Scene 1

Coffee is served with torroncini morbidi on a table set by the side of a majestic swimming pool, surrounded by well tended gardens and tall, ancient trees. But the table is abandoned. A book lies open, and as the wind leafs its pages, the bookmark takes flight.

The wind carries it, and the camera follows its trajectory until the piece of paper lands on the agitated light blue water of the swimming pool, gleaming under the sun.

At first indistinct, in the distance, we listen to moans and groans and the sounds of bodies colliding -- as if a couple is having sex by the pool.

Leaving the bookmark to sink, the camera glides above the water until it meets and focuses on two women. The one at the bottom is clearly identifiable to us, with her blonde ponytail and sparkling green eyes -- Venus. The woman on top has her back turned to the camera, and we can only see her expensive blouse from which sticks her fine, elongated neck. Her dark hair, toned with red, arranged in a once impeccable bun, is falling out of place as she trusts against Venus.

But they are not making sex, we soon realize.

Because Venus looks terrified.

Venus is defending herself against the other woman, who has immobilized her by sitting on top of her belly. She is trying to force Venus into the pool. Dragging Venus by the neck, slowly suffocating her, the woman tries to bend Venus' neck and head to go underwater. Her ponytail is already immersed. But she resists, and fights, letting out high pitched moans of desperation, while the other woman groans with satisfaction, as she slowly wins over Venus.

Petros, the director, perhaps unsure of the cast -- that he wanted full of young people, and introducing a complete beginner on the leading female role --, has chosen the ensemble based not on personal affinities, but on their dissimilarities. He didn't want his actors and actress simply acting rivalry. Since the beginning, Mr. Skandaloukos has only stimulated natural divergences, turning them into enmities -- especially between Thaysa Tragis and Valeria Mongella, who we are seen here. 

Naturally, Valeria isn't trying to kill Thaysa, though her character is. But it was registered that Thaysa's neck hurt bad for days, and Valeria's fingers were imprinted there for many hours following the shooting.  

Venus desperation seems very real -- and in Cannes, Thaysa declared she actually was desperate. She would simply respond by slapping Valeria back if the other woman actually hurt her. She was younger, and stronger. But while she rarely thought about the baby she was carrying, there were some moments of strong physicality, like this scene, when she was concerned about a miscarriage. Not in a second, Thaysa declared, had she wanted to lose the baby. Not even considering how it might hinder her career.

When Venus no longer is able to resist the other woman's force, her head already submerging, she seems to give up fighting unexpectedly. Thaysa said she could no longer breathe, and was afraid to prolong the suffocation that, under Valeria's hands, was real enough.

The women's shadows are outlined against the bottom of the pool -- and it is as a shadow that someone else enter the scene, too.

Venus surrenders the moment Alcibiade walks onto the scene, and she can see him over her opponent's shoulder. Despite all that has happened, she cannot believe Al will let Vittoria Eugenia -- that's the name of Valeria Mongella's character -- kill her.

"Ma che cazzo fae? What the fuck are you doing, Vittoria?" Al cries, grabbing her by the shoulders to lift and push the woman away while, with the other hand, grabbing one of Venus's arms to lift her from the pool.

Vittoria spins on her riding boots and is going back for Venus, who is crawling away, when Al grabs the infuriated woman.

"Stop now, Vittoria! What the fuck do you think you're doing to..." He hesitates for second, unable to pronounce Venus' name, "her?" 

Al is still using the same red shirt, and if he really took a shower like he had wanted, he must have forgotten to change it, though he is now wearing riding trousers and boots.

"Hands off me!" Vittoria is hysterical, trying to escape Al's grip. She bangs his chest, but so lightly that we can see she is not mad at him. Not at all. She is just putting on a show of jealousy. "I am going to kill her!" She shouts, without much conviction.

"Of course you aren't." Al replies, letting go of Vittoria, clearly disgusted with her impersonation. "And you?" He turns towards Venus, who has stepped away, turning her back towards them, while still facing the camera. We can see as Al quickly checks on her, his eyes falling on her butt clearly delineated by very tight, short shorts, before asking, "What are you doing here? How did you even get in?"

"I just wanted to bring a present..." Venus mumbles. Her face and shoulders are all wet, as her hair drips water, but we still can devise as her tears start rolling down. "I..."

"Bitch!" Vittoria shouts. "She came here to offer herself to you! The whore! Slut!"

"No!" Venus cries, bringing her hands to both ears to dim Vittoria's shouts. "My present is..." She looks around trying to find it.

"Her cheap present must be her bra, that she did not put on. Slut! Why would she could here naked like that?" Vittoria shouts again. Al frowns as it hurts his ear, and takes two steps away. 

"Isn't she?" Al asks, checking Venus' breasts, which are inflated and shaking as she cries.

 "Don't look at her!" Now Vittoria is truly hysterical, and pulls the man into her arms, holding him tightly. "Look only at me! Tomorrow we... Nothing can separate us now! You should help me! Let's kill her! Get rid of her, once and for all! We have your car to remove the corpse..." 

"You are mad, Vittoria!" Al shouts, trying to free himself of her tight embrace. He lowers his voice as he intends to address her only. "You know perfectly well what could separate us... And you know why it won't..." He hisses, coldly. "Now let's go. Federico must have brought the horses in already." He finally frees himself of Vittoria. "Now, you!" He addresses Venus in a bossing tone. "Get out of this house."

"Get out of our lives!" Vittoria adds, shouting. "Whore!"

"I will." Venus retorts quietly. She still cries, but looks much calmer. "You will get rid of me." She nods, as if agreeing with herself. "I promise you, I will die." She nods again, and then looks at the sky. The sun hits her face, making her tears shine bright, brighter even than the blue water of the pool that is seen behind her. "In the name of Christ, I will die." She addresses the sky. "For the sake of all of you, I will die!"