act21side

I've located a potential witness and am trying to convince him to testify.

But, Judge Angelo declared that case closed as of this afternoon.

He said... He said that family just moved to another city. Then, he added that we still have too many things to do, and shouldn't waste our time and energy on cases like this.

Unless I am misremembering, <i>I</i> am the judge presiding over this case.

The court made the decision internally yesterday. You weren't present for the meeting.

Is that so...?

I get it.

Right, this case is <i>certainly</i> not worth the time and energy. It's <i>only</i> five people after all.

The husband drives a taxi around the city. The wife picks tomatoes on a farm. They have three children, the oldest only thirteen years of age, the youngest still breastfeeding.

The neighbors were reluctant to say anything, and no matter who I asked, they all said that life must move on.

There was no screaming in the night, no crying by the lake, and no traces of blood left on their squeaky-clean floorboards.

Alright then. Life must move on, and they had it coming for crossing a famiglia. Or maybe their luck was so rotten they didn't even notice they were being targeted.

After all, the famiglie always say they would <i>never</i> attack ordinary civilians.

And as for us judges, there are always more important things to attend to, right?

Your Honor, I've always had the greatest respect for you.

To be honest, I have no idea what an ideal judge is supposed to look like.

Even though the Signora modeled our courts after Laterano's, and codified our laws after Columbia's...

None of us have ever seen a real one of Sankta's wandering judges, and Columbia's Code of Law is but an excerpt from a book.

What I would rather believe is that an ideal judge should be someone as determined to uphold justice as you are.

But not everyone has your talents, or your connections with Famiglia Bellone. You don't have to constantly fear for your life.

No, I just—

You can casually grab a light meal with the son of the Don.

And earlier this morning, Judge Angelo received a letter sealed in a black envelope.

...Which famiglia is behind this case?

Does it make a difference, as far as we're concerned?

Do you still remember last month how Judge Starocci was dragged by his 'friends' to 'chat' in a car for an entire afternoon? He hasn't been able to lift his right hand since.

Then there's Judge Borriello... That chubby, always-jovial old lady. How long has it been since she came to work?

You're right, in theory we're supposed to represent that woman's will. But what is that even supposed to be? At least, I can't figure it out.

Courage and persistence are great things to have, of course, but Judge Lavinia, please do not laugh at the wet clothes of us folks who stand beneath the eaves.

After all, you have nothing to lose.

Is that so...?

Perhaps the price I pay... is the right to truly be just.

Oh, the phones here don't ring very often. They usually prefer to come settle things privately.

Or should I say, they look to settle things with us privately.

Hello.

Got it. I'll be there right away.

Your Honor, you know you don't have to take everything so seriously.

I know.

Should I bring back some macaroni for supper? We're going to a restaurant with pretty good reviews.

...Appreciate it.

You don't know the kind of person he is, but <i>I</i> understand him.

Don't you think we place too much faith in our ability to 'understand' someone? Don't you think we're all too easily blinded by the illusions born of emotion and impulse?

Salvadore... He deserves to step out of Columbia's dark alleyways.

My sister, he is a Siracusan, and you know nothing about how he operates. You really think he could help us get rich?

All he's gonna do is get himself burnt - and we're gonna get caught in the middle.

He uses his fists to protect himself, and then law and order to shackle his fists. Is that not enough for you?

Get your head out of the clouds already.

No, brother. Other Siracusans wear their scars and bloodstains like badges of honor.

Only he knows that blood is nothing more than blood.

So, Sora, how's my acting?

Want me to give it to you straight?

You bet I do.

Absolutely terrible! Exusiai, you've got, like, zero talent for this!

Ehh? I feel like I'm pretty emotionally invested though.

Just being emotionally invested doesn't make you a good actor.

But... as far as the script is concerned, you're on the right track! At least you aren't flubbing any of your lines.

How low were your expectations?!

What do you think, Croissant?

Pretty darn good, if ya ask me!

Only thing is, when yer expressin' yer dissatisfaction with the brother, think ya could dial the emotions back a notch?

Hmm, so try to get the point across some other way? I... can give that a try in a moment.

Woah, Croissant, since when were you an expert?

Hey, don't go underestimatin' a gal who sits in on Sora's classes every week. Not like a certain two someones who come and go without a word.

Hey, I'd never leave without saying anything.

Not what I meant...

But at least this proves we'll be able to find her for sure, right?

Damn straight we will.

Quite the unique performance.

Ehh?

Excuse me, but are you...

My name is Benthonexigios.

Oh, hello, Bensomething-or-other...

Feel free call me Ben.

Sure thing, Ben!

Um, excuse me, Mr. Ben, if there's nothing you need from us, I'm afraid I'll have to ask you to leave. We're still in the middle of rehearsal.

Of course there is. I'm currently watching the performance, am I not?

I don't think someone who's walking around eating pizza counts as watching anything.

Am I not allowed to watch the performance while enjoying pizza?

Well, don't theaters usually have rules against that?

That's a rule imposed on people by the theater, not by the play itself.

Norms have a way of making people superficially conflate these things, and hold them with the same degree of reverence, even erecting false pedestals upon which to elevate them. True reverence, however, is much harder to find.

Huh?

Would you like a bite, young lady?

You betcha!

Bleh, the texture's awful!

It's the cheapest street pizza you can find, after all. That said, their sauce is actually quite respectable.

Um... so if you were watching our performance just now, what'd you think of it?

The key takeaway is that there are some differences between the methods of capturing and expressing emotions that you seem to be adept at, versus the demands of opera.

You are clearly used to standing in front of an audience. Or should I say, you're so used to it that it makes it hard for you to stand on stage as an actor.

That is not an indictment of your abilities, but is nevertheless a trial you must overcome.

Woah, I didn't expect you to be a total pro at this.

Think about it. You are the daughter of a wealthy Columbian magnate. He, Salvadore, is a vagrant from Siracusa.

He's different from all the other men you've ever met. He does not care about your status, but values you for who you are.

He is more indolent than anyone else, yet also cleverer.

He seems destined to become don of a famiglia, setting off on a perilous road from which there is no turning back.

Tell me, young lady, is this someone you could love?

Someone... I could love...

No, you are terrified! The more you love him, the more he terrifies you!

You have no chance of keeping him.

Your intuition tells you that you should escape. That he never belonged to you.