act38side

<p=2>November 9th, 1100 11:10 P.M.</>

What is this?

A list of people who have been coercing drivers to smuggle contraband into the city, compiled from the truckers' testimonies.

It is the same people behind the accident that night, the fire at Nuova Volsinii port, and the insurrection on the square that's happening right now. The mafia.

...I see.

You should have told me about the things that happened to the Truckers' Union. I went to the camp yesterday but didn't find you—

Too late for that now, Your Honor. The important thing right now is to put these people on trial.

Trial?

They want to take over the courthouse and eliminate their greatest threat before Carnevale is done... first Signore Leontuzzo, then you, Judge Lavinia.

They are no longer citizens of Nuova Volsinii. They have violated everything that the New Urban Management Act stands for.

The evidence is right before you. The drivers are the witnesses.

Signorina Texas here belongs neither to the government, the famiglie, nor the Truckers' Union. She is eminently qualified to be the jury.

Er...

And you are the Supreme Justice of Nuova Volsinii. The conditions have been met for emergency judicial procedures... did I get the term right?

Under extreme circumstances, the courts may, when the basic conditions have been fulfilled, try persons who present a significant risk to the public security of Nuova Volsinii in absentia.

The most important matter at hand is to bring the situation under control, to ensure the safety of the citizens and the smooth progress of Carnevale.

That's what I'm here for, Your Honor. Deliver your judgment, and the Truckers' Union will carry it out.

Is that so?

This list of names that you gave me—

It's a little too detailed, Eirene.

Venezia, Saluzzo, Medici, Leoti, Genovese... are all of these famiglie on the square outside?

Nobody on this list is innocent, Your Honor.

If emergency judicial procedures are activated, once I sign this verdict, everyone on this list becomes an outlaw under the New Urban Management Act...

By law, anyone may apprehend, even execute them at their own discretion, without legal consequence.

The present situation is not enough for me to justify such a measure.

But they're here for you, Lavinia, and they're not coming with good intentions.

That may be true, Eirene. But what intentions are YOU coming here with?

Why have you surrounded the courthouse with all these trucks? Is it to protect a friend... or to take the opportunity to solve all the problems you're facing?

When you came to the camp yesterday, I was trying to find Sommer's body...

Thank you for remembering him... yes, he's dead. I mobilized a lot of people, but we never found his body.

I don't know who killed him, but I know he—or she—is out there, in the darkness below.

It's not any one man or woman who killed him. It's a shadow that has always hung above our heads, one that has continued to stalk us, even after coming to this new city.

I want the murderers to get the punishment they deserve. I want to protect the rest of them and prevent the same fate from befalling anyone else.

That's my intention, Your Honor.

I should go. They're not used to this kind of stuff. I got to be by their side...

I know it's a lot to take in all at once, and you need time to process. I'll make sure you're not disturbed.

But don't take too long.

What's going on? An ambush?

Did City Hall know about our plans?

I saw their leader go into the courthouse. She must have gone to see that judge...

What'cha scared of? It's trucks, not tanks.

The government's so scared, they have to hide behind a bunch of truckers.

Forget 'em. We're going in!

E-Eirene! What do we do?

Give her some time.

Signore e signori, I know who you are, and I know what you're planning.

I suggest you go no further.

...It's quite a scene. I never imagined there would a festival in Siracusa like this, where everybody is part of it.

It's because this city belongs to all of them.

Tell me, Leon... in those grand dreams of yours, how many cities like this will there be in Siracusa?

You're quiet. It's not like you.

Just thinking about whether I should give you an actual figure, or just say, all of Siracusa.

If Nuova Volsinii is the only place where this legal system, this new order without the famiglie exists, then it will be nothing but a lonely island in the ocean...

This is something that Lavinia and I have taken to heart.

One lonely island in a swamp matters little. Before that, though, I must demonstrate to Signora Sicilia that this is possible in Siracusa.

How many people, how many things will you leave behind in the process?

You haven't changed one bit, Leon. You're firm, unwavering, and very talkative when you talk about your dreams.

But I'm not interested in engaging in a philosophical debate about the future of Siracusa with you here.

In the past few months, City Hall has rejected all applications by businesses associated with the Bellones. You're behind it, aren't you?

I won't deny it.

I can understand why you did it. You wanted to separate yourself from the past, to demonstrate the purity of City Hall...

Who's the one who hasn't let the famiglia go?

You remember how some associates of the famiglia chose to stay one year ago, even after most left because of what the old man did.

What you don't know is that, as we discussed where we would go from there, there was unanimous agreement from the remaining associates to keep the Bellone name.

Even if the name put a target on our backs for the other famiglie, for all our enemies, and gave us trouble after trouble...

Even if it forced us to seek new opportunities in Nuova Volsinii...

They don't regret it. They had lived together, fought together, and bled together under the Bellone name, carved out our own bit of turf together, earned the respect of everyone together...

Not even the betrayal of the Don and his heir could shake this sense of belonging.

You and the Don wanted to do away with the old and bring in the new, to change this country from the foundation. How admirable. How determined.

But isn't it a little cruel, if there is no room in your great ambitions for the fratelli who have had your back all this time, who had gone through hell and high water with you?

They respect you, Leon. But they're also...

Disappointed.

Yes, disappointed... you knew.

How cold of you, Leontuzzo.

If Nuova Volsinii rejects purely because the mayor was once the heir of Bellone, because of the potential backlash that permitting the entry of Bellone business might bring—

The problem can be solved by taking you out of the equation.

You men are in place nearby. The reveling crowd pays no heed to us. It's not hard for you.

Barely an inconvenience.

I said a year ago that I am responsible to those left behind.

I had intended to tell you this, that night at the restaurant. I've had to push it back for a few days.

I didn't have anything to do with your accident, Signor Mayor. But I will not hesitate to get you out of our way, if you become an obstacle to us.

I believe it. You were never the joking type.

So—

What's that sound?

An even bigger float? Did the City Hall plan a surprise for the parade?

I don't know how many of you are skulking out there tonight, but I can tell you pretty much every driver from the guild is here, be it full members or temporary contractors.

Hah, strength in numbers, she says.

What's next? You'll whip out a spanner from the trunk or something?

I'll tell you what, get out of my sight right this instant, all of you, and I'll pretend I didn't see you tonight.

I never thought we could stop you through strength of numbers alone.

A bunch of haulers who could hardly hold their own in a drunken brawl, much less fight to the death. Life's already hard enough. There's too much in life that we have to give up.

You've proven one thing: The famiglie will never give a second thought about us. Not then, not now, not ever.

Continue to cower, and all we'll continue to see is blood. Our own, our friends', our family's...

It's been a full ten minutes.

Can you reach Gambino?

No, I ain't getting through at all...

Something's not right...

The landship shoulda reached the rendezvous point and made port, and the convoys shoulda been on their way already. But there's no movement at the docks at all...

Are you going to listen to that driver talk until morning, Capone?

They're just a bunch of haulers, Antonio. Are you sure—