act20mini

Let me help.

It's so quiet... I can hear the ringing in my ears.

This used to be a lively place... the sounds of footsteps, barrels rolling, metal and glass clanging against each other, bubbles sizzling while grapes ferment...

And now, it's all...

There is only silence left.

Lupina slowly walks past the warehouse, the cellar, the vat.

She knows this may be the last time she makes these checks.

Her hand touches the antiquated equipment, the marks of age—

The handle of the presser falls off the screw.

No... the Kazimierzian auditor is coming soon! How could my equipment break at a time like this?!

Oh, this stubborn old stuff... got to screw it back—

Ought to be just like a lightbulb—

It's stuck?

Lupina...

Davide? Good timing! Come, help me fix this thing.

The vertical screw is completely stripped. It won't go back on.

I was just going to tell you, I was doing my regular checks when I found a problem with the filtration system's hydraulic cylinder.

It's cracked and can't maintain hydraulic pressure.

Lupa, the Kazimierzians are here.

A fine classic villa, Signorina Verdi. The wolf's head on the wine barrels is quite detailed, and even the stone tiles in the cellar are tastefully ornamented.

It was my grandfather who painted them.

Shall we discuss what to do with your family's artwork? Would you like us to remove it intact and return it to you, or include it in the purchase?

Remove it?

Since the paintings on the tiles are the work of your late grandfather, we can arrange for an art preservation expert to remove them for you, should you wish. I assure you, they will not be damaged.

Oh, then yes, please.

The expert's fee will be at your own expense, of course.

I knew it... fine, I'll pay. Please make sure the tiles are removed intact and undamaged.

Shall we proceed to the next item?

Alright...

Crusher, fermentation tank, presser, thermostat, filtration system... you have a full complement of winemaking equipment.

Yes, it was my grandfather who procured it. They were the most popular models at the time... very durable.

Your grandfather? That was a while ago, then.

Still, it works well. Please, come and see our crusher.

This machine crushes grapes with minimal loss. My grandfather retrofitted it with extra-wide rollers, increasing production by—

There seems to be an issue with the sealing ring on the machine's connector, if I'm not mistaken?

Equipment assessment is not my specialty, but I am under the impression that the sealing ring should not be exposed.

And your thermostat... I took note of the temperature reading when I passed it. The temperature seems suboptimal for winemaking.

Well... yes, the equipment may be a little old.

But our workers maintain it regularly, and we have all the necessary spare parts on hand. We can get it repaired quickly.

It will not affect delivery.

Ah, if that is what you're concerned about, there is no need to worry.

Your equipment was not included in our initial assessment.

Traditional Siracusan equipment is inefficient and incompatible with our production lines. We did not intend to keep it to begin with. You may dispose of it as you see fit.

This includes the oaken casks in the warehouse that you showed me—

These handmade casks create uncontrolled impurities in the storage process, which are detrimental to quality control for mass-produced wine.

You don't use oaken casks?

We have replaced traditional oaken casks with steel containers, which have better hermetic properties and are more responsive to temperature control.

It'll lose a lot of flavor—

<i>Merda</i>, I sound like my nonno.

That will be a question for our inspector to worry about. I suggest you focus on whether the offer meets your expectations.

I assure you that you have nothing to worry about.

It is the land on which your winery sits that we are interested in. We will offer a fair price for it.

We get a plot of excellent land, while you receive a reasonable payment in turn. It's a win-win arrangement.

I will document the results of the audit, then our legal representative will contact you to finalize the contract.

Please reach out to her if you have any questions.

Would you like to try a sip?

If I recall correctly, we bought out Verdi Winery's inventory last month, as you were in urgent need of liquidity to make payroll.

There will be no need to see me out. Have a nice day, Signorina Verdi.

The Kazimierzian leaves the winery with his briefcase, takes one glance at the lonely vineyard, then gets into a black car that has been waiting for him outside.

It takes a long while, until the sound of the car's engine is long gone, for Lupina to come to her senses.

It's over. Nonno's winery sold, just like that...

I thought... they would care more about our traditions and equipment...

Niccolo.

The presser and crusher, the thermostat and filtration system—

I was the one who broke them.

I know. I'm not here to blame anyone.

You've been here so many years. I doubt you thought breaking a few piece of equipment would stop the purchase.

I just...

Hoped that they would stay?

The pipes... Elio...

He did something else?

I wanted to stop him, but...

I understand your anger... what's done is done. if the auditor didn't find it, there's no reason for us to tell them.

Lupa...

I wasn't much of a businesswoman, but I know how to tell a good guy from a bad one.

That drunk papá of mine wasn't even born when you started working at the winery with my nonno.

You know, he used to measure my height with this presser. See the lines on the cylinder?

It's for the best that it broke. At least it couldn't be sold.

Verdi Winery was my entire life. I watched every new bottle go out the door, saw us weather one storm after another.

I thought my granddaughter, or maybe my grandddaughter's granddaughter, would get to see the new bottles going out... I didn't think it would end this way.

If continuing the old ways won't protect them, maybe this is for the best.

...Is there anything else I can do?

My son would like you to come to his daughter's tenth birthday party.

With a bottle of wine her age, as is tradition.

But—

And take good care of this winery, until it really changes hands, <i>mio caro Lupa</i>.

'My dear vintner, I would very much appreciate if you would pay a visit to my private bar. You may help yourself to my collection.'

He told me to come, but he's nowhere to be found.

People in Siracusa die every day. How's that enough to shut him up at home?

And he wants his guests to mix their own drinks...?

It's been a long time since I've done it... what was it that nonno said?

Winemaking is a slow and gradual process. The wine begins to gain its unique flavor during fermentation, like a family slowly brought together.

Sometimes, wines and juices of different flavors are mixed together before being presented for tasting.

No, you're too young to drink.

Are you listening, Lupa?

That's a paintbrush, not a drumstick... I'm not done painting yet—

Yes, you can play with it once I'm done. Look, this is our vineyard. This big wolf head is me, and the small one is you.

You want to paint a couple of brushes too?

Two drumsticks? My, my, mio caro Lupa sure has her own ideas.

You want to be a musician, the most rhythmic drummer on Terra? Then nonno's gonna be the best painter on Terra! Haha!