Record:It's Been a Long Time

Setting: The Palace of House Minestrici, Mineria. It is raining, but only in a faint drizzle, just weak enough to ruin one's mood. The curtains are closed. The local government has closed for the day. An electric lantern shines upon the Family's library room. It is empty, or almost so. Frail and unmoving, an old man weakly grasps a worn out book. La Storia Completa della Nobile Casata dei Minestrici. He slowly flips through the pages, taking in the story of what once were and will never be so again. The bell rings at the door.

Leo Minestrici: Rosalia? Could you, please?

(A maid walks up to the giant double-winged door, slowly opening one of them. Franco Morelio di Lorma is standing there with his luggage, slightly wet.)

Franco Morelio: (Handing over a suitcase.) Oh, good evening. You look wonderful, Rosalia. Is the old man at home?

Rosalia: (She smiles politely.) Signore Leo is in his study, yes. Should I carry this to the guest room?

Franco Morelio: (Entering through the door, taking off his coat.) Yes, and this also-Let me just grab the smokes.

(Stuffing a pack of Kalami tobacco into his pocket, he walks down the halls of the old Family home. At the end of a long hall, dark and empty, he enters the library.)

Franco Morelio: Leo! I hope I am not intruding. (He sits down on an opposing chair.)

(Leo Minestrici looks up from his book, but doesn't say anything.)

Franco Morelio: It's been a while, is all.

Leo Minestrici: I suppose it has. We haven't seen each other since the trial, as far as I can tell.

Franco Morelio: Yeah... It's been a long 11 years.

Leo Minestrici: What is the occasion?

Franco Morelio: Have you been following the news lately? An earthquake hit us up north. That nut kicked us out for the time being.

Leo Minestrici: So you came to me?

Franco Morelio: That was the thinking. I just thought, well... For old times' sake.

(Franco looks around. It is very quiet, apart from the gentle dripping on the windows.)

Franco Morelio: This place wasn't as empty when I last visited.

Leo Minestrici: It wasn't, yes.

Franco Morelio: Well...? (He looks at him confused, expecting an explanation.)

Leo Minestrici: The trial happened, that's what. Damned Barozzo, he ruined all of our lives.

Franco Morelio: They've been out to get us ever since then. But we're strong people, noble blood. Our Families got through the revolt and somehow returned. Not least because of you.

Leo Minestrici: Like I care about them! Nothing the public thinks changes who I am. My Family can be traced do the first settlers of this place! We embody this city like no one else can. But...

Franco Morelio: But? We're doing well for ourselves. We are back on our feet. Business is going well, even if we lost some control...

Leo Minestrici: That doesn't matter. Don't you see where I am? In this palace of silver, left all alone? I testified against my own nephew. My own flesh and blood isn't going to forgive me for that.

Franco Morelio: Oh... So that is what it is all about.

Leo Minestrici: Nothing else matters. That pig-faced bastard. I almost regret testifying against the scum. My Family resents me. And the masses hate them. What was any of it worth, then?

Franco Morelio: I didn't mean to poke nerve, Leo. It's Barozzo's fault. I tried to get him to stand down, but...

Leo Minestrici: You didn't try anything. You tried to get that stale Denunzian leftover to run instead, and when he said no you covered and then hid under the floorboards. And what was that worth?

Franco Morelio: Look, look, I am sorry. Let us just... (He pulls out a cigarette. He puts it in his mouth and lights it.) May I?

Leo Minestrici: Do whatever you want. I can't stop you.

Franco Morelio: Maybe take one. It calms down the nerves.

Leo Minestrici: I have better decency in my late years than to become a washed up dhaas addict such as you.

Franco Morelio: It's not dhaas. I am off the stuff. I'm serious.

Leo Minestrici: So you replaced one poison for another.

Franco Morelio: I don't care about poison. Only those with time to live care about poison. I care that I'm in control of myself when I die.

(They sit in silence for a few moments, not looking at each other.)

Leo Minestrici: How long...?

Franco Morelio: I don't know. Doctor said a few months, maybe a couple of years. Maybe a little more if I'm lucky.

Leo Minestrici: I am sorry to hear.

Franco Morelio: I don't care for your sympathies, Leo. If I did, I'd have started with it. I just wanted to see you again.

Leo Minestrici: I imagine neither of us have much time.

Franco Morelio: Well, I'm not sure about you. You went gray quick. You looked like an old man since I've first known you. You'll live another century or so.

Leo Minestrici: I hope I do not. Our old world is collapsing in front of us. I hope I do not see the final blow with my own eyes.

Franco Morelio: That's funny. That's the world you made for us, Leo. You opened our ports, and you gave them the freedom of choice. And they chose they didn't need us.

Leo Minestrici: Maybe I shouldn't have.

Franco Morelio: Maybe you should have. I think there will be no greater reformer than you in the century that follows. You made something new from this place, even though none of us wanted it. We were all too short-sighted. The Families are turning into nothing. And that crazed Marone, he just has to utter our names to get a thousand angry pitchforks rising into the air. I think the next generation will not even remember us.

Franco Morelio: But hey, that's politics.



― XX-XX 67 PC