The Music of Silence

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[male narrator] Dear Veronica, this

is the story of a boy called Amos,

whom I've known intimately all my life.

Amos Bardi.

Why Amos? Because I like the name.

[someone knocking on the door]

[woman] Five minutes, Mr. Bocelli.

[Bocelli narrating] If at my birth

they'd have let me choose for myself,

I'd have chosen that one.

Why Bardi?

Because it's a good Tuscan name.

[applause]

[engine chugging]

TUSCANY SEPTEMBER 1958

You see! Runs like a Ferrari,

and with the new diesel engine,

it will cost half the price in fuel.

You will be begging me for one!

[farmer] Half the price to run

and it costs double to buy?

So?

Sandro, I can't afford this price.

[scoffs]

Signor Sandro!

They called! It's a boy! It's a boy!

A boy? A boy? [laughs]

- I've got to go, I got a son!

- Sandro! What about the tractor?

It's yours!

A boy!

- Thank you, God!

- A boy!

[sobbing] It's a boy.

[baby crying]

[woman] He's beautiful.

[man making baby noises]

Careful, with those big hands of yours.

[woman] Sandro...

{chucknngl

- Shh!

What are you going to call him?

-[baby crying]

-[woman] Amos, please don't cry.

Don't cry, don't cry, don't cry.

[crying continues]

This crying is not normal. I

want him to see a doctor.

Edi, babies cry, it's

their way of talking.

It's five months now.

Fine, if it's their way of

talking, he's telling us he's ill.

A mother knows these things.

I can't bear to hear

him crying like this.

Congenital, bilateral glaucoma.

There is a strong likelihood

that they have been damaged.

I fear it will need surgery.

- He'll need an eye operation?

- Yes.

But doctor, can he see

us? He seems to see me.

Mrs. Bardi, a baby sees father

even with its eyes closed.

We don't know how much he can see.

There is a department at

the main hospital in Turin

where apparently they perform miracles.

You're saying my son needs a miracle?

Nurse, please, how much longer?

It's three hours he's been in there now.

I'm sorry, we can't say.

[boy whining]

THREE YEARS LATER

Stop it.

Stop it! You mustn't take it off.

Touch it. Teddy likes his.

[grunts]

My love, I know. It annoys

you. You must be patient.

What are you doing?

[Opera music]

[knock on door]

[man] Come, come.

Thank you.

My son, when he heard the music,

suddenly was calm for the first time.

He had an operation.

Ah, music, beautiful.

Make happy life.

Here.

Go.

Acid in eyes. Work factory.

Many operations.

Without music, I'm mad.

You, how long stay?

I hope not long.

Amos!

Thank you.

[Bocelli] The old barn was

a land of wonder for me.

Everything in it fascinated me.

I touched everything,

played with everything.

I was happy in there.

[Edi] Amos!

[makes engine noises]

[Edi] Amos, lunch is ready!

Why don't you answer when I

call you? Where were you?

In my room.

Look me in the face when you talk to me.

Liar!

I told you a thousand times

not to go into the barn.

It's dangerous!

Your son has been in the barn again.

Say something to him, Sandro!

Amos, don't go in the barn.

And if you're good I'll take

you out on the tractor, OK?

He's also been telling fibs.

Oh, that's serious.

You must always tell the truth, hmm?

Even when it's hard.

Alright, I'll tell the truth.

I don't want to eat this

soup. I don't like it.

Amos!

[man] Signor Bardi!

[sighs] I have to go. Work.

I've been cooking this specialty all

morning and you've eaten two spoonfuls.

Three. And it was delicious.

But unfortunately there are no

fixed hours in my line of work.

You eat.

My line of work has

no fixed hours either.

Amos! Amos! Oriana...

[Oriana] Amos! Amos!

You are the only one who likes my food?

Good, good. Bravo.

Babbo, when will you let

me ride on the tractor?

Babbo!

Amos? Amos?

Babbo!

[screams]

[Edi] Oriana, what happened?

Nothing, nothing. He spilt some soup!

Amos, are you crazy?

Never ever go out on the

window ledge. It's dangerous!

But I was being careful.

Promise me you'll never do it again.

If you promise me, we'll go

and see Uncle Giovanni.

And eat the soup there and I'll

make it alright with mama. OK?

[knocking on the door]

Come in.

Well, here you are again.

Excuse me, Signor

Giovanni, it's only that...

...when he's here, he's so

calm and eats properly.

Of course, because he knows

if he doesn't behave himself,

he will never be promoted to sergeant.

Corporal, eat your

soup! That's an order!

[chuckles]

I want to show you something.

[Opera music]

Know what this is?

Beniamino Gigli.

A genius! He sung all around the world.

Songs, romances, operas...

Operas? Like operations?

I don't like them.

Lyric opera, they're

stories, which are sung.

For example, this is a story

of one girl called Manon,

who is not, let's say, a good girl.

Is she bad?

No, no, no. She's not

bad, she's a prosti...

Well, I mean, a girl who

does those kinds of...

OK, anyway, Beniamino

Gigli was a genius.

Listen.

[Opera music]

Real men don't need hats!

[door opens]

Good morning.

Forgive me, doctor.

Be frank with us, what are

the prospects for my son?

We have saved what we can.

Although one eye is lost,

the other has at least

some limited function.

But I would suggest it would be useful

for him to begin to learn Braille.

You mean reading for the blind?

["O giovinetta bella" plays]

- Good morning.

- Morning.

This is Amos Bardi.

Welcome, Amos!

Children, say hello.

[all] Hello, Amos!

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