I'm with you, Valerio.
MY FAMILY
Of course he's not answering.
-Grandma, we're hungry! -All right, boys!
Val, it's Mom. Why the hell aren't you picking up your phone?
I finally kicked your dad out.
As usual, he was an ass. I'll explain later.
-Demetrio, Maria. -You gotta come with me.
Where?
Lucia, I'll stay with the kids.
-You gotta go. -What's going on?
-I'll tell you on the way. Come. -Maria?
-Maria, what happened? -Let's go.
What happened?
Hey, I'd like to go over your homework. Shall we go to your room?
Okay? Ercole, did you do your homework?
I can't lose both. No way.
Let's stay calm, Lucia.
Hopefully it's nothing serious.
Is he alive?
He's alive, yes.
They took him to the operating room. That's all I know, Lucia. Come on.
Something bad happened, right?
Huh?
No, no. Everything's okay.
Come on. When Dad died, you kept me and Ercole at home
and didn't tell us anything.
That wasn't right.
If something bad is happening to Uncle Valerio,
we want to be with him.
-Guys, he's not-- -No, don't give us that.
Where's Uncle Valerio?
He's in the hospital. He had an accident. That's all I know.
Then take us to the hospital.
No. I've been told to stay here with you.
-I'm not gonna take you to the hospital. -Yes. Do it.
To us, you're like Uncle Valerio.
Like Maria. Or Grandma.
We listen to you like we listen to them.
Thanks.
Um… Valeria, uh, she's dating…
Yeah, yeah. I know who she is.
Did you see the accident?
Yeah.
He… was following me, trying to talk to me.
And… I feel like it was my fault because I didn't want to talk to him.
I don't know how to apologize.
No need. You don't have to apologize for anything. It was an accident.
-It's not like-- -Hey, listen to me.
Today there'll be no tears.
There's no point in crying.
If you want to stay here with us, you can't cry, okay? I won't allow it.
-Good evening. -Oh, good evening.
Sergio.
Hi.
Promise me you'll tell me everything? Whatever it is, I want the truth.
He's got two broken ribs. Nothing serious.
The concerning part is the hematoma.
-And… that's all? -Mm.
That's all. Trauma to the head and a hematoma that's rather large.
So?
They're operating on him.
All we can do now is wait.
Sergio, can you stay here with us? Hm?
Not even a bomb threat could get me out of here, Lucia.
Oh.
Please, I don't want to hear it.
I decided to bring them here, and I take full responsibility.
End of story.
-Hey. -Go on, boys. Sit over there.
See you.
You did the right thing.
Chocolate?
Milk or dark?
Dark, always.
We're incompatible, you and I.
I don't know how you do the job you do.
Every day you have to deal with sick people.
I do it to see sick people get better.
So, since you're an expert, what…
What should you do in situations like this? I mean, what can you do?
Look, I don't know what you should do.
But I know what you shouldn't do.
There's really no point in acting… strong, in control, or even rational…
The ones who try to control things always crumble.
They literally collapse in your arms. I've seen it.
Then I think we need to keep an eye on Lucia.
I haven't taken my eyes off her since she got here.
So what do you do if someone collapses?
-You make them sniff salts? -"Sniff salts"?
Gaetano, they used those in the 19th century.
-So what can you do? -You catch 'em.
So they don't fall and hurt themselves.
You got a guy here who's a pro at catching people.
You love each other. I can tell.
I guess I wouldn't call us a family. We're more like a motley crew of love.
We all just cling to one another.
Well, then… everyone should have a motley crew of love.
You're lucky to have that.
I don't know about luck.
It's a lot of work.
You have to tolerate each other's flaws.
You have to forgive each other's mistakes, and you have to work your ass off.
And is it worth it?
Without them, I might not have kept the baby.
You have a kid?
In here.
And I'm less scared to become a mother…
knowing I have that motley crew.
So when the child arrives, there'll be a cradle of love waiting for him.
Maria.
Lucia, Lucia, the doctor's here.
Wake up.
Wake up. Wake up. Wake up. Come on, wake up. The doctor's here.
-Gaetano. -Huh? Hey.
Oh, hey.
So, I've got an update.
-We managed to remove the hematoma. -Ah.
But Valerio went into a coma.
-No, I'm fine, I'm fine. -Let me hold you. Oh, she's fine.
She's fine.
-Oh my God. -Hold him. Don't let him fall.
Take it easy.
Sit down, Gaetano.
-Sit down. -Take it easy. Sir, breathe.
-Are you all right? -Stop, I'm fine. Stop it, I'm fine.
I'm fine, all right?
I can't give you a prognosis at this stage, unfortunately.
Go home, get some rest, and we'll keep you informed.
No, not a chance. No way.
-Excuse me? -I'm not going anywhere.
Me neither.
You'll have to deal with it, Doctor.
There's no way I'm going without my son.
I'm sorry. You can't all stay here, obviously.
Why not? I'm staying here.
Uh… Excuse me. Excuse me… Doctor, just a minute.
I know these people. They're not leaving. It's no use insisting.
If you could turn a blind eye,
just this one time, I'll take care of them.
Don't worry.
Does this seem like normal behavior?
-Normal? -Yeah.
These people strike you as normal?
You're handsome even in a coma.
I don't deserve to lose you too.
I don't.
It wouldn't be fair, Val.
I'll give you all the time you need, but you have to wake up.
Because I can bounce back once, but not twice.
I'll totally fall apart.
There'll be nothing left.
No crying. Sorry. Sorry.
It's like you always say, right?
"Crying is easy."
Nobody's there
It's not that we're scared
It's just that it's delicate
So why do you fill my sorrows
With the words you've borrowed
From the only place
You've known?
And why do you sing
Hallelujah
If it means
Nothin' to ya…
Val, I want to read you all the books I read to Fausto when he was young.
And you'll see… you're gonna wake up.
Brace yourself because now… they're gonna drive you nuts.
It's gonna be days of torture.
Your ears will start to bleed from all the things that they'll tell you.
But they say it helps to talk to someone who is in a coma.
-You know I'm a teacher. -Who knows?
So of course I've been reading up on comas.
No one really knows what you hear… or what you see in that state,
but there are some who say that when they went into a coma,
they saw dead people, and even people who weren't born yet.
-Such bullshit. -Val.
Valerio. I need to tell you something.
I might…
become a dad.
Yeah, I know.
"Buck did not read the newspapers,
or he would have known that trouble was brewing,
not alone for himself but for every tide-water dog…
From the only place you've known…
I prayed so much.
I went down to the hospital chapel.
You know what I did?
I took a vow.
If you wake up, not only will you never see me again,
but I'm gonna give up dancing forever.
No more dancing. That's it.
At all
So why do you fill
My sorrow
With the words…
I picture this kid, blond,
with clear blue eyes, and… the face of a cocky little asshole.
Same as yours.
I'm not saying you're an asshole, just to be clear.
Anyway, I've decided.
I'll name him "Fausto."
You feel it?
"…from Puget Sound to San Diego."
"Because men, groping in the Arctic darkness,
had found a yellow metal, and…"
Come back, Valerio.
Come back.
You've all become famous in the hospital.
We're not bothering anyone.
-You haven't left for seven days. -Right.
Nobody's seen anything like it.
You've been so good to us.
Everyone thinks so.
-I didn't do anything, Lucia. -That's just who you are.
It doesn't look like it, but… you do extraordinary things.
I mean, I brought you food a few times, but it's not like I was…
No, Sergio.
You've shown… kindness.
And that's not something my family is really capable of.
So, I got the results.
What results?
The DNA test.
Ah.
I still haven't read the email.
What's stopping you?
I was waiting for you.
Okay.
-Do you want to read it? -No, no.
If you're not the father, what… what happens?
-Well, Maria, I don't know. -I hope it's you.
Everything would be simpler.
Read it.
And so?
It's not you.
Yeah, I knew it. Like… I figured it out from the start.
It would have been too weird if it were me.
-Are you disappointed? -No. Why would I?
When we were together,
it's not like we were trying to get pregnant or something.
Besides, Maria…
-Maria. -Mm?
It's all right, really.
I was kind of hoping this is how it would turn out.
Then it's better this way.
I'll join the others.
Uncle, everybody's whispering around you.
Ercole and I thought you could use something a little stronger.
-On three. -Mm-hmm.
-One. -Two.
Three.
-Asshole! Motherfucker! -Asshole?
-Idiot! Shitface! Asswipe! -Piece of shit! Dirtbag! Moron!
-Asshole! -Meathead, go fuck yourself!
-Stupid asshole! Cocksucker! -Piece of shit! Butt wipe!
-Big asshole! -Human garbage! Spooge stain!
-Kiss my ass, loser! -Son of a bitch! Asswipe!
Oh! Oh!
-Asshole! -Hey! What the hell is going on?
-Don't worry, we're done. -Yeah?
-He's gonna wake up soon. -Think he's gonna wake up if you shout?
Yeah.
All right.
-See you, Uncle. -Please wake up.
Okay, enough with this shit.
Did you hear the kids? They've had it.
They're just exhausted. They're famished. You need to wake up. Today.
Valerio?
Oh. That's enough.
This has gone on far too long. I'm fuckin' sick of it too.
Well, hello. How are you?
Fausto.
All this love I got…
it went straight to my head.
I was almost suffocating.
-See how much energy it gives you? -Yeah.
That's exactly what I need too, man.
Because every single thought is a burst of life.
Don't overdo it, though, because I want to rest too.
But you see how it works? You mustn't forget me, Val.
-I'm not gonna forget you. -Awesome.
Oh.
One last thing, Val. You're 30 years old.
Enough with all these responsibilities.
You have to be more rock and roll. Got it? Rock and roll.
-Rock and roll. -That's right. Life's like a moving sea.
If you swim, it's hard work, but if you surf it, then you enjoy it.
You get it?
Ciao, Fausto.
Thanks.
Ciao, Val.
Take me down with you
Send me back to us
I'm always trapped, I'm always sad
I'm always
I've been things still too
Even my eyes closed
I can't see you
He woke up.
All the words I say
It worked!
Till that day my way
For the love inside you rests
Blame that I'm still there
A FEW WEEKS LATER
Hello.
-What are you doing here? -I wanted to see you.
You're not answering your phone.
I even rang your upstairs neighbor.
"She's not here. She's got a new job. So go fuck yourself!"
"Get lost!"
What do you want?
To talk.
Can we please talk?
Okay, make it quick. They're gonna get pissed off.
Who?
Tell me.
I just thought it was… a little weird.
After everything that happened, we haven't seen each other or talked.
Yeah, you're right. Um…
Hm. I figured I'd leave you alone with your family, that's all.
Yeah, they told me, you know… that you were with them the whole time.
So, I just… wanted to thank you.
Least I could do.
About the competition, I…
I know it's tonight, but I'm sorry, there's absolutely no way I can do it.
I have two cracked ribs. Just walking makes my head spin.
And I'm sorry because even though I know we would've sucked…
I don't like leaving things unfinished.
Hey, don't worry. It's not important. It's just a silly contest.
I don't dance anymore, so you can relax.
Why not?
Because… because I took a vow.
What kind of a vow?
Forget it. I don't dance anymore. That's it.
It's all good. I… I need to get back to work.
And….
I'm glad you're doing well.
Thank you.
Hello, sweeties.
-Hi, Mom. -Hello.
How are you?
Great. Where are you?
In Bristol, at a friend's house.
Is Uncle Val doing better?
Yeah, he's back to normal.
Yeah, I mean… as normal as he was.
I'm glad. I heard you were very brave.
I asked to speak to you because I wanted to tell you
that I'm better.
And I hope I can be reunited with you very soon.
-I'm sorry that-- -Mom, wait.
We're doing fine, here. And you don't have to worry about us.
This is our family, and we're happy with them.
Yes, we're really happy here.
We hurt your feelings. I'm sorry.
No, not at all.
I'm really happy for you.
But… you can come visit us one day if you feel like it.
I'm sure we can find a way for all of us to be together.
Can you please…
Can you please forgive me for everything I put you through?
All the mistakes I've made and…
…I've been terrible.
No, we can make all the mistakes we want here.
Because here everyone always makes mistakes.
I love you so, so much.
I'll see you soon, guys. I miss you.
-Bye. -Bye, Mom.
-Bye. -Bye.
I think I got everything.
Maria, who's this friend you're staying with?
She's a colleague from Fiumicino. I told you.
-Fiumicino, huh? That far? -Still better than Chiapas, though.
It's close to the substitute teaching job I got.
Only a ten-minute drive. It's… much easier.
Well… If you need… anything at all, though…
Maria, I'm here.
Like, if you have to go to the hospital, I can come with you.
-You really don't have to, Demetrio. -But I'd be happy to.
If you feel like it, I'll call you.
-I'll walk you out. -Mm-hmm.
Thanks.
Uh-uh! Ercole!
What's up?
We're binging on the chocolate mousse that your father made.
Oh.
The best mousse in the history of mankind.
-Oh, really, now? -Come on, Valerio.
You boys enjoy. You deserve it.
Because you handled the situation with your mom better than anyone else.
The new generation is kicking your ass, Valerio.
It just took a little courage.
But it was the right thing to do.
When you know you're the only one who can solve a problem,
then you have to solve it.
You gotta do what you gotta do.
Mm.
Ercole talks like Chief Sitting Bull now.
What was that last thing that you said?
You gotta do what you gotta do.
-Who is it? -Valerio.
Stop it, now.
Hey!
-Leave my doorbell alone! -I need to see you!
What do you want?
-We have to do it, Val. -Do what, Valerio?
Dance! We have to dance!
-The fuck are you talking about? No, Val. -Come out!
-Valeria! -Let's go!
-We're all here! -Valeria!
Who gives a fuck about your vow, Valeria?
Good evening, everyone, and welcome
to the 14th edition of our Caribbean Dance Stars Competition.
First, can we please give our contestants a round of applause?
Thank you very much. Okay. Let's heat things up!
Val. Please. You gotta stay calm.
It's just you and me.
…swept away by a tidal wave of paso doble, the tango…
This is just like our garage. Don't panic.
So, without further ado…
-It's like our garage. -The lighting's different.
But it's basically the same.
Demetrio, do you really have to talk to me right here?
-Sorry. -Yes… uh…
There's something I need to tell you. It won't take long.
I've thought so much about this child since you told me you were pregnant…
that… it's like I've created a strong bond with him.
So to be honest, what I'd like is to be his father,
even if you and I are not a couple.
Ah.
You know how you don't always know what you're made for in life?
Well I know that I'm not made for manual labor,
or for traveling, or any of those things.
I'm a father. I mean, I'm a father on a really high level, Maria.
I might even be the dad of all dads!
That sounds great.
I want to be there every step for this little baby.
I want to… I want to know how much he weighs.
I want to hear his heartbeat, Maria. I want to be there from the start.
It's really a beautiful thing, what you're saying.
Do you mean that, or do you just think that I'm nuts?
Demetrio, what do I care if you sound nuts or not?
-Why are you laughing? -What is it?
A passing thought.
What passing thought?
What if you two were just one guy…
No, listen. 50% of one and 50% of the other.
Ah. Fifty-fifty.
Fifty-fifty. You'd make an extraordinary man.
Doesn't matter now. I've reached a new stage. I…
I don't want to bother with… with men, relationships, couples.
-I don't want any of that shit. -That is quite clear.
Wonderful! Wonderful!
So, ladies and gentlemen…
-Valeria, give me a hand. -What?
Uh, wait, I can do it.
…fifth couple, Ciaramitano and Munno.
Oh my God, it's starting.
-No, Sergio, wait. You gotta pay. -Hey, why me?
Valeria! Valeria! Valeria!
Valerio! Valeria!
You guys are beautiful!
Something flavored
Aventura
-Hello? -Shh.
-Amazing! -Awesome!
Well done!
Stop the music, please!
-Stop the music, please. -Valerio.
It's a shame, but I think the performance ends here, unfortunately.
-Are you hurt? -No.
-I said we're done. -No, let's keep going.
Guys, you're withdrawing, I assume?
-Yes. -No. Hold on.
-We have to continue-- -Give me a second.
He wants you, Gaetano. He's calling you.
Valerio, what are you trying to do?
-What's going on? What do you want? -You gotta help.
-Of course. Here, let me help you. -No, not like this.
-What? -You said you danced when you were young.
I mean… Back then, everybody danced. It's not like I was…
-Can you dance or not? -Sure. I can dance a little. Why?
-Then dance with her. -That's not how it works.
Please. This is important to me.
-It's important? -Yes.
What's going on? We have to keep going.
-Okay. -Help me understand.
-Hey, look. We can't do this. -We have to finish this thing, Valeria.
-Let us dance. Let us dance! -Sir, this is serious.
I have international judges, a contest--
International judges, I get it. But life happens too.
Life, right, my friend? Life. Life is full of people who… stumble,
get back on their feet, and start over, know what I mean?
Wait. People, do you get what's happening? So, do you agree with me?
Do you agree with me, yes or no?
-Great! That's right! Keep clapping. Yes! -Grandpa!
You're a great crowd. Thank you!
We'll do just a little switcheroo, and you'll see.
-My love, come here. -Come on, Gaetano!
Are you hurt?
Yes, Gaetano!
You got this!
All right, so… I have no idea what to do. No idea.
-You gotta do two things. -What are they?
-One, take off your glasses. -Ah, yes, sorry.
Yeah. And then?
Smile.
Five, six, seven, eight.
Nice, Gaetano! Very nice!
Well done.
Hey! Hey, come over!
Good job.
Hey. We did it.
-That was amazing. -Hey. Ten, right?
-Yeah, ten. -Thank you! Whoa!
Way to go, Gaetano!
Where is she? Where did Valeria go?
-Oh! -She left. She went that way.
-Hold on, Valerio. -Is she outside?
About that girl.
A girl like her only comes around once, just know that.
She'll be loads of trouble, but it'll be the most exciting ride.
I guarantee it. And after that, whatever happens… will be.
But if there's one more thing I can teach you, Valerio…
…don't be afraid of living.
Just like you're not afraid of dancing.
Okay?
-Thank you. -You got it.
Valeria!
Valerio, leave me alone.
I love you.
-What? -I love you.
I'm serious. I've never said it to anyone. Please listen to me.
I've felt it here… for a long time now.
Stop messing around. Okay?
-I'm not. Listen to me. -Please.
I love you.
Say it again.
I love you.
Promises… are only worth so much.
And everything happens a little by chance.
People tell lies, truths are revealed.
Are you nuts?
Unexpected things happen.
Oh, Jesus Christ. I'm out.
And bonds are formed.
Little Fausto can't sleep. Huh?
What matters is that everyone, in their own way, is happy.
Mommy! Mommy! Mommy.
What's all this noise?
They're making a huge mess in there.
Poor little Fausto.
And happiness never comes the way we expect it to.
You need sleep.
Should we go to them and tell them they're making too much damn noise?
Sometimes an earthquake turns your life upside down…
Exhausting.
Other times it's right under your nose
and you don't see it.
Ooh!
Who's that? Come here! You brat! Come here!
All those bits of happiness, one after another, make a family.
But "family" is an outdated word.
Like Maria says, this is a motley crew of love.
Ercole, sit down.
But then there are people who can only be part of that motley crew
for a short time.
Taking care of others is just too much of an effort.
Because their nature is to be alone.
-Right. Come on. -That's how they are.
But I love them anyway.
You're leaving?
Hey, Valerio.
You didn't even say bye to the boys.
I just couldn't do it. My heart couldn't take it.
Staying is too much for you, huh?
Huh? Ah.
You know me well.
-It's your nature. -Mm.
I guess I let you down again.
We know we can't ask you for anything more than this.
I did what was in my power… to try and fix a few things.
Oh, well.
I'm sorry.
Ciao, Dad. was in my power… to try and fix a few things.