act20mini

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!

No, I'm not angry. See? I'm painting right now, on a wine bottle—

I'll take you to the cellar when it gets warmer and decorate the walls. I've wanted to do this for a long time. It took years just for the idea to take shape.

I want you to both inherit the winery, and have the freedom to become a musician.

Your family should not make you give up your dreams.

Guess it's come to this, nonno.

I couldn't even come up with a bottle from this year.

Maybe a bit of music to lift the mood?

The drummer walks to the instrument.

There is a finely wrapped gift box on the stool on which she has often sat. She lays down her drumsticks, opens the ribbon-wrapped gift box, and finds a bottle of wine within.

The label features two wolf's heads by the grapevines, one large, one small, with two drumsticks by the ears of the smaller wolf drawn with childish lines.

The label says, 'Verdi 1092'.

The drummer lays her hand on the bottle gently, then puts it back inside the box and takes up the drumsticks. The sound of song begins to echo through the bar.

'Se muoio in guerra, seppellitemi con un fiorino, versa le lacrime di mamma, sulla mia tomba come vino...'

For a long time afterwards, Eirene thought back to her hesitation that night every time she drove her truck alone.

The sky is completely dark by the time the truck stops at the edge of Court Square. She does not turn off the engine; the vibration is transmitted to her wrists via the steering wheel, before gradually subsiding.

She called Lavinia on her way, saying she has something to discuss.

*sigh*

I don't know what to do, Lavinia...

Eirene mutters in the driver's seat, but she cannot bring herself to finish the sentence: 'You're the only one I can count on.'

Is she really the only one? Eirene spends a few moments in bitter silence, as raindrops splash her face through a gap in the window.

She turns off the engine.

I made more money in one trip than I did in the last two weeks combined!

The Kazimierzians pay well.

You showing off?

Make-up payments for this week alone wiped out a whole trip's margin for me.

I don't hear you talking about the heavy fines the Kazimierzians levy.

Hehe, thanks for helping to pay my share. Now that I've gotten paid, how much do I owe you?

Don't worry about it. Brothers help each other out.

Right you are. I'll save a portion and do my part next time someone gets fined.

Saving is the right move. Originium fuel prices are rising. I was just at the station, and boy did it hurt to watch the numbers going up and up and up.

I did run into a bloke from Leoti Pharmacy at the fuel station who lent me his discount card.

I should bring him a pack of smokes next time I go by their shop.

Really? As long as Eirene doesn't catch you hanging out with the wise guy—

Hanging out with who?

No, no, it's nothing.

Ciao, Eirene! Haven't seen you in a while. I think I'm going to break your delivery record soon!

Great. As a reward, you get the transportation security paperwork from the Agenzia per la Sicurezza dei Trasporti.

Hah, anything but the AST! Anyway, it's time for me to go to my next job. <i>A dopo!</i>

He's right, we haven't seen you in camp for a while. How you gotten thinner? You gotta take care of your health, or Sommer will never forgive us—

Don't change the subject. What were you chatting about?

Um, it's nothing, really.

Oh, come on...

When will you and Sam learn?

Where IS Sam, anyway? I didn't see him anywhere in camp, and his schedule's empty for a few days. Where is he?

He's been sick. Fever, vomiting, diarrhea, the whole shebang. Had to go home and lie down after last night's delivery. Gianni's taking his orders for today.

The Kazimierzians dock pay for days off, you know... better to find a sub, if we've got one.

Never mind. I'll get a doctor to look at him.

Did you need him for something?

Eirene irritably shakes the object in her hand. It makes a swishing sound.

The package is obviously wine bottle-shaped, never mind the Saluzzo Vino logo displayed prominently on it.

Why did Saluzzo Vino send us a bottle of wine?

I would have thought that one of you dropped a delivery in the mail room, if the package didn't have Sam's name on it.

Oh, that's probably a moving gift for Sam's cousin's family.

Moving gift?

When his cousin's family first came to Nuova Volsinii, Signor Bellone—I mean, Demetri, helped out.

I think he mentioned he'd send a bottle of wine as a moving gift.

It's just a little wine, Eirene... and it's not for him. Sam quit drinking, you know that.

I know. I'm just wondering how Signor Bellone knew about Sam's cousin.

And you, Ruggiero. I was planning to go shopping at your little supermarket a few days ago, only to find that it's become a Saluzzo Vino outlet.

Since when have you gotten so friendly with each other?

Erm, I rented it to them. Turns out managing a whole supermarket was more trouble than it's worth, and I figured I was better off driving trucks.

Were you in some trouble I didn't know about? Something that you couldn't tell me, but you were comfortable telling the mafia?

It's not that, Eirene...

When will you understand? Small favors are favors too, and all favors have to be repaid someday. With interest.

But they're just helping us right now.

Are they? The Red Wine Championship starts in a few days. Is it not obvious why Saluzzo Vino sent a 'moving gift' right now?

It's 'just a bottle of wine' at this point, but what about later? Mafia money? The famiglia's name? Will you go back to working for them, like you used to?

If you're worried about history repeating itself, I promise you it won't.

Besides, under Nuova Volsinii's new order... even if you don't trust me, you should trust the mayor and Judge Lavinia.

It's not that I don't trust them. It's just...

Never mind. Don't forget what happened at the Carnevale.

Avoid dealing with the famiglie. You may think they're just ordinary employees and shopkeepers, but everything they do is under the watchful eyes of the wise guys.

I know it was traumatic for you, as it was for all of us.

But things have changed for the Saluzzos. Venezia Jr. is gone. It's a new era of leadership—

Ruggiero is interrupted by the sound of his phone ringing. Eirene says nothing; she shakes her head and turns around to leave.