Act IV: Prepare For War
Late June 1940: Marcello’s House in Rome

The young Marcello, now known to be a Maurako, is standing in the doorway of his house dressed in an Italian Military Uniform. A pregnant woman stands in front of him with tears streaming down her face. The couple embrace in a hug as the tears continue to flow freely. Marcello pulls away and then wipes the tears from his young wife’s face and kisses her on the forehead.

Marcello: Marina I need you to be strong.

His wife Marina continues to cry and shakes her head from side to side clearly not happy that her husband is about to depart for the War.

Marcello: I don’t want to leave right now anymore then you want me to, but I don’t have any other options. Look at me.

Marcello takes his hands and places them on each cheek of Marina and forcers her to look at him in the eyes.

Marcello: Promise me you will take our baby to Mass regularly…. And if our baby is a boy let it be known that I wish for him to be named Matteo.

Marina collects herself enough to be able to speak.

Marina: Why Matteo?

Marcello: Because it means “Gift of God” and to be able to have a baby is truly a gift from above.

Marina shakes her head as she agrees with her husband Marcello.

Marina: What about Basilio?

Marcello: He is in good hands, do not worry about him. I wish I could stay forever, but I must go now as the Country needs me.

Tears begin to flow down Marina’s cheek again as Marcello pulls her in close and kisses her passionately on the lips. Marcello releases the lip lock and picks up his bag before waving his final good-bye as he departs to join WWII. The door closes as Marcello leaves, leaving Marina standing in the living room rubbing her pregnant stomach.



Act V: When in Rome… Roam!
Present Day Rome

It’s still dark in Rome and the Maurako Family are on the run in the streets trying to hide from the angry mob that is after them. The Family ducks into a dark ally and a handful of protesters run by without seeing the legendary family hiding in the shadows.

Matteo: I wonder what that was all about.

Martino: Even Italy hates Mario, we can’t go anywhere anymore.

Matteo: Silence Martino! You’re ignorant babbling is going to get us caught.
Martino groans as his father has once again stood up for Mario and continues to shun him. You can hear the crinkling of paper as Matteo pulls out a map of Rome from his pocket.

Matteo: Does everyone have the map of Rome that I gave them?

Mosé: Uh, no. Mine’s in my suitcase back at the hotel.

Matteo: Let that be the first lesson of traveling for you. Always keep your map on you incase there is an angry mob that chases you away from your luggage.

Martino: Yes, because most normal families have to worry about being chase by an angry mob.

Matteo having lost his patience snaps back at Martino.

Matteo: Didn’t I tell you to shut up?

Martino again groans and leans up against the brick wall. Matteo quickly pats all over his body as if he is looking for something.

Matteo: Does anyone have a light or something?

Emily: I do.

Suddenly a small light appears as Emily flips on a small flashlight that she had in her purse.

Matteo: You carry a flashlight in your purse?

Emily shrugs as she answers Matteo.

Emily: As you said, you have to be prepared for anything. But mostly I use it for night time emergency knitting.

Matteo: Emergency night time knitting? Mario where did you find this one?

Mario chuckles as he recalls Silver Cyanide’s wedding from December of 2008 that included the burning of the church when they used pyrotechnics for the entrances and Triple P sleeping with nearly every woman at the reception hall.

Mario: It’s a long story dad.

Matteo: Perhaps another time then.

Mario: Yeah, right now we need to get away from this mob which I’m sure was sent after us by Max Kael.

Matteo jumps slightly as he is shocked that Mario has accused Max Kael of being behind the angry mob.

Matteo: Why would Max do that to you Mario? I’m fairly close to Max and I don’t seem to think that this is something that he would do.

Mario: Think about it Dad. He took my ICON Belt from me and now he is out to make sure that he takes my World Title too.

Mosé: I thought you didn’t care about that?

Mario: I don’t, but I do care about protecting my precious HOW World Championship from him. And I’m sure he will do whatever he feels he has to do to take it from me. After all if the rolls were reversed I would do it to him in a heart beat.

Matteo: Yeah but-

Mario cuts Matteo off.

Mario: I think we should split up to help confuse the mob. Martino and Mosé you two go one way, and Dad, Emily and I will go another.

Mosé: Where are we going to meet up at?

Matteo takes a moment to study the map under the light. After a moment he believes he has found the perfect meeting spot and points it out to everyone.

Matteo: At this church right here on the map called Santa Maria di Loreto. Churches were often safe havens for people ages ago; perhaps we can have the same sort of luck.

Mario: Ick… I don’t know Dad. The last time I was at a Church and went into a confessional the Father on the other side was receiving a blow job from a young boy. Can’t we go somewhere else?

Matteo is irritated by Mario’s lack of trust and is quick to remind him that he’s the King no matter where they are.

Matteo: I’m the King of this family and I say that Santa Maria’s is our safest bet. Everyone got it?

The family members all shake their heads as Emily pulls out her map from her purse and hands it to Mosé so they have one as well.

Matteo: So everyone good with this? Let’s head straight to the church and no sight seeing. There will be time for that later.

The Family exits the dark ally together and quickly splits up into their two groups. Martino and Mosé head towards the main road which is a direct shot to the Church while Matteo, Mario, Emily and of course the HOW World Title belt take a winding back street approach to the church.

Mario: That good for nothing Max Kael, I’ll never let him have my World Championship, NEVER!

Matteo: Pipe down or you will get us caught.

Mario: Maybe I want to get caught. Then this mob can take me to Kael and I’ll get my licks in on him before we even enter the Coliseum. I’ll show him that I’m not scared, he doesn’t intimidate me.

Mario is full of confidence at this point and Matteo just shakes his head as they continue down the dim lit side streets of Rome passing an occasional homeless man who reeks of booze and urine.

Matteo: Max isn’t exactly an intimidating figure son, so I’m glad you’re not intimidated by him.

Mario: He wore another person’s face Dad! If that isn’t supposed to be intimidating then I don’t know what is.

Matteo pauses for a moment and quickly realizes that for the first time Mario is right and he is wrong.

Matteo: Ok so I forgot about the face thing-

Mario: But he hasn’t whacked 1,040 women. And some of those women were like twice the man that Max is. I mean look at Bobbinette… I’ve whacked her a couple
times. She’s ten times the man that Max is.

Man: There they are!

Matteo: Dang it Mario, come on!
Mario, Matteo, and Emily rush down the ally and take a quick turn down another ally. Mario spies a condemned house and kicks the door open and they all climb inside and close the door behind them. They listen intently as the footsteps of the mob of people draw closer and closer. They are now just outside the door and The Maurakos can hear them talking outside.

Man: They couldn’t have gone too far. That one was old and I’m sure he couldn’t run for long, let’s keep looking.

The protesters storm off to continue the search for the Maurakos as Matteo slouches down on the ground attempting to catch his breath. Mario takes the HOW Championship off from his waist and examines it to make sure it is still in mint condition. When he is satisfied he places the strap over his shoulder and bends down next to Matteo on the ground. While the two Maurakos chat Emily roams about the room with her little flash light out.

Mario: You doing ok Dad?

Matteo continues breathing heavily and takes a moment before answering.

Matteo: I’ll be fine, just need to catch my breath and then we can continue on to the church.

As soon as Matteo finishes his sentence his breathing returns to somewhat normal and he slowly raises to his feet as he looks around the room.

Mario: Kael really means business, but that’s ok because so do I…. Dad?

Mario breaks out of his trance and his fixation of Max Kael when he notices Matteo acting different.

Mario: What’s wrong Dad?

Matteo: Nothing is wrong… but this place. This place feels familiar to me.

Mario and Emily move closer to Matteo as they all three begin to move around the house together looking at it. The house is extremely old and run down with cobwebs everywhere; the house has easily been sitting vacant for 60 years. The house is still fully furnished with old broken furniture laying around, tipped upside down and tossed about the house. Homeless people had probably ransacked the place looking for food and odds and ends materials.

Matteo: I know this is going to sound funny, but I think this was where I was born. I think this was my house.

Mario holds back a laugh and instead smirks.

Mario: How could you possibly know that dad?

Matteo: I don’t know, but I can just feel it in my bones.

Emily: Hey, what is that?

Emily shines the light on a piece of paper which is laying on the ground next to a broken table. Mario bends down and picks the paper up and unfolds it. Mario’s eyes widen as he begins reading the paper aloud.

Mario: MARCELLO MAURAKO OF THE ITALIAN ARMY

TO MARINA MAURAKO

THINGS HAVE TURNED FOR THE WORST MY DEAR STOP THE DUCE (Mussolini) HAS BEEN CAPTURED AND ALL OF ITALY IS NOW IN IMMEDIATE DANGER STOP IT WOULD BE WISE FOR YOU TO FLEA THE COUNTRY WITH MATTEO STOP I AM ABOUT TO EMBARK ON A DANGEROUS MISSION WITH THE NAZI ARMY TO RESCUE OUR DUCE FROM THE FAKE GOVERNMENT STOP WHEN ALL RETURNS TO NORMAL I WILL SEND FOR YOU STOP TAKE CARE MY DEAR STOP I LOVE YOU


MARCELLO MAURAKO


Mario folds the letter back up into thirds and hands it to Matteo who studies the telegraph intently as the scene fades out.



Act VI: Denial & Betrayal
A few blocks away


The scene opens on the better lit main street where we see Mosé and Martino walking down the street paranoid of people noticing them.

Man: Hey, you look like one of those Maurako guys.

Mosé shakes his head no as they continue to walk past the man.

Mosé: Sorry, but I think you have me confused with someone else.
The man runs to catch up with them and starts walking along side of Martino and Mosé.

Man: Are you sure you’re not one of those Maurako boys? You look just like them.
Mosé laughs nervously and starts to walk a little bit faster trying to get away from the man.

Mosé: I’m pretty sure I know who I am, and I’m not a Maurako.
The man again calls out to Mosé this time behind him as he wasn’t able to keep up with him.

Man: Hey-

Mosé: Look I told you I’m not a Maurak… oh.

Mosé and Martino turn around to look at the man only to see that the protesters have caught up with them. The two Maurakos turn to run but when they turn they find even more protesters and now realize that they are surrounded by them. The two mobs begin to converge on Martino and Mosé. As they get closer and closer Martino chimes in.

Martino: Hey guys, we can talk this all out. We all know that Max Kael has sent you guys to retrieve the HOW World Title belt from my brother Mario. I’ll tell you what, if you let us go now we can take you to him.

Mosé: Martino!
Martino: It’s either that or death by pitchfork! You choose Mosé but I’m making my choice right now.

The man who appears to be the leader of the group steps forward.

Man: Ok, we’ll let you go if you lead us to the rest of them.
The scene fades to black as Martino sneers, seemingly getting off of the hook.