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!

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