Ma Che Quest, Fellini? Flash Fiction by Altenir Silva     flash-TREATMENT   Don Vittorio Gemma is an Italian American mobster who loves cinema. When he saw Fellini's movie, "E la nave va (The Ship Sails On)", he was disturbed by the final scene where a man watches a movie inside a sinking ship.   Don Vittorio Gemma wants to know the meaning of this scene. But only Fellini can explain that. Then, the mafioso goes to Italy and orders his men to kidnap the filmmaker.   flash-SCREENPLAY   INT. RESTAURANT INSIDE CINECITTÀ - NIGHT FELLINI is sitting alone at his favorite table. He's eating delicious pasta while sipping his favorite red wine.   Suddenly TWO MEN approach him. They sit down at Fellini's table.   FELLINI So…?   MAN 1 You better come along with us.   FELLINI Why?   MAN 2 shows a GUN inside his coat.   MAN 2 Stay easy and everything will be fine.   FELLINI (Looking around.) Is anyone filming this?     MAN 1 It's not fiction… it's real.   MAN 2 Get up and follow us.   CUT TO   flash-PLAY   Lights up on the stage. Fellini is sitting with his arms tied in the chair. Don Vittorio Gemma approaches him.   FELLINI Mamma mia! What the hell is going on here?   GEMMA Do you know me?   FELLINI No.   GEMMA My name is Vittorio Gemma. Don Vito Gemma.   FELLINI Oh my God! You're the big-grand-big boss?   GEMMA Yeah.   FELLINI I'm gonna die?   GEMMA Everybody dies.   FELLINI Today? Tonight? Tomorrow?   GEMMA I don't know. It'll depend on you.   FELLINI What should I do?   GEMMA Resolve a puzzle to me.   FELLINI A puzzle?   GEMMA Yeah.   FELLINI You got those henchmen to kidnap me because of a fucking puzzle?   GEMMA I was ordered to by my employers.   FELLINI Employers? They're gangsters!   GEMMA Please, can we get all that shit out of here?   FELLINI Of course. You're the big-grand-big boss, by the way.   GEMMA Thank you. Let's do it. Let's go to the puzzle. I wanted you to explain to me what the hell you meant in the final scene of your movie, The Ship Sails On.   FELLINI E la nave va?   GEMMA Exactly.   FELLINI What do you want to know?   GEMMA I was disturbed by the ending scene of your movie.   FELLINI Really?   GEMMA That man was projecting a movie while the ship sank. What does it mean?   FELLINI I have no idea.   GEMMA What? Are you kidding me?   FELLINI Of course not. It's true. I write and make scenes without worrying about the meaning.   GEMMA Madonna, Madonna, Madonna Achiropita! I get it. Finally, I get it. Because of that, nobody understands your movies, huh?   FELLINI My movies are pure art and have nothing else. Art doesn't have to be understood, it just has to feel.   GEMMA I feel your film.   FELLINI Very good.   GEMMA I did feel so foolish.   FELLINI That's not cool.   GEMMA A deluxe ship sails on to spread the ashes of a well-known opera singer. Then, a group of Serbian refugees blow out the ship. A man watches a movie until the ship sinks completely. What does it mean? The Death of Cinema?   FELLINI Maybe the Death of Opera!   (Blackout.)   END