act38side

Have your arms grown back? Is your heart whole again? Why... why can't I see you? Why can't I get close to you?

My sweet child, would you have hunted with such fervor if I didn't say that?

Red killed the true wolf and earned an insipid victory for grandma. Finally.

Now I go off to find another sweet child.

You lied to me?

Why? I don't understand.

Oh, bother.

Alright, let me put it another way. Maybe then you'll know what to do.

You're like the ones you killed, my child.

You're both huntress and true wolf.

Not all the true wolves have been slain. Grandma hasn't been saved yet.

(Claps)

Look at the coordination of the two groups! Truly impressive, isn't it?

In the space of a few minutes, they've hidden all the weapons in the trucks, and stand side-by-side to welcome the parade procession. It's almost like they rehearsed it.

Who would believe me if I said they were pointing weapons at each other just a few minutes ago?

You win again, Texas!

Once again, justice and conscience have taken your side!

Texas does not answer. The White Wolf claps even harder, an ink-black mask on her face.

Actually, I'm more curious why you suddenly put that mask on.

It's Carnevale, after all!

Why the long face, Texas? You won. You should be more cheerful than that.

Look! The parade enters Court Square. That little intermezzo just now never turns into a full-scale riot. Peace and love for all.

Or is it because you just can't help thinking that the only reason it turned out this way was because of a single gunshot out of nowhere, which gave one of the wolves the chance to cool its head?

And Carnevale is nothing but a red carpet laid out on a swamp?

What are you trying to say, Lappland?

What happened tonight is not the same as the civil disorder that happened in the other cities of Siracusa.

...The only difference being the involvement of a bunch of ordinary people, who were pushed to desperation by the mafia's turf wars.

Well... you're not wrong.

But they really did put on a remarkable show.

Especially that driver lady that we saw in court, who seems to have understood a lot of things without having to be taught...

Nuova Volsinii is not a vineyard where you just sow the seeds and wait for the fruits to grow.

Don't forget that it sits right in the middle of this swamp by the name of Siracusa.

The famiglie have never been the only ones who had to crawl through mud and water. Don't underestimate the power of this bog, Texas. It turns everyone into hungry, ravenous wolves.

It has ingrained into the genes of the Siracusans the instinct to turn any new turf into the same swamp.

This endless cycle is what Siracusa is.

Don't try to escape it or change it. The easiest thing to do is to learn to enjoy the swim.

This is what the old man, Signora Sicilia, and you... what all of you have taught me.

Leontuzzo and Lavinia have taken radical measures in order to validate an order that exists outside the mafia... there is a long way to go.

But this is why Nuova Volsinii exists. It offers a new possibility.

But really, did you do all this in order to give this speech?

I didn't know you were so concerned about the future of Siracusa.

Took the words right out of my mouth, didn't you? I was going to ask you that.

Otherwise, why would you have come here all the way from Lungmen the moment you got my invitation?

I know, you're gonna say—

The White Wolf pauses, clears her throat, and imitates Texas' way of speaking.

Calm and even, yet emotion-filled.

Ahem. 'All those lofty ideals are none of my business. I just work for a logistics company.'

'I'm just here because I care about my friend, and because my conscience wouldn't let me turn a blind eye to certain things... just like in Volsinii...'

No, Texas, I haven't forgotten the time that we first met...

You had just came to Siracusa. You were standing at the edge of the mobile platform, holding your Nonno Salvatore's hand, watching my family's workers trim the grapevines.

Your nonno and my father were talking about how Columbia was turning into a dump, about Siracusa's good weather, the new year's harvest, and how you'll be staying a while at our place.

Your eyes were BRIGHT back then, and your expressions were much more interesting than they are now—

That's because the grapes you picked were so sour they almost burned a hole in my tongue.

Everyone on the square is wearing a mask tonight, but none could compare to the one you wear.

Nobody sees things clearer than you. You were the first one to realize that this is a swamp that you needed to get out of.

But it was your disappointment that made you see, Texas. You once had such high hopes for this swamp.

Forget about my speech. You, Texas, are a true blue idealist!

I don't deny it.

Or rather, whether I am or am not makes no difference.

It doesn't change what I have to do at the end of the day.

A very Texas answer. Almost boringly so.

Is that a LANDSHIP?!

Wow, City Hall brought a landship to the show and turned it into a stage?

Wait, look who's on deck...

Is that the Last Texas?

I'm sure, I've seen her in the courts of Volsinii—and the one opposite her...

Lappland? The White Wolf who was disowned by the Don of Saluzzo eight years ago?

Why are they here at the Carnevale?

Must be City Hall's special guests! Think about it, representatives of two major famiglie here at the climax of Carnevale...

It sends an even more powerful message than Signor Bellone's promotional video!

Damn right!

Lappland takes off her mask and gives it to Texas.

What?

You won the bet, didn't you?

In the old days, the famiglie murdered each other on Carnevale, the last surviving wolf taking the masks of the vanquished.

I suppose we need to give the old customs new meaning in this new city... a new life, that kind of stuff, I guess.

As for the question just now, it doesn't matter what your answer is.

Siracusa makes all of us wear masks, after all.

We're part of Carnevale's main event, Texas.

Regardless of why you're here, here and now, you represent part of Siracusa, whether it's the part that's new, or the part that's broken and needs to be thrown out.

Mafiosi and truck driver, city officials and judges, and all the Siracusans on the square, will see in us the meaning that they want to see.

You may, of course, choose to turn around and leave.

Come on, Texas, don't just stand there. All of Nuova Volsinii is watching!

Silence.

Texas gazes at her old friend, and old enemy, for a long time... and finally extends her hand.

A dozen beast floats drive into Court Square, as though it had been previously rehearsed, and the reveling crowd continues to gush in like the tide.

The sound of music and the cheers of the crowd keeps growing louder. The bright lights and fireworks in the sky provide the perfect backdrop for the duo on stage.

Do you hear that? They would not let the good night go gently.

They're cheering for you and me, for this new city, for a new life.

You're still really good at making me feel sick.

I'll take that as a compliment.

But I don't mind being part of the event. I don't mind these people seeing some sort of 'meaning' in me.

Without hope, there would never be disappointment. Whether in Columbia or Siracusa, I do, in fact, hope to see a truly vibrant city emerge from the swamp.

If the challenge and complexity of building it are beyond what I can imagine, then I will face the challenge with my friends, not run away from it.

Alright, I've made up my mind. I'll take care of one more trouble for you and Siracusa!

I'm bringing those stupid wolves back to the wilderness, so that Siracusa won't be affected by their dumb game.

No need to thank me. But when the obstacles have all been pushed out of the way, how will they—you—change this swamp?

There's something I suddenly wanted to ask you, Texas.

What?

Are you disappointed that I didn't come to Nuova Volsinii for you?