VIMINI (pg.2)
Do you think so?
It appears to be his heart.
VIMINI removes a Polaroid SX-70 Land camera.
She unfolds it and aims it brazenly at OLIVER.
She takes a photo.
OLIVER
(blinking from the flash)
How old are you?
VIMINI
I'm ten.
OLIVER is amazed and intrigued by this intelligent child.
VIMINI (CONT'D)
So, you are Elio's boyfriend?
OLIVER
What?
No! We are...
VIMINI holds up her hand stopping OLIVER mid-sentence.
VIMINI
Please, don't deny it.
I've heard you mentioned...often.
OLIVER
Have you? (beat)
You're a very interesting little girl, you know that?
VIMINI
Thank you.
I think you are quite nice too.
We should be great friends, Mister Oliver.
OLIVER
Yes, you're right.
I believe we should, Miss Vimini.
VIMINI
Life is short and I've no one to tell my secrets to.
OLIVER
You must have friends your own age?
VIMINI
God no. Ten year olds?
They are silly little creatures, the lot of them.
Come, let's walk to the cafeteria.
I need some hot chocolate,
and we can bring coffee back for the others.
OLIVER hesitates. He looks over toward ELIO trying to capture his attention.
OLIVER
...But, shouldn't we stay here?
Your mother will worry...
VIMINI
My mother has her hands full with Zia Annella.
And she knows I can take care of myself.
VIMINI begins walking down the corridor toward a bank of elevators. She presses the UP button.
But OLIVER hasn't budged. VIMINI looks exasperated.
VIMINI (CONT'D)
Andiamo, Americano!
OLIVER smiles and hurries toward her.
OLIVER
What if something happens while we are gone?
VIMINI
If it's bad news they will all be crying when we get back.
OLIVER
What if it's good news?
VIMINI
Oh, then they will all be crying when we get back.
This is Italy.
INT. NURSES STATION - CONCORDIA HOSPITAL, ROME - LATER
DR. BRUNO, a thin, bald man in a white coat is speaking to ANNELLA and ELIO while the others eavesdrop. He holds a clipboard and wears glasses.
ELIO
Where is he now?
DR. BRUNO
He is resting in ICU.
As I said, we have given him some medication and
if he continues to improve we would like to do the procedure tonight.
ANNELLA
Explain it to me again, please.
You are going to graft a new artery into his heart?
DR. BRUNO
Yes, exactly, an artery from his leg.
There is a lack of blood reaching the Professor's left main coronary artery.
He suffered severe angina at the concert.
ELIO
But not a heart attack?
DR. BRUNO
No, but he is in great danger.
The chest pain, the shortness of breath...
all symptoms of the disease.
The surgery should be done tonight.
ANNELLA
Is he awake?
DR. BRUNO
Yes. He has already agreed to the procedure.
And he wishes to see you both before we begin.
They nod solemnly and follow the doctor down the hallway.
INT. ICU - CONCORDIA HOSPITAL, ROME - NIGHT
The Professor wears a green hospital gown and rests in bed.
He has an oxygen mask on his face and an IV in his arm, along with multiple other wires and straps leading to various machines. A heart monitor beeps loudly next to him.
He smiles when he sees his family enter the room.
DR. BRUNO (CONT'D)
Two minutes only, Professoré.
We must prepare you for your bypass.
The Professor reaches to remove his mask. ANNELLA grasps him, kisses him. ELIO holds his hand.
ANNELLA
Mon amour, you gave us quite a fright.
PERLMAN
(to Elio)
I'm sorry I ruined your concert.
ELIO
Papa, you didn't.
PERLMAN
(To Annella)
You have been the love of my life.
Perhaps my heart could not hold so much love.
ANNELLA
Caro, you are speaking nonsense.
It must be the drugs they are giving you.
They smile.
ANNELLA (CONT'D)
You will have this little surgery and then you will come
home with us for New Year's.
Do you understand me?
PERLMAN
Of course.
Was that Oliver before?
ELIO
Yes Papa, he caught you when you fell.
PERLMAN
He has a beard now? (beat)
It ages him.
We must speak about my new book.
The NURSE enters and tries to make them leave.
ANNELLA
Yes, mon amour.
There will be plenty of time to talk about your book with Oliver.
Now you must rest.
I love you.
They embrace again.
Tears now stream down ANNELLA's face as she runs from the room sobbing.
PERLMAN pulls ELIO close.
PERLMAN
You must tell them all not to worry.
ELIO
And what should I tell myself?
He winks at ELIO.
PERLMAN
Of all the many things I've done in my life...
I am the proudest of you.
My son, I love you.
ELIO is now crying too. He hugs his father and slowly leaves the room.
INT. WAITING ROOM - CONCORDIA HOSPITAL, ROME - LATER
Hours have passed and it is now deep in the night.
OLIVER sits in the middle of a small couch. ELIO'S head is in his lap and he is fast asleep.
VIMINI rests her head against his shoulder and she is also asleep.
The two sisters whisper quietly to each other in FRENCH. MAFALDA holds a rosary and is praying.
Suddenly the door opens and JULIEN, still in full tuxedo and topcoat strides into the room.
He observes the group one by one and then looks sternly at OLIVER.
JULIEN
Ah, the usurper.
OLIVER rouses ELIO from his slumber.
OLIVER
You have a visitor.
ELIO is groggy and emotionally exhausted as he gets up to greet JULIEN.
They walk together into the hallway.
JULIEN
How is your father?
ELIO
He's having open heart surgery at the moment.
JULIEN
Yes I know.
The cardiac department here is excellent.
He's in good hands.
ELIO begins to tear up again. They hug.
JULIEN (CONT'D)
My boy, I'm afraid you've terribly wrinkled your tuxedo.
ELIO
I can't believe I fell asleep. (beat)
I know what you're thinking...
but I have to be with my family now.
JULIEN nods.
JULIEN
I had a conversation with several members of the Board tonight.
We agreed to giving you a week off while we are here in Italy.
But we have Vienna and then Prague next...
do you think you will be able to join us?
ELIO
I have no idea, Jules.
This is my father for fuck's sake!
JULIEN
I understand, truly I do.
But if you linger the Philharmonic may consider it a breach of contract...
ELIO
(raising his hands)
J'en ai jusque-la! (I've had it up to here)
Breach of...??!!
Honestly, Maestro, I don't give a shit!
JULIEN
(looking toward Oliver)
Do you love him?
ELIO
What? Who?
What are you talking about?
JULIEN
(resigned)
Ah, so you do.
JULIEN looks one final time at ELIO and leaves.
ELIO, still fuming, returns to the couch with OLIVER.
OLIVER
Are you okay?
ELIO looks to the doorway.
ELIO
He is such an asshole.
OLIVER
How long have you been sleeping with him?
ELIO
Who says that I am?
OLIVER
I've seen that look before.
I'm not judging, but for the record,
he does seem like an arrogant prick.
ELIO
Why Oliver, I do believe you're jealous.
OLIVER
Ha! What a goose!
Did you love him?
ELIO
You're being silly.
OLIVER shrugs.
ELIO (CONT'D)
Why did you follow me to Rome?
OLIVER
I don't know.
I gave you a goodbye kiss in London, but I guess it didn't take.
I had to see you one more time.
VIMINI walks over to them. She is holding a large bag.
VIMINI
What are you two talking about?
ELIO
Matters of the heart.
VIMINI hands them each a wrapped sandwich from the bag.
VIMINI
Here, mangiare.
They take the food and begin eating. VIMINI takes a photo of them.
ELIO
Vimini here is a genius, Oliver.
Isn't it true you're a genius?
VIMINI
So they say. But it seems to me I may not be.
OLIVER
Why is that?
VIMINI
It would be in rather bad taste for nature to have made me a genius.
OLIVER
Come again?
What are you talking about?
VIMINI
(to Elio)
He doesn't know, does he?
ELIO shakes his head.
VIMINI (CONT'D)
They say I may not live long.
OLIVER
(stunned)
Why do you say that?
I can't believe it.
How do you know?
VIMINI
Everyone knows.
Because I have leukemia.
I spend half my life in places just like this.
She waves the Polaroid impatiently, waiting for the image to appear.
OLIVER
But you're so beautiful, so healthy-looking, and so smart!
VIMINI
As I said, a bad joke.
OLIVER gets down on his knees so he can look at VIMINI eye-to-eye.
He grasps her shoulders.
OLIVER
How can I help?
VIMINI
Just be my friend.
Read to me, listen to me.
And an occasional prayer on my behalf couldn't hurt.
INT. WAITING ROOM - CONCORDIA HOSPITAL, ROME - DAWN
DR. BRUNO enters the waiting room and walks directly to ANNELLA.
Everyone is suddenly awake. He takes her hand.
DR. BRUNO
Your husband is doing well, Signora.
The procedure was a complete success.
Suddenly it's pandemonium. Everyone is hugging and crying and talking all at once.
ANNELLA
Grazi!
Thank God!
When can we bring him home?
DR. BRUNO
A day or two here in hospital.
Then you can leave Rome...but by train or car only.
No planes for awhile.
ELIO
Can we see him, Doctor?
DR. BRUNO
We must all rest now.
All of you must sleep and come back later, Doctor's orders.
TILDA
What a relief!
Grazi mille, Dottore.
DR. BRUNO
Not at all. And no need to dress so formally when we meet again.
They laugh. ELIO pulls OLIVER to one side and whispers to him.
ELIO
Come with me to my hotel.
I don't want to be alone, and I don't want to lose sight of you.
OLIVER smiles and puts his arm around ELIO'S shoulder.
INT. PLATFORM - MILANO CENTRALE RAILWAY STATION - DAY
The entire group has traveled together by train from Rome to Milan.
Porters are collecting all their bags and placing them on trollies.
The group is going their separate ways.
OLIVER has a wheelchair and is helping PERLMAN into it.
ANNELLA puts TINO on PERLMAN's lap. VIMINI takes some pictures.
TILDA kisses her sister and brother-in-law.
TILDA
We will see you in a few days.
ANNELLA
You will come to the villa for New Year's, Oui?
ELIO is going to play for us.
TILDA
Of course. Vimini insists on it.
But we have a million things to do in Milan before then.
Who is driving you from here?
ANNELLA
Manfredi.
We've rented a limousine to take us the rest of the way home.
TILDA
Trés bon.
SONNY and CHER are hugging everyone and saying their goodbyes.
They all agree to meet for the concert.
VIMINI is hugging both ELIO and OLIVER.
OLIVER
We'll see you in a few days.
VIMINI
Do you promise?
OLIVER
Cross my heart.
PERLMAN
(to Vimini)
Give us a kiss.
VIMINI kisses her uncle.
VIMINI
Caio, Zio.
Take care of yourself.
PERLMAN
And you do the same, mio piccino.
OLIVER
Ready, Pro?
PERLMAN
Yes, yes.
ANNELLA waves brightly to a middle-aged man wearing a cap.
ANNELLA
Manfredi is there, avanti!
EXT. MAIN ENTRANCE - PERLMAN VILLA - DAY
It snows lightly as the car pulls into the driveway.
OLIVER is the first out of the car, he stretches loudly and looks up at the villa.
OLIVER
I've missed this place.
ELIO
So have I.
But beware, this house is cold and drafty in the winter.
MARZIA and a very pregnant CHIARA come running out to meet them.
ROBERTO, CHIARA'S husband follows carrying two small children.
They are overjoyed to see OLIVER again.
OLIVER touches her belly.
OLIVER
How did this happen?
CHIARA
The usual way. I'm a married woman now.
OLIVER looks at ROBERTO and points.
ROBERTO smiles proudly.
They all laugh.
ROBERTO
(kidding)
I hope you aren't still in love with my wife.
OLIVER
We only flirted...
and she wasn't your wife back then.
CHIARA
Oliver was already in love with someone else.
CHIARA and MARZIA exchange glances.
OLIVER
Well, I'm a married man now too.
ELIO kisses MARZIA on the mouth.
ELIO
Tu m'as manqué.
(I missed you)
How are you?
MARZIA
Je me sens bien, je crois.
(I feel okay, I guess)
Hurry, let's get your papa inside.
They work together to get PERLMAN safely into the villa.
MANFREDI begins to unload all the luggage.
TINO runs around barking.
INT. LIVING ROOM - PERLMAN VILLA - CHRISTMAS EVE - DAY
ANNELLA begins to cry as she sees the girls have prepared the villa for their arrival.
Fires rage in all the fireplaces.
The lamps are all lit and there are even Christmas lights twinkling.
The smell of food cooking wafts through the house.
OLIVER
I smell food!
ANNELLA
What have you girls done?
CHIARA
We cooked a Christmas Eve feast for our favorite Jewish family.
MARZIA and CHIARA begin gathering their things, preparing to leave.
ROBERTO helps with the children and several bags.
ELIO is already piling a plate with food.
ANNELLA
But where are you going?
You must all stay and eat with us.
MARZIA
Ah, we have our own family waiting.
CHIARA
Yes, grandparents to visit.
Santa Claus comes tonight!
Everyone hugs and kisses yet again.
OLIVER
I love Italy.
PERLMAN
I need a brandy and a cigar.
ANNELLA
Caro, you are going to bed.
PERLMAN
You've gone mad, woman.
I need to go to my study.
ANNELLA
We've had a long day.
You will rest now.
OLIVER
(chuckling)
I wouldn't fight her, Pro.
INT. MASTER BEDROOM - PERLMAN VILLA - CHRISTMAS EVE - DAY
OLIVER wheels PERLMAN inside the large room.
TINO jumps up on the bed.
PERLMAN
(grumbling)
All right, I'll sit in bed, but I want all the paperwork
on my desk to be brought to me.
And Oliver, I want to discuss my book with you.
I have an idea.
ANNELLA (O.S.)
After your nap, mon amour!
PERLMAN shakes his head.
PERLMAN
She is back in her element now.
OLIVER
We can talk tonight,
Professor. I'd like a bit of advice as well.
INT. PERLMAN VILLA FOYER - DAY
OLIVER grabs his luggage and he and ELIO go upstairs to his room.
MANFREDI and MAFALDA continue to bring in luggage.
