Cinema Paradiso Page #4

6 GIANCALDO. MAIN SQUARE. EXT. DAY

The tolling of the bell-tower rings out over the

square. It is noon. The vast square, pale and dusty, is alive with people. A

noisy line of men, women and cows waits in front of the fountain to get water.

Peddlers hawk their wares in mournful cries. People come and go in front of the

town hall. The working men's club is deserted. The entrance of the Cinema

Paradiso is shut. Hanging outside is the poster of the film that has just been

seen on screen. Up above, the windows of the projection booth are open. The hum

of the projector can be heard and the loud, lofty music typical of 'THE END'.

Then dead silence. The showing is over.

7. CINEMA PARADISO. PROJECTION BOOTH. INT. DAY

Despite the speed, numerous white streaks spin around on the reel,

created by the slips of paper ALFREDO has inserted into the loops. He

is rewinding the film by hand on the film-winder. When he's not

talking, ALFREDO usually sings to himself. SALVATORE stands beside

him, taking in everything he does with those quick, thieving eyes of his

ALFREDO:

(Harshly, shouting)

You must not come here! How many

times do I have to tell you?

(And he slows down the

reels with his hand. The

slips of paper

are about to arrive.

Here's the first.)

If the film catches fire, runt that

you are, you'd go up in a

burst of flame...whoosh! And turn

into a piece of...

SALVATORE:

(Overlapping him)

...and turn into a piece of

charcoal!!

He's used to his terrorisms, pays no more attention. Not even his

grim look scares him. Anyway, ALFREDO catches the joke, starts to give him a

slap, but instead reaches over and picks up a pair of scissors.

ALFREDO:

(Angrily)

Christ, that's a sassy little tongue

you've got! Watch out, or someday

I'll snip it off.

And he snips a piece of film, pastes the ends together and goes on turning the

handle. SALVATORE picks up the strip of film and gives it a closer look. He sees

a series of frames all alike with a man kissing a woman.

SALVATORE:

Can I have it?

ALFREDO snatches it out of his hand, furiously, at the end of his string. He

shouts.

ALFREDO:

No!!! Are you deaf or something? I've

got to put this back in when we wind

up the film again! You're a real pain

in the neck!

SALVATORE reaches into a basket full of strips of film. He takes out a handful:

all kisses that have been cut.

SALVATORE:

Then why didn't you put these back

when you wound up the films again?

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