1943 - 4 and 5 Summary

The Allies leave northern Italy to the Fascists, Germany and small bands of militia after Mussolini is arrested. Rome is now under Nazi occupation.

Ida and Useppe live in a shelter with other refugees. The marble cutter, Guiseppe Secondo, registered as having died in the rubble, also lives there with his two canaries and his cat, Rossella. In the same room lives a very large half-Neapolitan family named by Cuchiarelli Guiseppe, "The Thousand". A young girl named Carulina is pregnant, but did not notice by whom. Carulina describes what may be a dirigible, out of which Janet Gaynor emerges, handing out pastries. She brings some to her grandmother. The childlike Carulina gives birth to twins, who are supplementally nursed by a relative. She is obsessed with show business, and keeps an old gramophone going in the room.

Caruli makes clothes for...