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risk of becoming Luchino's nephew. It wouldn't be bad: I could write stories for films having a good record already in my family."

"Make sure you get an Oscar. Will you invite me to the awards?"

"Sure. Front row ticket."

"Make sure they don't change history. It happened to me often. And when you are famous, you must never reply to a reporter. All you have to say, if you really want to answer, is, 'Please don't ask me stupid questions. This is the way to deal with this kind of problem.'" I look at my empty glass: "Another tomato?" he asked.

"Yes please." I glanced at my watch. "Toto has really decided to sleep this morning," I said. 

"I like Texas-Boy," said Papa, gesturing for the waiter to come over. "You should put him at the top of your suitors."

"But Toto doesn't expect anything. He comes to Venice as he likes it. If you were born in a seaside town and worked in Milan, don't you think you too would feel the desire to see the sea, the boats, the seagulls every now and then?"

"A tomato and a Bloody Mary, please," Papa said to the waiter. Then looking at the Lagoon: "I live on an island and yet, if it were possible, I would come to Venice every weekend." 

"This really makes me angry!"

"Anger? Why are you angry that I want to spend the weekends in Venice?" 

"Oh no, that's not what I meant," I laughed. "I was observing the gondolier talking to that tourist... look how puzzled the tourist is, certainly he has been asked a too high price for a ride in a gondola... here he goes, now a second gondolier is offering him a 'special' price but always higher than the right rate, if he bites well, if not - they all agree with each other -...