
- Shall I fix it up with him?
- Yes!
Thank you, goodbye!
Thank you!
Relax, Stark, it's all right!
Let's go!
I'm waiting for Eddie!
Here it is!
They all left!
Who knows what is
really in people's heads.
You never can tell!
Eddie's friends told me...
It is strong, it is strong!
And Schioppa...
Schioppa,
was thrilled up, all tense!
The Corpse!
With his daughter!
To be ashamed and to be an actor!
But the shame is on her!
Ah, Alex!
"I didn't like myself"!
The guy doesn't like anything!
It's unprofessional, it doesn't count!
My agent...
he seemed...
serene, calm...
optimistic!
There, that's a good sign, Stark!
This is a good sign!
The prop master!
And the machinist
who both came with their wives!
You can tell they
will talk about it at home!
And that is a good sign.
Lauda!
Poor thing, she got so sick!
I shouldn't have
made her come on a motorcycle!
She seemed moved!
Stark!
They all left!
Yes, it's over!
Shall we eat
something at the Killer?
No, I'm going home!
And then, Schioppa will call me
about the takings from all over Italy!
You go to the Killer.
No, if you don't come,
I won't go either!
How was the mood?
On the positive, Stark!
On the positive!
I'll make something to eat.
A bit of pasta,
while we wait for news.
Thanks, I'm not hungry, Eddie...
You haven't...
found...
any areas of failure?
Some areas of failure...
are always there!
That's it!
I knew it already, anyway!
Go ahead, speak up!
Don't hold back!
Did you ask me
if there's any failed area?
Yes!
Eh!
To be honest...
and to tell you the truth...
there is an area!
An area I'm not sure about!
And what would this area be?
The fucking
with the kidnapped woman.
Oh my God!
All of the fucking?
No...
Not all the fucking.
But only when you say...
"I do a shitty job...
I have little time left for women."
I do a shitty job...
I have little time left for women.
Why are you unsure?
Explain to me, Eddie!
- I don't know!
It seems demeaning to me!
You say...
"I do a shitty job, I have
little time left for women", right?
I do a shitty job,
I have little time left for women!
It could be
the way you said it.
It sounds to me like
you're begging to fuck!
Get into the character!
I do a shitty job...
I have little time left for women.
I want to know
what is happening to me!
I don't want to know!
Yes-yes,
I do want to know.
Never!
Ever since my mother's
driver raped me!
Never have I
felt such emotion!
Your husband
must never know!
No, never!
My husband, my husband!
Marriage initials!
Never a vanishing point!
Never such a thrill!
So...
after eliminating Alex
and the other two...
after filling them with lead...
I slowly approach...
the plastic bag containing...
the kidnapped...
is there, groaning...
I remove the gag...
untie her...
help her out of the plastic...
and then, I must have said-
There.
There you go!
Eddie, get the script
for Ferocious Struggle!
Maybe it sounds like you're
begging to get laid...
not least because
Lauda is too easy, it's vulgar!
For a lady,
it is not believable!
No, no!
It is not Lauda's fault!
The fault... is the Corpse's!
Here it is!
The script says...
X, bandaging his wounded arm...
And the Corpse cut it out!
The arm!
Beginning to untie him,
the captive says...
Do you remember
that speech, long, human...
that I just couldn't
get into my head...
How was it?
How did I say it?
Ah, you said it well!
And the Corpse... cut it out!
Here it is!
I am Agent X
of the special team....
they didn't know it at first...
They thought I was
one of their own.
Usually, on duty,
I never wear a uniform,
since my job is
a so-called secret.
I usually wear
vests like this one...
that don't let you
guess the automatic
fixed on the side of the heart.
The last few times,
I have often been shooting...
even outside the firing range.
I learned that to save my skin...
which I care a great deal about.
One must know
how to do it to others.
But you are wounded...
The bullet must have
remained in my arm.
But I don't feel pain.
Once we make it
out of this filthy affair,
my husband will be grateful.
He will make you a monument,
I swear it.
No, ma'am...
I am only doing my duty.
Well, let's go.
No, we can't leave.
My mission is to catch all the bad guys,
but three are still missing.
But they will arrive at sunset.
Life is strange sometimes.
Yes.
Life... is strange sometimes.
I do a shitty job...
I have little time left for women.
What is happening to me?
I want to know
what is happening to me.
I have little time left...
for women.
Never!
Not even when my mother's
driver raped me!
Never have I felt
such an emotion!
Never...
My husband, in ten years...
Never, never...
Ma'am...
Not like this!
My husband...
Never...
Never...
Never such an emotion...
Never told me anything...
He never told me
me it could be like this!
Never...
Such an emotion...
So tremendous!
Ma'am...
Your husband must not know...
No...
Yes...
Yes...
Ma'am...
Not like this...
Ma'am...
You see, Eddie...
The wounded arm and
the long, human speech...
were essential...
Because they
illuminated the whole fuck!
And instead, let's cut these
long, human lines because they're long.
Let's cut his wounded arm
because it's unrealistic...
...and then, you're right, Eddie!
It fails!
All these directors are the same.
They rush...
Shoot, edit, cut,
even after the dubbing...
Dialogue is boring.
Boring like hell!
Because if they'd left in
the long, human lines...
and the wounded arm,
even the fucking with the kidnapped girl
would acquire a whole different force.
Because, if Agent X,
even though, he is wounded
has the strength...
to make a long, human speech...
and afterwards...
even to fuck!
Well, dear Eddie,
it means that this is an agent
who has a pair of balls like this!
Just smoking!
Then, there wouldn't be
this impression of weakness, of giving in.
Did you follow my reasoning?
Did you follow my reasoning?
Yes, yes, I followed it.
And you?
What would you have done?
Me?
Am I an actor?
And why? I'm an actor?
I was a carabiniere!
Well, all right...
But you're still more
of an actor than I am...
Well, yes.
Listen...
Good night.
What 'good night'?
But no! you must tell me
what you would have done!
Wait a second.
Let me think.
There.
I would have just
fucked her and that's it.
Without standing there
talking so much shit.
I would have fucked her
and that's it.
Eddie.
What are you talking about?
I meant that what
would you have done as an actor,
if a director, the Corpse,
had cut your arm
and the long, human speech.
I told you, didn't I?
I would have fucked her...
and that's it.
Like you always did
in all the other films.
I see.
Go to sleep, Eddie.
If you want to...
I'll wait with you
for the phone call.
No, go to sleep.
Go, go.
Oh, God...
I can't take it anymore.
I can't take it.
So...
now...
they even got his arm.
Hello?
I got back now.
I was only able to get partial results.
But as far as I can tell
it seems that in the South, it holds up...
Of course.
And there are
no responses from the North.
Well, the North...
Anyway, it would be premature
to draw conclusions.
All things considered, it's good!
Yes, yes, of course...
Let's move on!
Let's move on, Stark.
Now, let Eddie
give you a Mogadon,
you relax and
rest assured that all is well.
Yes, yes, thank you...
Hello?
Now, open up your ears!
You're listening?
I have here
the overview of the whole situation,
so, listen well:
a disaster!
Empty cinemas everywhere...
North to South, you understand?
You understood?
Good, better that way.
- Ten people in Rome-
- Ten?!
Let's not make
a tragedy out of it, eh?
No need to fuss over
it, absolutely... - No, no...
Why are you always
saying no to me?
The defect is probably in the title,
Ferocious Struggle, which
nauseated the public in this climate.
You understand?
Bye, good night!
Ten viewers...
Damned, filthy cowards...
But where did they go?
Where did they go?
Cowards!
They don't give a
damn about you!
They don't give
a damn about agent X!
They have abandoned him!
As soon as the struggle
becomes ferocious
they lock
themselves in their houses!
Cowards!
Cowards!
Cowards!
Alex...
Alex!
It's you...
You're the one leaving messages
on my answering machine!
I'll have an inspection
and send you to jail!
You destroyed my series!
Now, what do I do?
What do you and I do?
You have to answer me.
What do I do?
What do I do?
What do I do?
That's it!
That's where they went!
At home,
watching television!
Locked in the house in slippers!
Here it is.
Here you go.
We give burial
to the corpse of agent X.
This night was a mess.
I have made a mess!
Passing in front of a mirror
I even scared myself.
I made myself afraid!
What is he doing here?
Nothing, we were going
somewhere together,
but when you phoned
we rushed over here.
The earnings?
The accountant is
calculating them,
he will be here
in the afternoon.
Satisfied?
Come.
Look!
The plant!
So, what?
Come.
Let me through!
The hole.
The plant.
I ripped it out!
Why?
Because Stark has a force
but an uncontrollable one!
And you should
think about this Stark force
every morning when you wake up,
every night before you fall asleep,
every day, every night!
But what are you saying?
You're taking it out on me now?
If you have
something to say, be clear.
Be calm, I am speaking clearly!
- But, look, I'm very calm-
- I insist, be calm...
Last night I watched Ferocious Struggle
and for the first time, I realized
the systematic, day-by-day destruction
of the boycott that you set up!
What are you saying?!
But this makes no sense.
I took part in the film
and that's it!
You crawl like a worm
at the feet of directors
who want to give me work.
Alex, you plotted in the shadows
to make the Corpse cut my arm!
Alex, I'll have an
inspection done
because you distort
your shitty voice...
to leave me voice records
on the answering machine!
And then, at 8
in the morning, in my house,
with my agent,
what are you doing?!
Eddie, take his arm
and walk him out.
No, no, that won't be necessary.
Because I'm leaving by myself!
Do you know
what all this means?
Paranoia.
But what do you think you are?
Look at yourself, once and for all!
Clown, megalomaniac!
What the fuck do you want from us?
But, Eddie, take him
by the arm and walk him out!
Wait, I'm not done.
Look after this Stark guy!
He is in need of it.
Clown!
I'm leaving by myself.
Idol of shit!
Narcissist!
Coward!
Murderer!
You all deserve to be kidnapped!
Kidnapped, all of you!
Terrorist!
Carabiniere!
Go back to the barracks!
Stark has a force
but such a force, a force...
Go away!
And who are you?
A nurse? A service woman? A slave?
And how much does he
pay you- if he pays you?
It's for the better
that this shit of a series collapsed.
Stark.
Stark, sorry to bother you
but Maria's here with Robertino!
Come in Eddie, I can't get
anything done today either...
Sorry Stark,
but I didn't know.
Well, what's the big deal?
Why can't my wife
and son visit me?
It seemed strange to me.
They never show up,
never get in touch...
But what do you know
about my life?
What do you know about my life?
No, Stark, sorry,
I didn't mean that.
You see, Eddie, sometimes,
you have to recognise
that one
is entitled to one's privacy.
One does a project.
And maybe
this project interests him...
and others don't care about it.
For me,
for Maria and for Robertino,
there is a project.
Maria has five or six
apartments that her father left her,
there it is, we sell everything.
But really everything,
not a single thing should remain...
and we go to Canada.
We go to Canada?
We go to Canada.
Canada is a great country.
But in Canada, it is cold.
No, look, Eddie,
only ignorance makes people believe
that it is cold everywhere in Canada.
We are going to Vancouver.
We are going to Vancouver?
And it's hot in Vancouver.
It's hot all year round.
And in Vancouver...
they give you
everything you want.
They give us everything?
Everything.
They give you mountains,
forests, valleys, grasslands, wood...
trails with animals...
cows, bulls, coyotes, parrots...
turtles, monkeys, fish...
everything!
A big ranch!
A big ranch.
And in the morning, at 8 o'clock,
me, Maria and Robertino
wake up,
breakfast,
and onto the horse.
You, Maria and Robertino.
And me?
See? Nothing today either.
I am sorry, Eddie...
but this project...
I've been considering it
for a while now.
Look, now, Eddie,
there is a department
in people's brains
that works like this.
On its own.
Me, Maria and Robertino...
we're going to Vancouver.
Maria.
Thank you for coming!
Here he is!
I've always known that in
difficult times in life I could count-
I always knew that
in the hard times of life
I could count
on your presence.
Hello Maria,
how are you?
I'm fine.
He was telling me,
your agent,
- that your film came out yesterday.
- Yes, Maria.
I didn't know that.
Otherwise,
it would explain the mess.
But why...
You call me at
5 o'clock in the morning,
you make me wake up Robertino,
you tell me to come immediately!
But for what?
To show me these disasters as
if I hadn't already seen enough of them
when we were together?
For that, I had to wake up
Robertino at 5 o'clock?
You're crazy!
Sorry, what did you say?
I said I woke up Robertino at 5,
but are you crazy?
No, Maria...
You said "your film came out
yesterday and I didn't know that".
And I didn't know that.
I missed it.
Robertino!
Robertino!
Robertino!
Did you know that
dad's film came out yesterday?
No, dad.
I watch television.
Does it seem normal to you,
that a mother...
I said, a mother!
Does not tell her child
"your father's film came out yesterday"?
And does it seem normal to you
that I should keep up with
every film that comes out?
No, not with every
film that comes out.
It is the film of
the father of your son!
Bastard.
Robertino.
Let's go, Robertino...
Ugly hag...
There you go.
Ah!
Before we leave...
will you tell us why
we were summoned here?
And I should leave
with you for Vancouver?
Vancouver?
Do me a favour...
All right, wait a minute, I'll see.
Hurry!
I can't wait here all day!
My life is waiting...
The reporter is outside.
What do we do?
I introduced her to you yesterday,
she came to interview you.
It's only that, here,
I don't think it's appropriate.
It would be better
in a restaurant, right?
You go to the restaurant!
I'm not moving from here.
I have no statements to make.
But where is Vancouver?
Come, ma'am,
let's leave him alone.
I'll see you out.
He says he wants to leave,
that he wants to go to Canada...
To Canada?
See, ma'am...
Mom, mom let's go!
Eddie!
Look, I know you felt bad
for Maria and Robertino...
Don't do this to me!
So, I found the house like this
after an absence.
They didn't take anything,
they only came to destroy!
And so they did.
But you, Mr. Stark,
have you reported it?
Yes!
The detectives
are already at work.
Hooliganism!
Terrorism! Vandalism!
A public figure,
a citizen in this country,
has to get used to
living day after day,
with destruction, with death.
Or else, go abroad.
Madam or miss?
It doesn't matter.
Me and Eddie, my stand-in,
decided to move
to Vancouver, Canada.
That's why
I'm selling the house.
But why, Mr. Stark?
You are also
leaving the country?
You never asked
for the bank statement,
but now you are?
Sooner or later...
Can't you transfer it
to me somewhere?
I have already transferred the extra
to his mother, wife, sister... I cannot.
Architect Petronio has his own style,
recognizable, like a signature.
- Like a signature!
Do you think, through your agency,
you can find a buyer immediately?
Certainly, the condition
of the house is not the best.
And then, rumours get around...
An assault, such as
the one you suffered,
makes you risk 30-35%
of the total value of the house.
30-35 percent?
You understand, Mr. Stark...
people
leave the city to feel safer.
To find some peace, some tranquillity.
Yes, yes, I fully realize
but have you seen the boundary wall?
Well, honestly...
It's only a matter of two or three days
until the release of architect Petronio,
then everything will be
absolutely and definitively settled!
And, then...
Then, there is the small house.
For the bodyguard,
for the servants.
Also, the entire house is surrounded
by an American electronic alarm system.
All houses in the area
are practically impregnable.
Then how did they get in?
Who?
Who? The attackers!
Was the alarm not working?
It wasn't working.
Detectives suspect that the break-in
was carried out during a power outage.
Eddie.
The young lady from real estate.
This is Eddie, my stand-in.
- A pleasure.
- Good morning.
Now, for us, the most important thing is
to leave the country as soon as possible.
Leave the country?
Yes, I have decided,
we are going to Vancouver.
But how?
Could I leave
with Maria and Robertino?
You saw them, didn't you?
Madam or miss?
It doesn't matter!
Excuse me.
So, I am willing
to sell even at half price
you know, by now, there are
many of us who are leaving the country.
Thieves!
Abortion surgery,
Miss Lella, seven-
seven hundred and fifty-but what,
another abortion?
What? Now, there is
the new law.
You get free abortions!
For your sister,
she has always...
What free abortion?
For my sister?
And who told me
that there is a new law?
Who told me?
Thieves!
Thieves!
Payment, Pettini lawyer,
three million...
Tax payment,
five and a half million...
Payment, Pasquini lawyer,
two million seven-
What? Another lawyer?
He's a criminal lawyer, you know,
your wife's accident...
My wife's accident?
Then, what does Pettini do?
He's the civil lawyer, he sues
the newspapers, and other things.
See Eddie, I'd have done well to get
a nice trade unionist like Bandini did!
Instead of all these fucking lawyers!
Thieves!
Thieves...
Payment, Eddie,
an extra 1.4 million.
Pay-
But how?
Did I say Eddie could get
an extra 1.4 million?
I thought you told the young lady.
I told the young lady that you could
take a million four hundred extra?
No.
I did not tell the young lady that
he could withdraw 1.4 million extra.
Yes, but the money
was withdrawn anyway.
He says the money
was withdrawn anyway.
Yes, it was withdrawn.
Eh, yes, it was withdrawn.
Precisely, as I was telling you.
Precisely.
Then, you stole it.
Let's say, I took it.
And I should have left
with a thief for Vancouver.
A thief?
What thief?
There is no price
for what I suffer.
I wash for him, iron for him,
nurse him, put him on a diet...
and now, he has anxiety,
now, he has depression, now,
he has insomnia,
but when do I rest?
Never a holiday, never a Sunday,
Christmas, Easter, New Year...
Who am I?
Eddie.
They may even take me
for a homosexual.
Accountant!
For this...
I could give
him a good lawsuit,
instead of the one million
and four hundred.
There is no price...
There is no price...
I always thought...
he enjoyed
spending Sundays with me.
Take a Mogadon, Stark,
take a Mogadon...
And in the meantime
he was taking them secretly.
Damn thief,
filthy thief, thief...
He even took away
the barbiturates.
Who are you?
What do you want?
I brought the encyclopedia.
What encyclopedia?
The one that
architect Petronio ordered.
They freed him?
Freed who?
When did he order it?
Eh...
Okay, put it there,
put it there.
What do you want?
Can I get a signature?
Thanks.
But I'd rather not,
not in this moment...
It is better if we know
each other like this.
Okay, but
what do I say in the office?
Ah, in the office?
Ah, yes, in the office.
I thought the signature...
you wanted for yourself.
For me?
Thank you, eh.
You're welcome.
Don't you ever go to the cinema?
Cinema? I'm happy when
they burn down cinemas!
So?
This is how far it's gone.
Read, read.
Stark, this is but the first warning...
you, Schioppa and the Corpse,
have been detected.
But what do you mean
you have been detected?
We have been detected!
Read, read.
You have made yourselves
rich with Agent X...
and his series
on the backs of the audience...
Rich!
With all the thieves around me!
Go on, read it.
This warning also
applies to your partner
complicit in the ideology
of a violent state
that commodifies women
for its own gains.
She and others
like her who undress...
...pose a threat to
the struggle women carry onward
to free themselves
from exploitation
that has reduced
them to sexual objects
and market products.
Watch out, Stark,
watch out, Lauda!
Who wrote this?
The terrorists!
Unbelievable.
Look, Lauda-
Excuse us for a moment.
I am in the process of leaving.
- Where are you going?
- Away!
But this is terrible...
Listen, baby, listen.
Why would we stay in a country
that treats its citizens like this?
Baby...
Why don't we start
our lives again from scratch?
A life...
without anguish,
without tension...
without fear.
In contact with nature.
Baby...
Would you be willing to leave with me
for Canada, Vancouver?
You go to Vancouver!
I'm staying here, get it?
I have to make my movie!
I'm staying here!
Ugly, lousy-
I knew it!
And then, I control my body
how I see fit!
I do what I want with my body!
Look, what you have
reduced me to!
Nothing but wretches-
We have ruined you?
Yes, you!
You ungrateful, lousy whore!
Me, a whore?
How dare you?
Go to hell!
You wretch!
- I'll crush you, you know?
- What do you crush, you?
But will you tell me
what's the point of this letter?
I mean, will you
tell me who wrote it?
I wrote it!
Ah, you wrote it...
I copied it
from the newspapers!
Did you think
he didn't write it?
To expose! The three years
of lies of our relationship!
Lousy...
The crazy love, the little letters
with the pierced hearts,
running away together...
You don't know what
she put me through-
Stark! It's good
that it's happened.
I have to talk to you.
Excuse me.
Yes, baby, I'm listening.
The time has come, you know...
I cannot continue...
I cannot anymore, Stark.
I don't love you
anymore, you know?
I feel empty inside!
Oh god, oh god...
I'm sorry, Stark...
I'm so sorry...
No, baby, you can't tell me
you don't love me anymore...
I feel so bad...
Do you believe me?
Yes, baby...
I feel so bad right now
you have no idea...
But we will remain friends?
- Yes.
Are you sure?
Sure?
Sorry...
Go, and rest, eh...
Yes...
I didn't mean to hurt you...
Goodbye!
Goodbye, my love...
And since when
she doesn't love me anymore?
Since the tanking
of Ferocious Struggle!
What are you saying again?
Whore!
But fuck you!
Ferocious Struggle!
And what's he doing here?
Enough, Stark!
I'm not in your house,
I'm outside.
And I'm waiting for Lauda!
He is the one
who wrote the letter!
That's enough now.
Listen to me, Stark.
I am tired of going
back and forth every day
every time you summon me.
Sorry.
See you tomorrow, Stark.
I'll talk to you tomorrow.
Calm, now...
See you tomorrow...
He, instead of being guillotined,
decided to end his days
using the venom
hidden in his ring...
Maybe... maybe in here...
Here we are.
There.
Damn rats.
Rat poison.
For domestic use.
Stark...
Stark!
Stark...
Stark!
What have you done?
Where am I?
In the guest room.
In the guest room?
But what happened?
I poisoned myself.
- You poisoned yourself?
- Yes!
I spent twenty-four hours in the toilet
with fierce cramps, vomiting and diarrhea.
I lost consciousness.
But where am I?
In the guest room.
What guests?
Eddie!
How are you feeling?
I see
you've changed your hairstyle.
Check out this instead.
- Milan.
- Milan.
17 million in two days.
Naples.
10 million on Sunday alone.
7 million?
What are you talking about?
A global box office never reached
by your other films is expected.
Turin.
13 million.
7.5 million...
Bari.
7 million.
7.5 million
Saturday and Sunday.
Taranto.
5 million.
Palermo. 8 million.
- 7 million.
Bologna.
Cagliari. 5 million.
Reggio Emilia.
Eddie!
Palermo, 8 million.
Eddie!
What if it was the poison?
Don't make me think about it, Stark.
Don't make me think about it...
Do you know what
these are called? - Cagliari.
Weekend movies, Eddie!
Heist movies, Eddie!
Cagliari.
5 million.
Ancona.
4 million Saturday and Sunday.
Trieste.
4 million.
4 million Saturday
and Sunday, Eddie...
Eddie, Florence!
Florence!
7.5 million!
A place that was always
so hostile to my series!
Eddie, look,
look, Florence...
5 and a half million Saturday
and Sunday...
My God, Eddie-
- What is it?
With all I've been through...
but is it true?
Stark.
Think about it.
- It isn't true.
Yes, it's true, but what
do we care about the box office.
They don't go
into our pockets.
What are you saying?
No, Stark, sorry to insist
you say millions, millions,
hundreds of millions....
Yes, millions, millions...
- Do we pocket these millions?
- They go into our pockets.
No! And the way
you're looking at this paper,
one might think that
these millions are yours to pocket.
But no!
No!
However, people leave the house
to see your series, right?
Who invented your series?
- And who invented it?
- You invented it, no?
Stark invented it!
And without Stark
there are no takings!
Do you understand?
There are no takings without Stark!
So what?
- What?
What, then?
Eddie...
until today
I have been an anvil.
Now...
I become hammer, Eddie!
I become a hammer...
And I hit!
Oh God, you hurt yourself!
My goodness,
what a knock you gave yourself!
Let's go, let's go!
To the bathroom right away!
I'll give you ice cold water!
- Where am I?
- In the guest room.
Let's go to the bathroom!
I'm in the guest room.
Going to the bathroom.
I hurt myself.
Let's put you in water and it
will all pass. Ice cold water.
That's it, Stark!
Stark!
What I told you...
you have to think about it seriously.
Don't miss the chance, Stark!
Don't miss the chance!
You must say it like this:
"Mr. Schioppa,
I am Mr. Stark's agent.
My client is asking for double!"
White, black, in advance, deferred.
I don't give a shit!
Mr. Stark is asking for-
More, more, more!
More than double!
Two hundred and fifty million!
Two hundred and fifty million!
Thank you, Eddie!
Let's erase the past!
I have treated you badly...
But no, Stark!
Yes, yes, Eddie!
I've been doing a lot
of thinking, you know!
You must have
everything to live comfortably!
You must have the pension,
payments, the contributions...
the... the health insurance.
You have to have
holidays, Eddie!
That means that me,
on Sundays...
You must have
your contract, Eddie!
Two hundred and twenty thousand
a month, plus board and lodging!
Are you happy?
What about my film?
I now hunt for images...
as if for... butterflies!
Can you cry over a butterfly?
Can one laugh?
Think?
One can only
contemplate it, a butterfly.
Look at it
as you look at my characters.
Even more!
How the camera looks at them,
which I put there in the corner,
so that you don't realise it is there.
Stationary.
Ruthlessly recording
these characters of mine
who are no longer
even characters.
Exhibits.
Of that magical object
to which they had moved.
Who knows when.
Why?
Reality splashes out
from the holes of torn consciousness.
It's clear, isn't it?
Reality splashes out. Reality!
Ineffable, unspeakable.
And then, these
noncharacters sink
into the material dimension
like into a swamp.
They produce words
which are... noises
mingling with other noises.
They consume!
More than performing those rites
which testify to their presence
but not to their existence.
So, do you...
think I could do it?
No.
You are not good enough for my film.
I'm... not good.
Then...
I... don't understand.
So, we cannot make the film
only with foreign actors.
We are forced to get an Italian actor.
Yes.
Right now, your film
is leading the box office.
Yes, Ferocious Struggle.
The distribution wants you.
With you, I close
the film for the Italian part.
I'm glad!
But... if he doesn't want me
what can we do?
Don't worry about it.
It's the contradictions.
Thank you, very kind.
Stark.
There are two
carabinieri looking for you.
Two carabinieri?
- In uniform.
Excuse me a moment.
Two carabinieri?
Hi guys!
What's up?
What's up?
Mr. Stark, we read
that you are one of ours.
We have seen all your films.
And especially Ferocious Struggle.
Guys, I'm very pleased!
Are you serving nearby?
Yes, we were in the area
and came to say hello.
This makes me very happy.
It gives me peace of mind
that you are around here.
Come in for a moment!
No, we wouldn't
want to disturb you...
Come!
Come, come boys.
Excuse me.
Here you go.
Just so you know,
I've never forgotten.
This is Eddie, my stand-in.
Thank you, yes,
we've met before.
Yes, yes.
Can I bring you a drink?
Never on duty!
Eddie, you should learn!
Thank you, guys.
I really enjoyed meeting you.
And if you stay around the house,
keep an eye on me.
But where did they go?
They left.
Stark, we have an audience.
Try not to betray them.
One of our best directors
has offered you a role in the Nonanist.
Will you accept, Mr. Stark,
to play this role?
This is Eddie, my stand-in.
- Good morning.
- A pleasure.
Stand-in only in a manner of speaking.
I'm more like a friend.
He always does it himself.
The house is not finished yet
because they kidnapped the architect.
Ah, yes, they kidnapped the architect.
Interesting.
Maybe you want to talk
about this kidnapping?
No, sorry.
I don't want to disturb
the work of the detectives.
The family members have
asked for a press silence.
A silence
that has lasted for a while.
Thank you, Eddie.
Not finishing your coffee?
Eh, thank you.
Shall we continue?
Eh, yes.
Well, Stark.
What is cinema for you?
A means of making money, of not being
bored, of gratifying your narcissism?
You could say that cinema...
is made up of many genres.
And everyone should
stay in his own genre.
I stay in mine.
And as long as it lasts,
I'm fine.
You could say that
cinema is a bit like life.
Where everyone should
be in their own places.
The baker at the bakery.
The soldier in the barracks.
The doctor in the surgery.
The minister in the ministry.
The housewife at home.
That's life.
In cinema...
Those who make crime films
should be in the crime genre.
Those who do history films
must do history.
Those who do pornography
should do pornography.
Those who do westerns
should do westerns.
Et cetera, et cetera, et cetera.
And the stand-in
should be the stand-in.
He should.
And all people...
should do their best
in my opinion...
for these genres to stay.
But excuse me,
weren't you a carabiniere?
Yes.
Then why didn't you stay
in your carabinere role?
I'm surprised
you would ask that question.
The incident for which
I left the service is well known.
In February 1970, in
the industrial area north of Milan,
I was ambushed
by a group of workers
who literally tore me to pieces.
After four months in the hospital,
I left the police force
with high honors.
Subsequently,
on my way to the gym,
I had the good fortune
to be seen and picked up
by producer Schioppa of
Magnum Cinematografica,
who had me play the character
of Agent X for the first time.
Is that okay?
Yes, yes.
Look, everybody knows
that I was doing well in the force.
This one in the fourth desk, this one...
...is me.
This...
...is me.
During the Hot Autumn.
- Ah, yes.
This...
No, not this one.
This is me.
Before a demonstration.
And here...
...is us.
Now I can't remember...
...where I am.
For the photo shoot...
...would you like to put one
of these photos as well?
Certainly, thank you.
And to complete
the interview, if you want,
you can interview
two young carabinieri...
The afternoons are long.
Ah, yes.
...who are out here on duty.
They saw Ferocious Struggle
and they liked it very much.
I...
so cold...
They offered you an
important role in The Onanist.
Yes.
Alongside famous
American actors.
Directed by one of our
most important directors.
For you, The Onanist could be an
opportunity to make good cinema.
My position. Can't say yes, I do
this film or no, I don't do this film.
I have to think about it!
Whatever, that doesn't
make the scripts read.
But I have to come to understand anyway,
what movie this young man wants to make.
Here it is!
"Onanism: named after
the biblical character Onan."
You can see that I have to do this Onan.
At least we've understood that.
Eh, you have to see
if they let you.
There are a lot of
American actors in the film.
Eh yes, why are they making
an American actor play Onan now?
Onan...
...has to be a movie
with a religious background.
Why not? I can't make a movie with
a religious background? Today, religion...
Yes, yes, religion
is going strong today.
"In moral theology,
sin against nature."
Huh?
Read it again.
"In moral theology,
sin against nature."
And what is this
sin against nature?
Eddie...
It will be a religiously motivated
film with a component...
...a homosexual component.
A movie--a fag movie.
How vulgar can you get, eh!
This problem exists too, of fags!
Aimed to prevent
the generation of offspring
by means of
contraceptive practices.
Ah, I get it.
So it's a movie about women, abortion,
there's the pill, all that stuff.
Women, abortion...
You ever see this.
At the very moment
when the woman
wins her right to orgasm,
do you make an anti-woman film?
Then what do you have to say?
It's a risk,
Stark, it's a risk.
But what do you care?
I care. Because then what
am I doing in this movie, huh?
What do I do with it? You won't
need the stunt double anymore.
Eddie, you have to be patient,
it's not an action movie.
But why? Do you
lack something here?
Do you lack something here?
No, that's not what I meant.
Then why are you saying it?
Because I like to work.
And why don't you work here?
Do you lack something here?
Do you have the contract?
Then let's not start
with this every time.
"In medical language
and in current use...
...it is used as a synonym
for masturbation."
Eddie, I have a suspicion.
The guy wants to make
a film about a wanker.
That's a problem of today, too.
This son of a bitch!
Who does he take me for?
I am Mr. Stark!
Masturbation.
Stark, but...
didn't the Corpse send
you a new script today?
Yes, "The police left him alone".
"The police left him alone"?
No, they didn't leave him alone!
Why would the
police leave me alone?
No, no, Stark...
Sorry, I was confused.
Have you read the script?
- Yes, I have.
Tell me the ending,
just to get an idea.
I don't remember.
- Of course you do.
- How do you want it to be?
Come on, attack, Stark.
A crane appears...
coming down...
down, down, down...
and the audience is introduced...
to a...
graveyard of cars.
The film here takes a broad sweep
across a dramatic landscape.
And the camera goes poking around
in all this trash, all this filth,
in this graveyard of cars, that is.
And there I am.
In one of these cars.
Impassive, petrified.
- And you are just there.
- As if at home.
Guess, dressed as what!
- As a carabiniere?
- No, Eddie!
As a worker!
As a worker?
For the first time
in the history of my series,
X is dressed as a worker!
So that,
when she, the lady,
returns from Switzerland-
The lady took refuge in Switzerland
with her husband for some peace.
And at some point, when she
comes back to fuck him,
and she does fuck him,
she thinks she is
having sex with a worker.
The great thing about
the film is this, Eddie:
that she, until the very end,
must not know he is not a worker.
She has to be convinced
that she's fucking a worker.
Also because throughout the film
I am dressed in the white
overalls of a factory worker.
But must the lady be Lauda?
You can tell she's not a lady.
Instead, why don't we get one
of these tall, leggy, American actresses
who also have
the English-speaking market?
A tall American woman who
opens up the market for me?
A good idea.
One can think about it.
When, all of a sudden,
with that special feminine intuition
that American women have
she senses a looming danger.
And, indeed,
there is the usual Alex
setting up one of his usual
traps in the car graveyard
exactly where these
filthy, murderous thugs
have hidden large
quantities of weapons.
The American, who thinks I am a worker
when she sees me armed,
is impressed and starts asking me:
Who are you?
Hey, you gonna tell me,
who are you man?
But this one is disturbing!
It won't work well, Eddie!
No, Eddie, we can't take
Lauda out of the film.
After the success of Ferocious Struggle,
audiences became attached.
I also know that she's a bitch.
But we can't replace her.
And then, Lauda is intense.
She has beautiful dramatics.
Then, maybe, you
could change Alex.
Let's give a new face
to your antagonist.
Bandini!
Sure, then who dubs me?
Bandini dubs you, as always.
What does Bandini do?
He doesn't speak?
No, you dub Bandini.
Oh yeah, a good idea.
I didn't think of that, Eddie.
X!
Give it up!
Your dirty double-crossing
has been exposed!
You got yourself into a rat trap!
Fucking cop!
No, Eddie, Bandini
cannot play my antagonist.
He is not a dramatic actor.
He looks like a variety actor.
Eh whatever, then
let's put Alex back in.
Let's put Alex back in.
And here we are at the very end.
Finally, face to face.
X! Give it up!
Your dirty double-crossing
has been exposed!
You have walked into a rat trap!
Fucking cop!
The confrontation was very tough.
A rapid succession
of blows, until I fall
into a pool of blood.
What pool of blood?
Why did you lie to me?
Meanwhile, the lieutenant colonel arrives.
We lost one of our best men.
Why did we leave him alone?
No, but I don't like the
lieutenant colonel from last time.
I don't like him anymore.
You know what, Eddie?
A Soviet actor.
[Russian]
But how?
Do we let X die?
No, Eddie,
I'm just hurt.
Severely, but only hurt.
I'm alive, Eddie.
Because when the character is wounded,
gravely wounded,
he becomes more human.
Did you enjoy it?
Did you enjoy it?
What can I tell you, Stark?
To me it looks like
all the other films we've made.
In fact, it looks like
the same film to me.
But it has to be the same movie!
And try to think:
if the audience liked
the first six films in the series,
why shouldn't they like the seventh?
"The police left him alone".
The Police Did Not Leave Him Alone
Stark!
The whole mansion
surrounded by thugs.
The gang leader enters resolutely.
He rushed through
the first halls of the mansion.
Until...
There he is!
He is here.
In this closet.
Badly beaten,
but alive.
But what are you doing?
- Reading.
- Reading?
You send me ahead
two hours earlier
and then you hide here?
The screening has already begun.
You go to the screening.
I'm not moving from here.
Stark, and if
"The Police Did Not Leave Him Alone"
becomes a breakthrough
like Ferocious Struggle?
What will you say?
Listen, Eddie.
If, by any chance,
let's say,
a one-in-a-million chance...
The Police Did Not Leave Him Alone should
break through as Ferocious Struggle,
then I'll become hammer.
I'll become hammer
and then I hit!
No!
Eddie...
Do something.
I shattered my hand.
Oh, God...
Eddie...
let's not tell the others
that I hurt myself.
Let's say it was...
the criminals!
Cowardly, filthy murderers...
They caught me
alone in the house
and they broke my arm.
God, it hurts.
You know, Eddie?
I tried to defend myself...
but they were many.
Cowards...
murderers...
Until...
I had to give in.