A NETFLIX ORIGINAL SERIES
If you're 16 and living in Rome's most beautiful neighborhood,
you're lucky.
Ours is the best of all possible worlds.
We're immersed in this beautiful aquarium,
but we long for the sea.
That's why, to survive,
we need a secret life.
"I am aware of the legal and moral--"
Can you repeat that, please, closer to the microphone?
"I am aware of the legal and moral responsibility…"
"…of my testimony.
I swear to tell the whole truth…"
"…and to not withhold any knowledge I may have."
Can you state your name, please?
Claudio Fiorenzi.
Place and date of birth?
Rome.
February 20, 2002.
So you decided to go back to Mr. Fiorenzi
on the advice of your mother and best friend?
No. That's not what happened.
I was manipulated by Claudio Fiorenzi.
ONE WEEK EARLIER
Why did you decide to do the live stream and tell everyone
that you were really Emma?
It was the right thing to do.
I was Emma.
Did you ever feel guilty?
No.
That was the problem.
I didn't feel anything.
So why did you do it?
Did it have anything to do with your relationship with Damiano Younes?
No, it had nothing to do with him.
Not then.
But did he know what you were doing?
I'd prefer not to answer.
So you and Ludovica Storti were involved with the same people?
Ludovica and I did everything together.
By ourselves at the start,
then with Fiore.
Then at a certain point, she decided to stop.
He knew he had no power over me.
But with Ludovica, it was different.
And you?
Chiara.
Why didn't Fiorenzi have any power over you, Chiara?
What happened to you?
Please.
Thank you.
Hi.
Have you been treated all right?
Yes?
The charges are serious, Damiano.
-Inciting prostitution-- -Again with this shit.
Fiorenzi claims
that you were the one who brought Chiara and Ludovica to him.
He says all of you tricked him.
I swear, Monica, it's bullshit.
He's just trying to get a lighter sentence or something.
But you…
Did you know about the girls?
Yes. But I found out later.
No one will believe me, I know that. It's pointless.
-Even you don't believe me. -No, I believe you.
I know you'd never do anything like that.
What will happen to Chiara and Ludovica?
I don't know, but I talked to my lawyer.
Unfortunately, there's no one to testify on your behalf.
Right now, you have to think of yourself.
Damiano was like a brother to me.
He needed money.
The prostitution was his idea.
Through him, I met Emma and Ludovica.
By "Emma," you mean Chiara Altieri, correct?
Her testimony will be screened shortly.
However, with regard to Ludovi, Did you manipulate her?
I was in a relationship with her.
I tried a number of times
to persuade her to stop prostituting herself because I loved her.
But it was no good.
Neither she nor her friend had the slightest intention of quitting.
Then I don't understand
why you decided to flee from the police before they could arrest you.
Ludovica came to me, begging me to go away.
I thought it might be a way for me and her to start over.
Instead, she deceived me once again.
I swear, I can't believe it.
Can you believe Fiore? He can't just do that to Damiano! I…
I see his ugly face on every page that I can't even study for my finals.
Natalia!
She knows everything! She knows about Damiano and Martino.
She's the only one who can tell the truth and testify against Fiore.
Yes, but she has vanished.
How do we find her?
The list of clients keeps growing.
And naturally, all of them will want to make a plea bargain.
But first, those accused of exploitation are being tried.
Claudio Fiorenzi, Damiano Younes, and Simonetta Loreti.
What's the worst that could happen to my daughter?
Unlike Ludovica,
your daughter has been charged with inciting prostitution.
Then there's Fiorenzi's statement,
in which he claims to have been manipulated.
And that doesn't help.
At worst Chiara gets sent to juvenile prison.
Ludovica...
could lose the possibility of seeing her mother again.
Damiano could go to jail.
But we're trying to prevent that.
And we'd lose our parental responsibility over Chiara?
I know it's a frightening prospect, but…
the judge will decide if you two are unfit parents.
What makes a fit parent?
I think it's only natural that the question is raised
after something like this happens.
Please listen to me.
Whatever happens at the trial, you won't stop being her parents.
Any news about Natalia?
We've searched for her everywhere,
but we couldn't find her.
What does that mean? Has she left Rome?
Yes, maybe.
Anyway, it's none of your concern. Especially you.
Didn't you say you're going to Paris to study art?
Yes. But I don't care about going if I can't see my mother.
I know. I'm sorry.
But we have to trust the judge, girls.
Don't do anything stupid.
You're going to Paris?
I got into one of the best comic schools.
So you're leaving?
Only if I pass my finals.
Sorry. I wanted to be the one to tell you, but…
-I was waiting for the right moment-- -It's all right.
I'm happy for you.
I'm not sure if I'll go.
Let's look for Natalia, okay?
So her last photo…
was from Toy.
How long ago?
Months.
-Where the fuck can she be? -I can ask someone at Toy.
Wait. Let's see…
Who?
You gave me such a fright!
I'm sorry. I thought I'd get back before you realized.
How did you know I was here?
I didn't know where to look for you, and then I figured you might be here.
I couldn't sleep.
I've never come here, so I thought
I'd come and say hello.
She was always right.
She once said, "Run away to wherever you want,
but if you don't face up to your responsibilities,
all the filth you have inside will catch up with you."
You're not one to run away.
You're not someone who runs away.
Who knows what she'd say now if she could see us here.
She'd say it's time to go home
before the police realize that I've gone out.
You're right.
Maybe we could put some flowers before we go.
-Okay, there isn't even one. -Come on.
-I'll take some from here! -No, there's a place to buy some.
Really?
Yes.
Your Honor, the witness continues to evade my question.
I understand. You don't have to repeat it.
Please remain calm.
We are well aware
that remaining calm is not in the boy's nature.
Just as we have all heard about his violent conduct.
Just as we have all heard about his relationship
with Ms. Altieri Della Rocca.
I don't see how anyone could fail to believe
that my client, Claudio Fiorenzi,
was manipulated by these three young people.
Do I keep going straight, Ludo?
-I don't know. I lost the signal. -But we were almost there, right?
No, guys, we're lost.
It must be here somewhere.
Pull over.
What do you want to do? Drive around all night? Pull over.
All right. I'll go.
What are you doing here? Go home.
We were just leaving.
We're looking for a party around these parts.
Turn around and take a left.
All right, thanks.
She said to go back and take a left,
but I don't understand where. I didn't see any turn-offs.
Let's go take a look.
Turn around.
Thank you.
Watch your step, or you will really fall.
Be careful! That's it.
-Here, you drive. -I don't feel like it, Saverio.
Let's get in the car.
-What's wrong? -I'm not going in.
Let's see if she's here.
-If she isn't, we'll leave. -I'm not going inside.
Do you recognize this place?
-Yes. -You're not going in either.
Trust me. Let's go.
We can't give up now, okay?
What? You think we can just fix everything now?
Maybe, or at least try! I don't know!
It's bullshit.
That's not true.
I'm not going back into that shit.
And if you go in, I'm leaving.
Fine, I'll go in by myself.
You're fucking obsessed.
Where is she going?
Home. Do you want to go too?
No.
Everything's sorted. They will let us in.
Manipulated.
To me, it sounds more like a game, to use your own words.
A game you kept hidden, like a precious secret.
How is it possible that no one, not even at your school,
ever found out about your illegal activities?
No.
I was the only one who knew.
Is that why Chiara Altieri decided to use Sofia Mancini to blackmail you?
She didn't blackmail me.
I was blackmailing her.
Explain what you mean, please.
After Fiore broke my nose, I started following him.
I found out about his ties to Chiara and Ludovica.
And when you found out, you did nothing?
When I took her money, I didn't know with any great certainty.
That's not what I asked.
I was afraid
that her future would be compromised forever.
Fiore's framing me, Damiano, and Ludovica.
You don't say!
You can help us by testifying. You're our only hope.
Not a chance.
Fiore's guilty.
And you know it.
It's only right that he should pay.
And you're not guilty of anything?
You've got the nerve.
You even had the courage to come here and ask for my help.
Look.
I know you hate me, but I'm not the only one in trouble here.
There are a lot of people in trouble, and you're the only one who can help them.
Please.
I already gave you a chance.
What do you want? Do you want money? Well, how much?
What do you take me for?
A whore?
You know what…
I don't feel like working tonight. Here's what we'll do.
I'll take his money, and you go with him.
That's my price.
Then we'll talk.
Come on, show me that you're still good at this game, Emma.
What? You don't like it anymore?
You got yourself a great deal.
Have fun.
Chiara, where the fuck are you going?
Who are you? Her new boyfriend?
Relax, don't torment yourself.
She will be fine without you.
Did I ask you anything?
Because I don't think so.
Oh, god, I think I've seen this all before.
She likes this life too much.
Don't you realize she's trying to fix things?
You all think you're so great just because you have money.
So that's why you want to drag her back into it.
It's all a game to you.
Well, having fun?
Do whatever the hell you want about the trial. I'm going to find her.
Did he hurt you?
I sent him away.
Are you all right?
I can't…
No more.
Get me out of here.
These things didn't happen to me.
I was the one who chose to do them.
Chiara, if there's anything else you want to say, we're here to listen.
Otherwise, we're finished.
There is something.
EQUALITY BEFORE THE LAW
I have always observed others.
I could never understand why everyone...
knew who they were,
but I didn't.
I never knew who I was.
I was afraid of making mistakes.
I was afraid of letting others down.
Sometimes the clients treated us like objects.
But in those moments,
it didn't bother me.
The apathy I told you about
made me feel grown-up.
It seemed to be the answer.
To everything.
That's how it works, isn't it?
Feelings…
They're just illusions.
Whereas money…
Money's real.
I don't want to live like this anymore.
Being Emma helped me understand that.
When I look in the mirror,
I don't see a victim.
Then I look around…
and think that the right thing…
would be to admit that…
at the end of the day, we're all guilty.
COLLODI INSTITUTE
Seen as you chose the Cultural Revolution of 1968 as your topic,
please tell us
about the historical background to that period.
What was happening in Europe?
Well… Yes.
1968 is remembered as a time of great change.
Not just political, but also cultural, social, and sexual.
What do you mean by "sexual"?
What I mean is
changes concerning the role of women in society.
In fact, they began demonstrating to obtain their rights.
Today, they would probably be disappointed by the new generation of women.
With all due respect,
I think they'd be ashamed at how men still treat women.
In fact, they didn't want to be seen only as mothers.
Their struggle was to obtain the same rights as men.
Of the many achievements gained regarding female emancipation,
I'd like to highlight the passing of the divorce law.
Do you remember the year?
1970.
Well, before closing,
I see there is one final witness to testify.
I confirm her presence, Your Honor.
Show her in.
"I am aware
of the legal and moral responsibility of my testimony."
"I swear to tell the whole truth
and to not withhold any knowledge I may have."
If I may, I'd like to bring her this.
What is it?
My final year exam results.
It's not fair that you're being sent to a community home.
It's better than juvenile prison.
I'll call you every day.
I don't think you can.
And maybe it's better for both of us.
Maybe.
When do you leave?
Next week.
So soon.
Yes, I have to look for a house.
Will you come and visit me when this is all over?
Just imagine all the trouble we'll cause together in Paris.
We'll meet again.
I'll never forget.
FINAL YEAR EXAMS
OVERALL SCORE: 68/100
Darling, you did great!
How embarrassing!
I had never seen it before.
Then watch it now.
Can you manage?
TWO MONTHS LATER
Chiara, you have a visitor.
Here are the books for the revision.
Thank you.
You're welcome.
This is where we do gardening.
What else do you do?
A bit of everything.
I made pizza the other day.
-Pizza! -I swear!
You don't get bored then?
No, and I'm learning lots of things.
In the end, it's not so bad here.
Don't you ever feel lonely?
Sometimes.
But right now, it's okay.
Thanks for stopping by.
Ludo!
How are you?
Great. What about you?
Very well, thank you!