Fidelity (2022) s01e01 Episode Script

1
A NETFLIX SERIES
["Trampoline" by SHAED playing]
[woman] The house is really special.
No. There's no elevator,
and it's 99 steps to get there,
but it's worth going to the top
because you'll fall in love with it.
[chuckles]
So those were the bedrooms
and, uh, back in the hallway,
which you've already seen.
- [woman 2] Mm-hmm.
- We have a beautiful flooring here too.
Uh, it's graniglia, late 1800s
Uh, after you.
Thanks.
You'll be blown away.
[music fades]
[woman sighs]
The biggest highlight of the house.
The living room.
60 square meters, lots of light.
- Isn't it wonderful?
- It's nice.
But, I mean, we'd always have
to keep the curtains closed here. Right?
Otherwise, it'd be like
living with that lady next-door.
- "Good morning!" Come on.
- [chuckles]
[knocking on door]
- Hey there. Can I come in?
- [man] Hello.
- [man 2] Good morning.
- [woman 2] Morning.
[man 2] Ms. Verna?
Carlo Pentecoste.
We talked this morning
about the appointment?
Right, right. I'm so sorry.
[chuckles]
I got confused, and I must have
double-booked the appointments.
Oh.
I don't know.
Uh, would you mind waiting a moment?
[Carlo] Hmm. Unfortunately, I would.
I have an important work meeting
right after this. I'm sorry.
[Verna] Well, if it's so important, um,
could we finish the tour together maybe?
If there's no other alternative.
- Thank you.
- Thank you.
So much natural light. Right?
Uh, yeah.
This is one of the rare places in Milan
where there isn't a tall building,
um, blocking the sunlight.
You should see
the color of the sunset from here.
- [woman 2] It's probably hot in summer.
- Yeah. I'm sure.
Well, I mean, it's a very bright room.
And, uh, the bedrooms
already have air conditioning too.
Right. I'd like to see it again.
- Yeah. If you don't mind. Thanks.
- [Verna] Or course.
[bell chiming]
[footsteps receding]
So beautiful, huh?
The house.
So many details.
- I'm, uh, glad that you like it.
- A lot.
At least from what I could see.
Yeah. It's a really big apartment.
There's lots of areas to discover.
And I can't wait to discover everything.
- Will the apartment be just for you then?
- Yep.
It's a really big house
for just one person, wouldn't you say?
[footsteps approaching]
[woman 2] We have to go now.
- [man] Yes. Because I have a meeting.
- Excuse me.
- Thank you.
- [Verna] Sure.
Perfect.
I hope, uh, the visit and the house
met all of your expectations.
[woman] Well, it's not really
all it says on the internet.
- So thanks a lot.
- [Verna] Goodbye.
[door closes]
[footsteps approaching]
["Trampoline" by SHAED playing]
I've been having ♪
Trip and I fall in ♪
Nothing to say?
How am I so deep in love? ♪
When I dream of dying ♪
I never feel so loved ♪
Wait, if I'm on fire ♪
[Verna exhales]
How am I so deep in love? ♪
When I dream of dying ♪
[breathing heavily]
[moaning]
I never feel so loved ♪
[both breathing heavily]
[music intensifies]
[music softens]
[Carlo] And you?
What are you feeling?
I'm not feeling safe.
She's not feeling safe.
Lara says she's not feeling safe.
But why?
- No. Close your eyes!
- Oh. Sorry. [chuckles]
Uh, maybe
she's scared of getting discovered.
Uh, maybe the man and the woman
are arguing
about something really intimate.
Maybe. Maybe that could be true,
but let's try to give it more value,
more importance to the words,
to the details.
Lara was specific.
She said she wasn't feeling safe.
But why? Why, huh?
Sofia, tell me.
Not feeling safe is something
often connected to one's childhood,
when you're supposed
to be protected by adults.
So, uh,
she's a child, I assume.
And the people fighting are her parents.
And she doesn't like it.
She doesn't like it because
they symbolize safety for her.
Okay.
[inhales]
Everybody, open your eyes.
How do you feel?
[boy] The darkness we had to fill
made me feel free.
You could sit down. Yes, but go ahead.
There's more than that.
- There's no fear of judgment.
- [Carlo] Right.
The fear of being judged.
Which is which is the fear
that doesn't allow us to live intensely,
and therefore,
doesn't allow us to write freely.
That's the question
we have to ask ourselves.
To whom do we owe our own fidelity?
Is it to others?
Or to ourselves?
[dramatic music playing]
Hi.
Hi.
[door closes]
I'm waiting for Daniele.
Daniele's not here.
But why?
Tendinitis. I'm filling in for him.
Andrea.
Margherita.
Lie down.
When did the strain start?
Um,
five years ago,
uh, after a bad fall. Then
Well, let's just say
that the pain went away
and then I started running again, and
and then it just reappeared
and it won't leave me alone.
From now on, two sessions a week.
Uh, I mean,
it's kinda tough for me to find time to
You need to take care of yourself.
All right.
Hmm.
So what do you think? Is it good or bad?
Neither.
So, what then?
The pain's here,
but the problem could be elsewhere.
In the next exercise,
each of you will write a story,
an autobiographical one.
You'll have to reach deep,
connect with your inner self.
Tell me about a particularly important day
in your lives.
One of those days that left a mark on you,
left a a scar on you. Right?
Those are usually the days
that make us understand who we really are
and what is the sound of our inner voice.
[indistinct chatter]
Did you read my story?
Yep. All in one go.
And?
And nothing.
You're talented. You're very talented,
but but it's an imaginary world
too far away from yourself.
Why don't you write something more simple?
Something more real?
You have a beautiful voice, it's just that
you have to learn how to use it.
That's all.
Now concentrate on the autobiography.
Hmm.
You'll see. It'll help you understand
what you really wanna say.
Sorry.
For what?
- [Carlo] Have you read this?
- [Sofia] No.
[Carlo scoffs]
Take it.
There's a lot of real life in this book.
It'll help you.
- Thanks.
- [Carlo] Sure.
- [Sofia] Ciao.
- Ciao.
[alternative music playing]
[keys jangling]
[shower running]
I'm home!
[Margherita] Sweetie, is that you?
Uh, depends who's asking.
[Margherita chuckles]
I didn't hear you come in.
Can you bring me a towel?
Oh shit.
- Carlo!
- Yeah, yeah. I know. I know.
- [Margherita] It's broken.
- [Carlo] Everything's broken.
But if you were a bit gentler
with things, you'd see that
[grunts]
the door opens, and you can get out.
- You have magic hands.
- Yeah. I do.
[piano music playing]
So how'd it go at physical therapy?
Did he manage to fix you?
[scoffs]
There was a new guy today, you know?
Daniele has tendinitis. Ironic. Right?
And how is he? How's the new guy?
Well, he's hot!
- Oh, he's hot?
- Hmm.
Hotter than your client from this morning?
[both chuckle]
Actually, I would need just a few more
details before I made my offer.
- Oh, really?
- Mm-hmm.
So you want another appointment?
Maybe.
[both chuckle]
Who knows how much
a house like that costs.
Hmm. A lot.
How much is it?
Uh, way too much for us.
- Really?
- Hmm.
Yep.
But do you really like it that much?
Sweetie, I see ten houses a day.
This one is
It's special. It's got character.
[inhales, sighs]
What did you do today?
[inhales sharply] I graded
lots of tests and assignments.
- Did you get to do any writing?
- No.
Well, I'm waiting for your second novel.
I can't wait to read it.
- Did you order the pizza?
- Yep. It'll be here in ten minutes.
- Get in the shower.
- Okay.
[contemplative music playing]
[exhales]
[exhales]
[sighs heavily]
ONE MAN, ONE WOMAN
BY CARLO PENTECOSTE
IN THAT MOMENT, HE REALIZED THA
[sighs]
- Who is it?
- Me.
- [woman] "Me," who?
- Your daughter.
Oh.
[door buzzes]
- Come on.
- [Margherita] Hey!
- You there?
- [woman] I'm here.
- How's it going?
- [Margherita] Great. You?
[scoffs] I dreamed about Pannella.
Oh. So?
Every time I dream about him,
something bad happens.
- Are you and Carlo okay?
- Yeah, yeah. Nothing bad's happened to us.
Okay. That's better.
So, why don't you tell me.
This one or this one?
Mom, come on. We're late.
You know how nervous Carlo gets
when we visit his parents. We need to go.
- Come on! Tell me. This, or this?
- I don't know. Gray. It's more elegant.
Gray, more elegant? [scoffs]
Okay. Let's go. Come on!
- Oh. The gift, the gift, the gift!
- Oh. The gift.
The gift.
[parking brake activates]
- Hi, Mom.
- Hello.
[Carlo] Happy birthday.
[chuckles] Thank you.
Happy birthday, Loretta. You look great.
Aww. Thanks, honey.
You are as beautiful as ever.
- Happy birthday.
- [Loretta] Anna.
Thank you.
- [Anna] This is for you.
- Oh. Thanks.
[chuckles lightly]
Is it a scarf?
[Anna] Yes. Do you like it?
Uh, yes. It's very interesting.
So you knit now?
Yes, maybe.
It's a little eccentric for you,
but, well, come on, it's fun
to be a little crazy sometimes. Right?
You're 60 after all.
Uh-huh. Yeah. Sure.
Great. Let's go inside.
Your father's
already waiting at the table.
[dramatic music playing]
[silverware clattering]
[Loretta] So, Margherita,
how's the physiotherapy?
- It's not getting better, unfortunately.
- Hmm.
Once it's fall, uh,
it just gets really humid,
so the pain comes back.
Wait. It was Carlo's fault wasn't it?
[Carlo] My fault?
My fault it gets humid?
[chuckles]
Actually, I got hurt
when I followed him a few years ago.
But what's a little pain in comparison
to a lifetime of happiness, you know?
- You married him, after all.
- [scoffs]
Even though artists are a risky deal.
[cell phone chimes]
SOFIA
TOMORROW?
Who is it?
Nothing. Just work.
CARLO
SURE
[father] Your writing course?
Yeah.
SOFIA
USUAL PLACE?
[Loretta] And the sales.
How are the sales going?
CARLO
ALL RIGH
Well, the market's in crisis,
but we're pulling through.
I recently took on a beautiful house.
Hmm. Where?
In Concordia.
Oh. It's a great deal too.
Well, it could be an opportunity for you.
It's not that low.
It's still too much for us. [chuckles]
[father] We can help you,
like we did with your sister.
It's time to grow up.
You can't live
in a one-bedroom apartment all your life.
What matters
is that you're happy there. Right?
Margherita, are you happy there?
It's not the right time
to think about moving.
Uh, Carlo's working on a new novel.
The last one was four years ago.
[Carlo inhales] Why not talk
about something important?
Like, how many lives
have you saved this week, Pop?
[chuckles]
[Margherita] Anyway, I read
what he's written so far, and
and it's amazing.
It's the best thing Carlo's ever written.
What do you say we order something
and then maybe watch a movie?
Yeah. Sounds good. But I'll cook.
- Thanks.
- What for?
For saying those things about my novel.
I know you'll never let me read it
until you're finished,
but I'm sure it's beautiful.
You just need the right push
so you finish it.
Listen. Do you have class tomorrow?
'Cause I have some time
between appointments
Listen. About that couple
at the Concordia house.
- Have they made an offer yet?
- No.
You think they will?
I don't know.
You saw how they were all Mmm.
[both chuckle]
What if we made an offer?
[romantic music playing]
No. I don't want you to say yes
to your dad just to make me happy.
We've always managed on our own.
Who said I was gonna ask my dad for money?
Well, how would you do it though?
With the book.
[scoffs] You need
to finish writing it first.
It's like you said.
I just need a push,
and maybe the push is this house.
[exhales]
Yeah. I know it's a gamble
and I'm probably gonna
fuck it all up, but
Just imagine us living there.
All that light.
You could decorate it how you want.
No more broken showers.
Even if that couple doesn't make an offer,
there will be others.
- A studio! A studio just for me.
- There will be others.
A room for our kids to grow up in,
when we do decide to have kids.
[both chuckle]
[Carlo giggles]
You need to find out
what's blocking you, Sofia.
Maybe you just need
to find the right story to tell?
[indistinct chatter]
I don't know.
Maybe you haven't figured out
the day that turned your life around yet.
[girl] Oh no!
So tell me, what was yours?
It was a day
in late September, five years ago.
I was on my bike.
Didn't have a permanent job yet.
I was still working on my first novel,
and I was feeling stuck.
And I had just recently met the woman
who would become my future wife.
But I hadn't yet gotten married.
Everything was still possible.
- That's very nice.
- Hmm.
Is yours nice too?
[contemplative music playing]
Look. If talking about this
makes you uncomfortable,
I could just assign you a different task.
But you don't want that.
You know what story you wanna tell.
You're just trying to find the courage
to tell it. Isn't that right?
All right, then. I'll try.
Awesome.
But on one condition.
If you get to read mine, I can read yours.
No, no, no.
No. I never let people
read my work. No one.
Make an exception for me.
Hmm. Mm-mm.
I have to write
about something very personal.
I just wanna know
if I'm able to trust you.
Okay.
I'll think about it.
You start though.
Mm-hmm.
[sniffles]
I I've changed my mind.
I'm going home and
and I'll look at it again later tonight.
So, I guess we're done. Right?
I suppose we are. You're dismissed.
Ciao.
Ciao.
[exhales]
Hey. Where are you headed?
I could drive you.
Sure.
Thanks.
Right over there.
[Margherita] Yeah.
It's a bit crazy, but we wanna try it.
The house is so special, Mom.
Really. You have to see it to believe it.
Okay. Sounds good.
Okay. I have to hang up.
Ciao.
- Hi, Eva!
- [Eva] Hey, Marghe.
Listen. How did the visit go on Friday
at the house in Concordia?
There was another
prospective buyer, right?
A certain Carlo something, huh?
Carlo Pentecoste, I believe.
Thanks for giving him the address.
I think he's really considering
the apartment too.
[door opens]
- Good morning.
- [Eva] Morning!
[man] Hello.
[door closes]
Please, have a seat.
- [woman] Thanks.
- [man] Thanks.
So, I suppose
you wanna consider other offers.
It seemed
that the last option didn't convince you.
[man] Not at all.
We want it.
[dramatic music playing]
Oh. Great.
Yeah. We're already thinking
about what work needs to be done.
We wanna knock down some, um some walls.
The blueprint allows for it. Doesn't it?
Sorry, but why?
To have a bigger living room.
Of course. It's just that the living room
is already 60 square meters.
And these things
require special permission, and, uh
Yeah. My cousin is a local surveyor.
We'll get the permits.
Can we please just move on to the deal?
- Of course.
- [man] Thanks.
Oh. And, by the way,
we're offering 20% below the asking price.
Well, that sounds
a bit too low, I'm afraid.
Just between us, uh,
we're gonna buy it anyway,
even if the owner
refuses a price adjustment.
Luckily, we're not short
on cash. [chuckles]
Great.
[dramatic music playing]
Thanks so much for the ride.
It was nothing.
See you.
Yeah. I'll see you at school.
I enjoyed talking to you today.
That's good.
- [Sofia] Ciao.
- Ciao.
[door closes]
[car engine starting]
Well, they're my latest purchase.
I love them! They're awesome.
[woman] They're they're gorgeous!
Look at that, huh? [chuckles]
- Sisters?
- [woman chuckles]
Ah. Here he is.
[indistinct chatter]
- [man] Hey, man.
- [man 2] Oh.
Oh. Sorry. I'm so sorry I'm late.
- You're right. You're right.
- Darling.
I was just texting you. What happened?
Nothing. I I had a private lesson
that went on
a little bit longer than I planned.
I'm exhausted.
- You don't look exhausted.
- You and your lessons.
Instead of getting other people to write,
you should be writing yourself. I mean
Okay. Whose brilliant idea was it
to invite my editor?
- [girls in unison] Yours.
- Mine?
Shall we order, guys?
Let's have, um, the usual?
Well, Margherita, if you say it like that
I said it because I like it so much!
- [man] I know!
- [woman] The wine is good. Okay?
[man] I've been dreaming
about it for years.
I even put up the postcard in the kitchen.
Good?
Malé Atoll, and, uh, now it'll come true.
- Hopefully.
- Hopefully.
- Awesome.
- Great! When are you going?
In two weeks, if he gets some time off.
- Yep. Yeah.
- The Maldives?
Mm-hmm. There are sharks,
thunderstorms, it's a terrible experience.
- No! Come on.
- What do you know?
When have you been to the Maldives?
Oh. Which lover did you take?
They're companions, not lovers.
Don't diminish them.
Actually, I don't I don't remember.
When was I there?
Wait. Why are you looking at her?
- Oh my God. That's so
- [man 2] I remember seeing you.
No, no, no! I I never went
to the Maldives with you.
- No.
- [man 2] What a shame.
In other news, we're moving.
So you guys found a house?
- Well
- Well well
It depends. It depends on the contract
that I close with my editor.
So what you're saying is,
there's a book finally?
You should start writing the check.
Should I expect
to be reading something finished soon?
You need to get in line.
I'm sorry, but he got stuck
halfway through the first novel.
Then we met,
and he finished it in two weeks.
So, I most definitely earned
the role of being his first reader.
- Have I not?
- [man 2 in Italian] Ubi maior.
Well, my role
is to put the pressure on. [chuckles]
Boy. Listen. I have no doubt you will.
[woman] Yeah, yeah.
- Let's make a toast.
- [man] Okay.
To new beaches, new houses,
and new books. Yeah? Yeah, yeah.
- Yeah, yeah.
- [man 2] Yeah.
And also to our beauty.
- [chuckles]
- [Carlo] Cheers, guys.
- [woman] Cheers.
- [man] Cheers!
Listen, Concordia
- I think we're gonna lose it.
- Why?
The couple came to the agency.
They wanna make an offer.
No!
- Oh. Man, that sucks.
- Hmm.
I know.
[sighs] You know what that means,
don't you?
That we'll be renting for life.
Forever.
[bell chiming]
Just kidding! [chuckles]
It was a joke.
Oh. Come on!
We'll find another house.
It won't take long with your job.
So that's it?
What do you mean "that's it"?
I don't know.
Seems like it didn't bother you.
No! I mean, what's the matter?
I'm sorry. I really am. It sucks.
But if they already made an offer,
what can we do?
I know, but I wanted it
to be our forever home.
The place where we'd
grow old together. You know?
Oh, baby.
We just have to be patient.
- Okay?
- Mm.
[dramatic music playing]
[keyboard clacking]
[chuckles lightly]
PRIN
ONE MAN, ONE WOMAN
A LOVE STORY THAT IS STUCK HALFWAY
YOU ARE
UCM - UNIVERSITY
FOR THE CREATIVE ARTS MILAN
[Carlo] Sofia?
Ciao.
[indistinct chatter]
[Carlo] I've never done this before.
- Thanks.
- See you in class.
Today, I wanna see you working.
I wanna see you writing.
If you haven't already,
I want you to start, here and now,
on your autobiographical stories.
I'll be at your complete disposal
if you need anything,
if you have any questions.
And please remember, no judgment!
Your stories are safe here.
This classroom is a safe space.
Good luck.
NO JUDGMEN
[exhales]
You don't talk much, huh?
I don't wanna disturb my patients.
I listen to their bodies.
[tense music playing]
What's mine saying?
That you got worse.
There's a knot here that won't come out.
[winces]
[breath shuddering]
Put your hands like this,
like you're hugging yourself.
Turn towards me.
The source of the pain
is here, on your back.
It's like you're carrying a weight.
A weight?
Relax your muscles. They're all tense.
[inhales]
[exhales]
I'm not very good at relaxing.
Try.
Trust me.
["Wait" by M83 playing]
[breathing deeply]
- [bones crack]
- [gasps]
[chuckles]
Wow.
[Andrea] Stay there and relax for a bit.
Send your ♪
Don't worry if you get a little dizzy.
I'm not dizzy.
Dreams where nobody hides ♪
Actually
[exhales]
Give ♪
Your ♪
FOR SALE
Tears to the tide ♪
[gasps]
No time ♪
No time ♪
There's no ♪
[breath shuddering]
End, there is no goodbye ♪
[crying]
Disappear ♪
With the night ♪
No time ♪
Uh, hello. Good evening.
This is Margherita Verna
about the apartment in Corso Concordia.
I'm calling
because the owner has responded.
She decided she's no longer selling.
No time ♪
Yes. Look. If you'd like, we can meet at
the agency to see what else is available.
[breathing heavily]
No time ♪
Hey.
[sobbing]
No time ♪
[chuckles]
[gasps, breathing heavily]
No time ♪
Sofia? So
Hey, hey. Is everything okay? Huh?
Help me. Please.
- It'll pass. Okay?
- I can't breathe.
Hey, hey. It's okay.
[sobbing]
Breathe with me.
[inhales, exhales]
That's it.
- [inhales, exhales]
- That's it. Yeah.
- That's it.
- [sniffles]
[Carlo] There we go.
Better now?
[music crescendos]
- Okay. Bye.
- Ciao.
"ALL LITERATURE IS AN ASSAUL
ON THE FRONTIER." FRANZ KAFKA
[song fades]
[dramatic music playing]
LOOSELY BASED ON "FIDELITY"
BY MARCO MISSIROLI
[music fades]