EPISODE 1

''Mark, no more! I've already left you too much time! You've got three months! And not a day more. I'm just giving you this time at your mother's request because by me, your time is over, you've had a lot of time, and you don't care about anything; you want to know about partying, gambling, and people have already started talking—The family is already commenting. You're not a boy anymore. You need to accept your destiny and understand once and for all that you're a Capo. We can't run away from who we are. I always thought it was a phase that would pass, but after your initiation, you became even more inconsequential.'' 

 

''Are you crazy, dad? I do not get a wife like that overnight. How get to do a wife in three months? They're not born in trees! Are we in Rome, or has the Lord forgotten? I can do it, but I'm sure the family won't approve of a prostitute as first lady,'' I speak sarcastically.

 

''You can marry Theodora; she has always been our first choice, she is already family, and it would be very advantageous,'' My mother says, sitting on the couch while having her cup of tea.

'' Your mother is right. I should have arranged your marriage to Theodora a long time ago. I shouldn't have let it go that far.'

 

I look at them both, perplexed. ''Never! I've barely seen this girl my whole life, and she's not my type!'' I run to the stairs to reach Dad, who is irreducible. In a way, he's right. I lead a Bohemian life; I've never been interested in getting a wife. I've always helped in the family business by caring for the clean company. The whole society considers me a billionaire womanizer and playboy. And until now, it was good for me, like this.  

''Dad always said That I could marry whatever who me, that I wasn't going to force myself to follow tradition. I say to my father. I reminded him of the promise he made to me when I was ten.

''Mark, you had a life to get a wife! And you all the time just wanted to have fun. Enough is enough! And don't try to pass me, I'll know if you try to bring an into prostitute to this house. You've got three months! If you don't get a wife, you'll lose your place as Bastille boss to your cousin. And, it's my final word,'' he says and climbs the stairs without giving me time to argue anything else.

 

''I can't believe that this may be happening! My father's gone mad! I can't get a woman like that. I don't even have anyone in mind. No woman in this town is going to accept a proposal like that. You need to talk to him, Mom; I need more time; you need to help me! It has to contain this madness,'' I cry desperately, going towards my mother and kneeling at her feet.

 

She's got her hand on my hair. I'm like a boy clinging to their legs. If one of our enemies sees me like this, I'm dead. ''I'm so sorry, Mark! Not this time! Your father's right; you must stop living like you're still a bambino! You're already a man, Mark! You're supposed to be giving us grandchildren, and you spend your nights at gaming tables, and you always smell like cheap perfume. That's not how you're going to get it. Sorry my dear, this time you're alone,'' She gives me a kiss on the head, gets up, and leaves.

 

I get up and fix up my jacket. And I scream toward the stairs. ''You are crazy! They're both crazy; that's absurd'' I take the car key and go out, slamming the door. I'm going to go in the car and drive to the neighborhood of the city I usually go to—the port. On the way, I call my security guard and my best friend. David and I have been a duo since my startup.

 

''What does hear, Mark? Called me; it looked like something serious had happened.''

 

''And it happened! My dad's gone crazy for good! He's crazy, and the worst thing is that he took my mother with him; I will have to put them both in a mental institution. That's what happened'' I say, asking for a drink at the bar.

 

''Something you made, Mark, as always! Did you get in trouble again over a woman? Your father warned you that you would no longer endure your inconsequences,'' David says, laughing as he sips his whisky.

 

''I wish that were it! The confusion this time is the lack of a woman,'' I say, also drinking from my whiskey.

 

''What do you mean? What the hell are you saying?''

 

''My father said I have to get married in three months. Otherwise, he'll pass everything on to Dominique's command!''

Silence takes over for a few moments until David breaks his silence. ''AH, ah, ah, you'll have to dance to the tune because, if Dominique gets the Bastille,

he will hand it all over to Gonzalez! It's going to be a total ruin! He'll make a point of destroying you after you despised Theodora.''

''I know that, yes, more like I can achieve a woman to get for married such a short time, and the worst, I don't have suitors; I have no name in mind! Everyone knows who I am here and all over Italy; hearing my last name, most will run leagues away. 

I can't just look around for a woman who agrees to marry me overnight. Here, everyone knows who I am, and all over Italy, just hearing my last name, most will women away. Only if I hire one...''

 I took a sip of my whiskey.  "I am a genius, David. I found the solution. I'm going to hire a wife.''