Sole a catinelle

Papa's name is Checco. He's 36 and...

...from the South.

Tall...

...handsome, cool, muscular...

...he's NOT. But he's really nice and likeable.

First he worked in the world of high finance.

Excuse me, how's the Dow Jones?

Down a point and a half.

Trust me, the situation's dramatic...

Welcome back to our hotel. Your party's waiting.

I warned you not to disturb the clients!

But...

Forget it. I'm not interested

- What if someone asks a question? - Back to work! Beat it! Scram!

But in that situation papa didn't feel appreciated.

And so one day in September he came up with a brilliant idea...

...that would change his destiny.

And he rushed to tell mama.

Honey!

What's up? Why the face?

They're closing the factory. Your news?

I quit my job today.

I want to be leadership of myself.

Infected by mama's enthusiasm...

...papa plunged into a job hunt.

But at first it wasn't easy.

Sorry, your profile's inadequate.

Are you sure?

But then one day...

Zalone...

...you're hired!

Thank you, thank you.

Stubbornly determined, papa found the job that would allow him to...

...achieve his aspirations.

'Cause papa says that in life...

Aspiration is everything!

Look Aunties... the King of House Cleaningship. A bargain!

So...?!

- We'll buy it! - Go Aunties!

Papa proved to be quite competent.

You got yourself a bargain, cousin! And you'll exercise too!

Your nephew, Checco. That's who we bought it from!

Eh?... who's Checco?

- Salesman of the year! - Thank you!

And well-deserved...

...recognition soon followed.

I just wanna say to my wife and son...

I love you!

Daniela, Nicolo... look at papa!

Riding the wave of success, papa indulged in a few whims.

Full optional, isn't it fantastic?

Yes, but...

I also have great used bargains.

Lots of gifts for me...

Nicolo, their TAEG surtax is unbeatable!

TAEG! He's a TAEG!

Happy, Taeg?

...and for mama, except mama wasn't so happy.

Nothing smaller?

Gimme a smile for crying out loud! I home-automated you!

Watch and smile.

We have Dolby Surround...

...robotic blender...

We have a self-cleaning...

...defrosting microwave...

...auto-griddle.

We have a coffee maker.

We have exceeded our 3 kilowatts!

Papa teaches me that life can have its darker moments.

- Signora, interested? - You're old! Look!

Zalone, what's up? In six months your sales dropped...

...87.8%. Have you run out of...

- ...enthusiasm? - No, out of relatives.

But it's in hard times that a real entrepreneur...

...must find the answers.

- Yes? - The IRS.

Sorry, we're Catholics here.

Would you cool off?

- They'll give it back. - ...and seek solutions.

We'll get a loan to pay the loans. That's how it's done. Stop the tragedies!

Please, just go away! Disappear from my life!

- Go away! - You're being negative.

- Hello? - Fido-Fly.

You'd better STAY on your payment schedule!

- Go! - STAY or else!

- Go away! - Would you two make up your mind?!

I'm not going!

...and above all try to do his very best.

So lately he's always out working.

You pack my toothbrush?

Get financing and buy one!

And so mama, Taeg and I moved in with my grandparents.

Can we eat without this thing?

- Quiet! He's just a puppy. - No less!

- But papa calls me every day. - Papa, where are you?

At a restaurant, waiting on line. The economy's picking up.

The place is packed. How's school going?

Good... all A minus except two...

...Bs and an A.

Okay, let's do this, Nicolo. If next term you get all As...

...all As in all subjects...

...I'll give you a dream vacation.

You'll give me a vacation?

Sister dearest, what's cooking today? Tart's pasta?

Papa's always joking, but when he makes a promise, he's serious about keeping it.

Time's up children! Keep calm now.

Nice and calm. Pack your schoolbags.

Three months later

Good boy!

You should've studied harder.

- Good morning. - Good morning.

Zalone.

- Ah, Nicolo's father? - Yes.

Congratulations.

- Why? - Read.

A

May I speak to the teacher?

- Why? - The teacher please!

She just left.

Sonova...!

Maybe you don't know that Nicolo's mother and I...

...recently separated.

Yes, your wife told me.

It's very hard on children who...

...as you know, suffer the consequences both psychologically and...

- Yes, I know. - ..scholastically.

- So I'm wondering... - What?

How the hell is it possible that...

...my son was unaffected? He got all As! Please explain.

- You're not happy? - No.

Because this monster you painted...

...can't be my son, trust me!

His parents separate and he excels?!

In all subjects?! Look: History, Italian, A, all As...

Even in behavior, A! No way! When it's called for...

I've never heard Nicolo say a dirty word.

In school, but at home he curses like crazy, especially against you.

"The old bitch should piss off and retire!"

And just yesterday? "She stinks!" Let's check.

And he's a liar!

So, I mean, at least... let's lower him on behavior.

- Now listen - ...or gym!

Listen a moment.

I know all about your economic situation.

- What? - And that you promised Nicolo...

- ...a wonderful vacation. - Yes I did.

- Seeing how Nicole is very bright... - Off the old block.

He's capable of understanding. So simply tell him the truth.

- Tell him everything. - Meaning?

- The recession. - Beg your pardon?

The recession!

In this factory...

...we produced world class fabrics. This stuff here!

We were proud of our profession.

Then this genius CEO showed up...

...and forced us to produce plain cotton T-shirts. This stuff here!

And that's how we plunged! Okay?

MY darling! What a good boy!

Genetics never lie, eh!

Now what?

- I'll take him on vacation. - Ah, vacation. Have you no shame?

After ruining my life, you could at least...

...spare him! Where'll you go seeing you're broke?!

And so...

...another glorious factory shuts down and leaves its employees home...

...laid off. How will they manage?

Eh... we're desperate.

Last year it was redundancy, now they're throwing families on the street.

I imagine your despair is shared by other family members...

...like your husband. Do you have children?

I'm on TV?

- Any children? - Yes yes.

How do you see their future given an outlook anything but rosy?

Not Rosy 'cause he's a boy: Nicolo.

I'm an entrepreneur and optimistic!

There's too much pessimism! Excuse me.

We shouldn't forget that we're the world's seventh economy...

...and Europe's third economy.

- I am... - Italy's first jerk!

I'm convinced we'll make it, people!

People! It only takes optimism.

Here, look at my son's report card!

Look! He got straight As.

So how can I be a pessimist?

Nicole!

Excuse me... if you're there watching this crappy show

that's injecting pessimism so people won't consume anymore...

Papa says he promised a vacation, so...

Bug off! We're going on vacation!

Yayyyy!

- Pack your bags! They're only envious! - Yessssss!

Ciao Nicole! Bug off!

Super-papa! YAYYY!

Papa, you have a valid passport?

Of course. Gimme. Get inside.

Off we goooo!

- Hey, you gotta take him too! - Shut up, you! Shut up!

There's a superhero

Who beats all the others, You know?

He has no wings or missiles.