Part X Beguiled Part I
She asks what can be done; Robin explains handing her the latest strange occurrence a wedding picture with her cut out of it. "I'm laying low, no over reacting, and gather proof." With Maxie, Epip, Kelly, Lainey, Em, Rosanna and we've got Nadine and Regina. I'm not sure if you met them they've been keeping your seat warm at Jakes." She adds, "I'm trying to keep Georgy out of it she's been so happy about the documentary no need to bring her down."
Robin has a surveillance squad something is bound to surface. Elizabeth wants her to know she's here for her, "just as you've been for me."
"So far how is married life?" "Thanks for the advice Robin for once I just followed my first mind. You and Georgy are so much alike I took your suggestions and just went for it and I'm happy." "Elizabeth, I wasted a lot of time with my fear of being victimized by a womanizer."
"Exactly, Jason wasn't a womanizer and look what happened to us. I'm in a new marriage now; I left the old baggage behind."
Elizabeth informs her husband there's somewhere she'd like to stop on their way to New York City a Saturday morning she's ringing a doorbell bright and early .
She hears a voice, Petey get the door.”
“Mom there’s the man and lady from the wedding asking are you ready to go to Walmart.”
Cy gets to the door..”Oh sh... Astorre and Elizabeth.” Cy is starstruck. “I look a mess," she looks around, "the house is a mess."
The place is far from a mess its cheerful very pretty actually. Cy lives in a condo off the inner harbor right in the center of town on the twentieth floor Elizabeth isn't surprised she couldn't see her in a house with a white picket fence Cys not the type. She hands Elizabeth the spatula to flip over the bacon and ran to get dolled up in record time to start the eggs.
"Astorre Marcello sitting in my kitchen waiting for me to finish breakfast," suddenly Cy just breaks out laughing and Elizabeth joins her they go at so hard tears are in their eyes. "You really got me this time Elizabeth Webber ... I mean Marcello, you really got me good."
Astorre is looking strangely; Elizabeth has told him all about Celebrity Cy how instrumental she was in championing him. It was some kind of karma she won that trip to Cote d' Azur to that place of her dreams she helped make his dream come true but that's not only the reason he likes her its because she's real not a fake she's a strong woman and Astorre has an infinity to strong courageous females a trait he got from his mother and grandmothers who raised him. A single mom who is not doing bad for herself. She's a happy person she's cracking jokes making them breakfast and nodding for Elizabeth to pour coffee,
"Astorre we have little Italy right here in Baltimore," she gets them laughing again.
Not only do they go to Walmart where Elizabeth finds much needed lightweight jackets on sale but rain gear as well she buys up the lined raincoats, rubber boots. Cy takes them to Little Italy before the first set.
When Elizabeth says how great the location is Cy goes on, "Its the best comedy club you never heard of. It wasn't always this great but we got lucky with gentrification." Now its in a more upscale part of town its called the The Pendalum District. Marcello complements the decor,
"I went for a speakeasy type vibe we've kept it up its important we keep the integrity of the club and its a lot of decor are antiques we salvaged from the period . I concentrate on the food and drinks...when I first started they were awful."
Elizabeth walks around, "Cy I love it, its really nice I didn't think it would be so so..."
"Artistic?"
She smiles at her friend, "Yeah artistic."
Astorre picks up the wine menu tales out a pen from somewhere and starts jotting down and scratching out several items. Cy assures him they can't afford Marcello wines he smiles and keeps writing.
Someone must have called it in because a small crew meets them in front of their car.
"What brings you to Baltimore's All Jokes Aside?"
“To see the show obviously,"
"Do you think its funny?"
Its Elizabeth who speaks, “it made us laugh, so yes. Astoree.. Would you say its funny?"
He nods his head, "I'd say so."
This is their first interview as husband and wife it begins the Marcellos banter they'll become known for with the press. Elizabeth pushes him into an awaiting limousine, "what a stupid question."
She mocks the reporter using her hand as a mike but something just dawned on her, "Mr. Marcello it was you wasn't it. You called the reporters to give her club some of your buzz. What a thing to do for her Astorre. How do you feel being such a wonder to me right now? Speak up, I'm a roving reporter."
"Sublimely serene," he opens her coat, raises her blouse and kisses her navel she runs runs her fingers through his thick curly hair every time his lashes brushes her stomach she giggles.
They're in route to the Pierli jet night flighting to New York City to sequester themselves in a rooftop honeymoon suite. He meets a business associate for an hour, other than that, they're basically bed bound watching movies making love and the bestest.... no press. "After we pick up the kids we're going to stay home for a looong time," she coos in his ear.
----------------------------
And for a time they did Astorre worked mostly out of the townhouse; Paola came in for Christmas they took the train together back to Monferatto on occasion. Elizabeth and the kids learn more about wine making, its winter, "we're in dormancy now when the snow from the Alps melt by spring we'll plant." Paola explains to Cameron, Mimi and Jake. "Then in the fall you pick grapes again it will be your second time."
"Where are the grapes we picked before," asks Cameron " They are still in the cellaring process we put special tags on your barrels when they are ready you can taste it then you'll bottle them and put them in storage to wait until you're older."
Astorre explains to Elizabeth in another section of the winery, "this vintage is from five years ago these grapes were in stainless steel, transferred to oak barrels for fermentation then aged in new French oak for eighteen months." He places the glass under her nose; Elizabeth frowns still not understanding the technical mumbo-jumbo,
"I have a lot to learn but it tastes good." She smiles its inspired her to paint Pierli Vineyard in dormancy because it quietly fascinates her.
Astorre Gregorii Marcello is from a wine legacy thanks to his grandfather Savan his daughter Paola di Angelis Pierli and wine-collecting father Alessandro he's entrenched in several generations of wine history, import distribution and retail Mr. Marcello speaks to Lot: Vini d'esti.
Congratulations on your marriage. Thank you we’re immensely happy.
How would you describe your wine personality? Diverse, international and esoteric.
What are your favorite foods? Italian, Thai. Not that French and American food isn’t great.
What are your favorite wines to drink? Riesling, red Burgundy, northern Italian reds, Madeira, and aged Bordeaux. And your wife? St. Emilion 2004 and Nobleza Tequila.
What’s the most epic wine you’ve ever tasted? Cheval Blanc from 1961 - it was old, elegant and definitely epic. Does your Italian background make you partial to Italian wines? Of course, but it makes me extra critical of them as well. Just like French wines can be fantastic, but they aren’t always so great.
What’s your favorite wine region to travel to? Besides Piedmont, Madeira, Portugal, Madeira makes totally unique wines on a subtropical island in the middle of the Atlantic filled with history.
What could be better than that? Also America’s Napa Valley I find fascinating. What’s awesome is they are excited by such an enormous potential of exploring they are a force in wine making.
Why did you get into wine? It combines my interests and passions - history, culture, science, language and cuisine - it’s our family business.
If you had one piece of advice for buying wine, what would it be? Buy what you like and find people who can recommend what you like - curators with similar palates.
What do you like about New York? It’s a city that never sleeps! Where else can you get Chinese food or fresh croissants at 3 a.m.?
Despite the media scrutiny, its been quiet and eerily peaceful being in love with him, seeing Rome through his eyes in an entirely new way. "I like living here with you its exciting."
They walk about the city holding hands, kissing in the park or strolling through an exhibit, their last, Raphael. She rides a bike to her gallery to paint or borrows signora side of the rooftop. They've been rarely separated but she rides to meet him at the train exit and they'll walk back holding hands or he'll ride and she'll walk along side.
If he stays more than a day she goes to Monferatto with him or more than two days they take the kids and make arrangements with their school.. Its been sublimely serene past perfect.... until February when Tales of Two Portraits would not only be screened at the Festival but was submitted in competition for a Palme d'or for Best Documentary in Film. All hell broke loose by April. Georgy was so amped Astorre insisted she stay at the townhouse for fear of her health. The buzz is all over the writer, director, and producer.
One afternoon they were hijacked and followed in the park with a series of pestering redundant questions about the film...then, "Mrs. Marcello about your wedding theme."
She can't imagine why its brought up from six months ago but its the first time she's made a comment, "we wanted a wedding that is reflective of who we are as a couple we have a thing for rooftops, goodnight ladies, gentlemen, see you at the festival," they sprint faster across the park to the house's back entry.
Astorre can tell she's upset this would have to happen on the day they've been invited to a dinner to promote the film. They're in his dressing room, “Darling if this is too much I can make excuses.”
“We can’t disappoint your pompom girls.”
He smiles takes her in his arms there's no music but he dances with her whispering, “I didn’t think this would be so intense it’s become like your dog and pony show fairly quickly." He takes aspirin from the medicine chest, "for the lights.” He knows her routine she’ll tilt her head to shield her eyes from the popping bulbs coming from every direction in various shades of blues, soft whites harsh yellows she'll either get a headache, or her neck gets sore.
She moves as close as she can into him and snatches the bottle from his hand making fun of herself in a diva voice in her oh woe is me gesture, “sometimes they make my eyes hurt or give me a headache.”
“Lets wear sunglasses tonight,” he swings her out and pulls her back in. She looks up to him grinding her hips on his,
“then I won’t be able to see you clearly and that’s one of the best reasons for going to this shindig.” Elizabeth is happy for them and wouldn't dream of spoiling their big evening especially Georgy she's counting on her being there. He fingers the cleft in her chin, "I sure screwed things up didn't I. Who knew this little film of theirs would get such attention."
Later at the dinner, It isn't just the little film that got their attention. The Rome Festival president drops by with a friend to give a letter to Astorre he reads aloud its contents which pretty much says,
"The festival's next edition the last week this October will honor Alessandro G. Marcello with an Marco Aurelio prize for his extraordinary achievements, as one of Italian cinema's outstanding figures who in his amazing career made splendid contributions to consolidating and expanding the frontiers of cinematic arts"
It may have been Elizabeth who sat down to eat miffed at the press but Astorre has gotten indigestion and is livid he could barely contain it for Georgy and Dillon he explodes when they hop in a taxi but when he gets home he's pacing with a glass of burgundy in one hand and a cigarette he's tempted to light in the other he fiddles with it,"those SOB's set a trap they had fucking photographers right there to snap me looking like an ass if I refused."
Over the years requests came by way of him or his mother to honor his father for this or that but their stock response, sorry at this time I am unable to participate...and would appreciate it being postponed for another time when I can and of course that time never comes. "They tricked me."
He loosens the J. Press tie and peels out of his Canali shirt, "they know how we feel about this," she hasn't seen him angry but a few times in their years maybe that's why its such a stunning sight.
"Davide's uncle just happens to stop by all the way from Paris to our table to read a letter how can I say no to the face of an eighty year old man I've known all my life one of my father's closest friends."
"Astorre I think that's why they did it this way you've avoided them for years so they button-holed you at dinner... another time ask me how I really feel about this because I think you have issues about your father you need to deal with and this is coming from someone who refused to confront hers and kept them buried for years. Lainey said to me once, in order to accept who you are you have to come to terms from whence you came. Your father is a famous man maybe its best just to get it over with maybe they'll leave you alone. That's what you want right...to be left alone regarding your father's work? Its quite an honor and in eight months you may feel differently by then."
He looks under a hooded brow, "you've always been such a sweet but I doubt it. Elizabeth there are things I've never shared with you and its because I didn't want you to know ...you didn't ask the hard question."
Astorre is not a man that confesses his sins, but for some reason just like the night he told his love to her he now wants her know, "I shot Karpove in Port Charles."
She doesn't speak right away, even after he lights the cigarette, " I already knew that answer; I've waited for when you're ready. I overheard Sonny and Jason discussing it years ago," she doesn't mention it was before she knew Gregor and Marcello are one and the same.
She stares at him fixedly, "I know what you're capable of Astorre and just how dangerous you can be."
Aware he's broken his word he expels a huff through a puff of smoke thinking she's so terribly kind but doubts she has a clue how dangerous he's been. He got so worked up they didn't get a chance to dance after dinner. Elizabeth turns on music and holds out her hand he stubs out the cigarette on the marble floor and takes it.
Georgy's Blog A view over the Boulevard de la Croisette
Director with a Port Charles connection wins Le Festival de Cannes best documentary filmmakers of Tales of two Portraits were in the photo booth answering press who commended the young director’s acceptance speech …. he spoke soveryfast, Astorre Marcello translated to French:
We have too many people to thank I won’t get to everybody …first to the audience who appreciated the film…. out there somewhere my some of my mother Tracey who gave me our first loan. The audience erupts in laughter…Dillion continues, Georgiana Jones whose writing speaks for itself where to begin ..... Dame Paola di Angelis Pierli Marcello whose wisdom set me straight on what classic movie magic truly is Ah… and wine making really is about … thank you\,." he blows a kiss. Turning sideways to Astorre. "To the Marcellos, Astorre thanks for everything you're the man who gave us a plan," and money he mouths, he gives him a thumbs up; the audience erupts in laughter, "But more than that you believed in us sight unseen, your wife," he squints his eyes and places hand over his brow "out there somewhere gave us confidence when the chips were down thanks fair Elizabeth. Davide who taught me its not just making a film but editing a film …a special tribute to master blaster Walter Much who believed that our little engine could from the very beginning he encouraged the film by lending his expertise. We have a distributor we’re hoping for an August release date in the US of A."
When Georgy gets to the microphone, “Ditto and I’d like to thank my Uncle Mac, Robin, and Maxi our sweet treasure Emma.”
Astorre steps up to a standing ovation, “To my mother… and… father Alessandro who loved making movies. My wife Elizabeth and our three children who love watching movies. Grazi"
The press caught up with Astorre later just before boarding Illusion, “What is next Mr. Marcello?”
"Well I promised my oldest if we win they’ll each get an extra day for a diving lesson so that’s three days so that’s where we’re headed… ciao."
"Mr. Marcello anything else?"
“We’re celebrating we have a boatload of family and friends ….”
The Reporter clarifies, “No I mean are you producing another movie…anything else coming up?”
”Not at the moment, ciao”
Port Charles New York, The Warehouse District
Jason Morgan finally makes small progress with Franco…getting shot put him out of commission a few months no telling how far along Franco got while he was out. His shoulder is still tight and he experience sharp burst of pain. The doctors are concerned that it will develop into bursitis and that's not good basically its arthritis of the joint and they want to treat with medicine that has steroids in it...No can do he told them. He'll have to go through therapy for that the rest of the year but the foot is back to normal. He’ in a loft studio or whatever you want to call it. Its nothing like Elizabeth’s studios.. Its dark, dank, dreary, lifeless. .. like his art.
With Spinelli's help he found his address there’s candles, dinner for two, he walks around and there's pictures of his life spanning over several years. Its titled Morgan the Magnificent in big letters. With so many threats converging all at once Sonny hired a new guy Dominic, that night they took eighth over to Hudson after an ambush they just blundered into. It happened so fast he didn’t have time to do the usual clean up. Three men died of gunshot wounds he looks closer at another picture that’s Joey Limbo come to find out somebody crushed his windpipe on Canal Street. He looks around there's pictures of all that …including video streaming footage from atop of the Canal Street bank of him in the gunfight.
On another wall hangs a tag board with people he knows and cares about there's Carly shopping for a Christmas tree with Josselyn. An earlier edition of today’s Chronicle Art and Entertainment section with pictures of Port Charles residents on the red carpet last night at his cousin’s film opening. There's Dillon escorting Tracey; Ned, Lois and Brooklyn; Emily and Nik; Monica and Alan; Skye and Lorenzo. There's Georgy with Robin and Maxi; Kate and Xavier in a group shot and there she Elizabeth with Marcello holding hands. His own family supporting her in contact with her while he's left in the cold with Sam. He looks around one last time and leaves as quietly as he came.
When Jason gets back to his penthouse he has a message from Spinelli that Sam wants to see him tonight. He texts her back ‘2tired maybe 2morrow afternoon arm hurts.’ That’s a good excuse. He hasn't been able to rise to the occasion in some time and he doesn't feel like trying tonight with her. He heads to the fridge raising his beer here's hoping she finds thrills elsewhere. He goes straight for the internet and searches for Cannes Film Festival keys in Marcello clicks images more shots of them on a 166 feeder named Illusion. He remembers they had a boat times on Mystic Blu. She's kissing him deck in a green bikini. She looks unbelievable each time he sees her she looks different her hair is longer almost to her waist like the other one. Maybe its those extensions she use to wear sometimes. Or other times its blonder and shorter…before that darker almost black he feels stirrings he hasn't felt in a long time. Everyone keeps telling him how she’s very different than she use to be especially with Marcello he has to admit she's grown out of her reclusive tendencies with him. That arrogant prick he’s a vain spoiled only child and its hard to believe Elizabeth chose to marry him. Jason Morgan says aloud, " he's definitely not her type and it won't last." He'll bide his time.
He finds a picture of Mimi and Jake swimming in the Mediterranean his hair is still blond and Cameron he barely recognizes he’s a lot taller he and Marcello are taking off scuba gear… He wasn't in town when they came for Halloween and they didn't come for Thanksgiving or Christmas. It wouldn't have mattered he was in Concordia Hospital. When he first got home his foot still swelled to the size of a football he couldn’t get around for weeks.
He grabs another bottle of beer. oh... there's cold beef Egg Foo Yung. He opens it and takes a whiff .. good..still smells fresh. Eggs are tricky a few months ago he got salmonella it took six days to recover. It didn’t matter because he was already in discomfort popping pain meds what's one more thing? He doesn't like being medicated but the pain was overwhelming and it dulled the ache of giving up his wife and kids. This time last year he was sitting a dinner table with home cooked meals They would eat under the pergola outside, a a set table even saying grace from time to time with his children and a wife who loved him.
He looks over the cartons he asked her to date her orders so he knows which ones to throw out. He looks at the lid of course no date...he puts two cartons in the garbage and two in the microwave, 45 seconds should do it, if you let it run a minute the rice gets too crunchy.
Marcello Estate Alpes-Côte d'Azur region 14 La Canebière, 1er Arrondissement, Vieux Port 13001 Marseille Provence, France,
Kate's at the infinity pool in a black lacquer KHO swimsuit reading a magazine she hands Elizabeth a tropical drink she flops on the lounger next to hers, "Finally all of them sleep and at the same time those scuba lessons tires them out. Gram is watching Cary Grant in To Catch a Thief Paula’s taking her to Monte Carlo or wherever it is you go to gamble around here she’s so excited it beats Sunday bingo with the club.”
”Where’s Georgy?” Kate lays flat and pulls her hat down over her face."
Elizabeth between sips, “not sure she and Dillon may have gone back on Illusion with Astorre and Xavier. She’s another one excited I think this win is just what she needs she’s really worked hard this should help validate her as a writer and I kept my end she said if she wins I wear black nail polish for a week. I think Astorre understands."
“Yeah hard work and a little luck five years ago, just think Franco was an anonymous wall tagger in New York City, and now he's a world-famous photographer and artist.”
“And.. why are we talking about the artist known as Franco exactly?”
She shows her a picture of his latest installment in Art du jour, “ And....Sam and Spinelli opened some kind of PI / Security company. I didn’t tell you then but that bint actually asked me could they cover his exhibition at your gallery she’s not the brightest. I think he's planning another one for sometime next year at the Museum of Contemporary Art in LA. “So Spinelli is in with team Jason and Sam … turncoat.” “Not Stan he refused to have anything to do with her.” Kate eyes dart around, “so this is where Gregor hung out … the south of France with topless women laying on beaches. I wonder what Xavier is doing on that boat?” After her divorce from Sonny because of his affair with Claudia Zacharra Kate has never trusted her relationships she tries to be optimistic with Xavier but always has her guard up.
"Kate, we're still newly wed I don’t think those thoughts yet besides Astorre isn’t dumb enough to have Hooters on that boat."
"Just kidding ... there was something today a before and after it showed him then a bachelor and now …I guess with the festival win they re-worked old news." “What is the now? Its with me and the kids I suppose.” “You were included it had a few of your greatest hits in there even a new one you two cavorting in the sea he's nude you've got on this green swim suit which its time to change by the way, you're in about six photos with the same suit."
Elizabeth looks deep in thought. "He's no longer eligible the press knows it. Don’t tell me that playboy crap still gets a rise out of you.” Kate says.
“Not as much as it use to... and talking with Robin helps she went through the same thing with Patrick. How about a swim?”
“Wait Elizabeth,” she grabs her lap top punches up an address, “check this out.”
“Kate none of that now.” “No really see this."
Its some video on YouTube interviews from the film festival, “there’s Astorre,” Elizabeth says, he’s boarding Illusion.
"Would you do it all over again he's asked.
“I can’t take my eyes off her she’s this porcelain delicate beauty but what makes her interesting is that she has this simmering fire underneath that is slowly revealed to me which makes each day with her fascinating. I can’t wait to see what happens next. Then we have these three allurring little people alike but different that are amazing. I find glamour in family life.
"Amazing, isn't it, how a script can flip." Kate says.
"Excuse me, I want to find my husband." Elizabeth walks to the dock that runs along side of the the house Illusion docks at the end. She grabs binoculars he keeps roped to a pole. He's dallying in the sea swimming in front of Illusion nude. She jumps off the end and swims to him they swim along side each other silently for awhile before she says, "I need to talk to you." They hike back up on Illusion not bother drying off their swinging above the sea.. "I saw a video what you said about me is so beautiful.' She looks at him as if seeing him for the first time. "Its really true isn't it you really loved me all that time, you." she blew out a gasp he's said it but right now she saw it on that video. "you really waited for us... for this chance didn't you?" "Yes, you've always held my heart."
Port Charles New York, The Warehouse District
Jason Morgan finally makes small progress with Franco…getting shot put him out of commission a few months no telling how far along Franco got while he was out. His shoulder is still tight and he experience sharp burst of pain. The doctors are concerned that it will develop into bursitis and that's not good basically its arthritis of the joint and they want to treat with medicine that has steroids in it...No can do he told them. He'll have to go through therapy for that the rest of the year but the foot is back to normal.
He’ in a loft studio or whatever you want to call it. Its nothing like Elizabeth’s studios.. Its dark, dank, dreary, lifeless. .. like his art. With Spinelli's help he found his address there’s candles, dinner for two, he walks around and there's pictures of his life spanning over several years. Its titled Morgan the Magnificent in big letters.
With so many threats converging all at once Sonny hired a new guy Dominic, that night they took eighth over to Hudson after an ambush they just blundered into. It happened so fast he didn’t have time to do the usual clean up. Three men died of gunshot wounds he looks closer at another picture that’s Joey Limbo come to find out somebody crushed his windpipe on Canal Street. Franco's got pictures of it all around his loft …including video streaming footage from atop of the Canal Street bank of him in the gunfight. On another wall hangs a tag board with people he knows and cares about there's Carly shopping for a Christmas tree with Josselyn.
There’s an earlier edition of today’s Chronicle Art and Entertainment section with pictures of Port Charles residents on the red carpet last night at his cousin’s film opening. There's Dillon escorting Tracey; Ned, Lois and Brooklyn; Emily and Nik; Monica and Alan; Skye and Lorenzo. There's Georgy with Robin and Maxi; Kate and Xavier. There she is Elizabeth with Marcello holding hands. His own family supporting her in contact with her while he's left in the cold with Sam. He looks around one last time and leaves as quietly as he came.
When Jason gets back to his penthouse he has a message from Spinelli that Sam wants to see him tonight. He texts her back ‘2 tired maybe 2morrow afternoon arm hurts.’ That’s a good excuse. He hasn't been able to rise to the occasion in some time and he doesn't feel like trying tonight with her. He heads to the fridge raising his beer here's hoping she finds thrills elsewhere.
He goes straight for the internet and searches for Cannes Film Festival keys in Marcello clicks images more shots of them on a 166 feeder named Illusion. He remembers they had boat times on Mystic Blu. She's kissing him on deck in a green bikini. She looks unbelievable each time she looks different her hair is long almost to her waist like the other one. Maybe its those extensions she use to wear sometimes. The other time it was blond and shorter…and before it was darker almost black he feels stirrings he hasn't felt in a long time thinking about their times on Mystic Blue making love. Its probably what's she's doing on this boat...Illusion.
Everyone keeps telling him how she’s very different than she use to be especially with Marcello. That arrogant prick he’s a vain spoiled only child and its hard to believe Elizabeth chose to marry him. Jason Morgan says aloud, "he's definitely not her type and it won't last." He'll bide his time. There's a few new pictures of Mimi and Jake swimming in the Mediterranean his hair is still blond and Cameron he barely recognizes he’s a lot taller he and Marcello are taking off scuba gear.
He wasn't in town when they came for Halloween and they didn't come for the Thanksgiving or Christmas. It wouldn't have mattered he was in the Concordia Hospital in Rome. And when he first got home Sam still had some ugly little Christmas tree sitting on his pool table which aggravated him and his foot kept swelling to the size of a football he couldn’t get around for weeks. Last year he was sitting down at a set table eating homecooked meals under the stars, under a pergola or in front of the Tyrrhenian Sea they gave dinner parties with family and friends quite often saying grace. When they were in Port Charles they always entertained.
He grabs another bottle of beer. oh... there's cold beef Egg Foo Yung. He opens it and takes a whiff .. good..still smells fresh. Eggs are tricky a few months ago he got salmonella it took six days to recover. It didn’t matter because he was already in discomfort popping pain meds what's one more thing? He doesn't like being medicated but the pain was overwhelming and it dulled the ache of giving up his wife and kids. He barely noticed Sam when she came around...He looks over the cartons he asked her to date her orders so he knows which ones to throw out. He looks at the top of course no date...he puts two cartons in the garbage and two in the microwave, 45 seconds should do it, if you let it run a minute the rice gets too crunchy.
From: Rome Town House 30 Via Archimede, Parioli Roma Italia five months later first year Anniversary
Astorre slowly climbs the stairs with Scuzzy scampering ahead of him. He arrived at the office at seven but after four hours it feels like a full day and it ended in a bantering bickering session with the consortium. He makes his way up the winding staircase to the second of three landings finds Elizabeth lounging and sketching in their bedroom.
“What is that wonderful American smell.”
She doesn’t look up, “dinner is finished. I made your favorite pot roast with lots of mushrooms and gravy over mashed buttered potatoes, grilled vegetables. Dinner rolls are in the oven. Are you hungry?" When she does look at to him, “darling you look beat.”
He falls flat across the extra king sized bed grunts out, “They smell heavenly and yes Madam I am very hungry, very beat. Ask me now and I’m ready to just be a winemaker. Thank you I know its a special day but I didn't expect it would take this long."
She wanted to spend the day in bed they've spent a lot of time in bed this past week, strolling the streets of Rome, their nightlife, going to markets or an outdoor cafe, shopping the open markets at night. Spending this time with him she feels every beat of the city…but here something is different the pulse it excites them then they return home to make love some more.
"I don't care about that as long as we're together at home with you and the kids its a perfect first anniversary and its enough for me." She takes his hand in hers and fiddles with the gold band around his finger, "I can handle it you know the consortium business. I’m not afraid Astoree.”
“I didn’t wait for us all this these years for this. I'd like to spend time with this family too my way... relaxing. I'm enjoying the diving lessons; I'm a nature boy what is there to give up. I spend most of my time like today on our anniversary no less putting out fires refereeing the others and the bickering of late is not much fun. I’ve done this over a decade; Elizabeth I’m stepping down as head of the consortium.”
She looks into deep brown eyes, “It’s your decision.” She remembers a similar conversation during her first marriage he said he wanted a life with her, and the children, the white picket fence, in the end he lied. She can think on Jason Morgan without becoming enraged it is a wound that hasn't closed and still a sore spot in her heart but she doesn't love him anymore its gone.
He stretches his arms out and …she takes his hand in hers strokes the gold band. Its still there for some reason it wouldn't have surprised her if he'd worn it for awhile then took it off but he never did...except when he goes swimming or something like that. As for the consortium she knows what he does not every detail but she's not naïve it isn’t all on the up and up its high echelon mob type business no matter how he tries to dress it up. Instead of killing people like Jason he takes their money which is just as dangerous look what happened to Jax. She doesn’t want to get into it,
"you don’t have to change anything for me. If you decide to stay is up to you."
“Truthfully? I’m bored with it and looking forward to tackling something new,” he sighs and clasps her fingers, "I did what I said I would accomplish there is nothing much left but maintenance after a year or so on the sideline I'm easing out altogether. ”
“You’ve said it’s a powerful position are you sure?”
“It was never because of power that's only a fringe benefit I enjoyed for a brief time but even that got old. Sitting as chair isn't a lifelong commitment; it was because of the vineyards. Being a producer is flexible it’s something I can pick and choose whenever it suits my fancy and being involved in my father’s work was enjoyable it was an adventure.”
“Being with you is an adventure.”
“You think so?”
"Ummm-hmm so a producer? I enjoyed collaborating with Dillon, Davide and Georgy we were in sync we work well together."
"Seems you've got your team in place."
"I have a production company that has produced one documentary but take a look at this. My anniversary present from Paola." He goes to his briefcase and takes out an assortment of binders handwritten notes he unties a purple ribbon they all flop out on the bed. "Its my father's screen play he worked on for almost forty years ... my parents love story.. some parts at the beginning are typed and computerized towards the end but most of it is the old fashion way...handwritten on a legal pad."
"Have you ever seen this?" Elizabeth picks up ledgers in white and yellow some faded with time.
"Never it wasn't unusual to see my father scribbling he was always writing..but I didn't know this existed until she gave it to me she says she thinks I'm ready now." He's looking through it with Elizabeth, "I'd like to do something with it but it needs a lot of work and I don't know if this is right for me...my father had early successes starting from his first role to directing he only produced a few projects but they were well received too. Everything he touched turned into box office gold. He never failed except once the day he died." Astorre is still resentful of the circumstances that placed him in the situation that caused his death its never been about him saving the kids but why they had to be saved in the first place. "What do you think?"
She's reading a page, "its a hell of a thing to live up to but I think your father was doing something he loved and if you make this for you and your mother, if other's like it then fine if not you did something you wanted to do. Its how I've approached painting basically, I paint for myself ...its selfish."
"This is a lot of work," he says again looking through yellow sheets that were once white. "and spans several decades, the early stuff is a mess some handwritten, some typed and follows no particularly order; a good thing is he's meticulous every page is dated with a time. Its not every day and some have gaps of several weeks...months. The computer generated pages started about his last fifteen years or so they are very well put together."
"How far back does it go?"
Astorre blows out a sigh, "late teens until age seventy and my mother has diaries and journals too its a massive undertaking this is like his biography."
She divides the pile into two stacks his and hers, "it needs organizing, so let's devote time to sorting this out. Then take it from there."
He looks at her strangely, "What...right now?" "Mr. Marcello there's no time like the present we'll get started because all this."
she hits the pile of papers, "needs to find its way into a computer."
Spinelli may be a turncoat but she lived across the hall from StaNelli Services Ltd for years she knows when to use technology. There was a time she could call on him and he would offer solutions, it just occurs to her, there is someone she can call.
"Some of these pages are fragile and hard to read ...but," she acts very wifely loosens his tie and unbuttons his shirt pushes him down to take off his loafers and kicks them under the bed, she straddles across him, "you're tired school won't be out for a few hours its Giada’s turn getting them home today. ... how about we take a nap."
His tongue grazes her neck as their lips meet, "Sounds thrilling." A warm feeling surges through him before he knows it he's moving against her but he's too tired to follow through his fingers trace over her mouth, "we'll have our time later." She gets his belt off, then moves his pants down his legs covers him with a sheet then lays down beside him until he falls asleep. "Thank you my darling," he whispers.
Part X Beguiled Page 2
Robin has a surveillance squad something is bound to surface. Elizabeth wants her to know she's here for her, "just as you've been for me."
"So far how is married life?" "Thanks for the advice Robin for once I just followed my first mind. You and Georgy are so much alike I took your suggestions and just went for it and I'm happy." "Elizabeth, I wasted a lot of time with my fear of being victimized by a womanizer."
"Exactly, Jason wasn't a womanizer and look what happened to us. I'm in a new marriage now; I left the old baggage behind."
Elizabeth informs her husband there's somewhere she'd like to stop on their way to New York City a Saturday morning she's ringing a doorbell bright and early .
She hears a voice, Petey get the door.”
“Mom there’s the man and lady from the wedding asking are you ready to go to Walmart.”
Cy gets to the door..”Oh sh... Astorre and Elizabeth.” Cy is starstruck. “I look a mess," she looks around, "the house is a mess."
The place is far from a mess its cheerful very pretty actually. Cy lives in a condo off the inner harbor right in the center of town on the twentieth floor Elizabeth isn't surprised she couldn't see her in a house with a white picket fence Cys not the type. She hands Elizabeth the spatula to flip over the bacon and ran to get dolled up in record time to start the eggs.
"Astorre Marcello sitting in my kitchen waiting for me to finish breakfast," suddenly Cy just breaks out laughing and Elizabeth joins her they go at so hard tears are in their eyes. "You really got me this time Elizabeth Webber ... I mean Marcello, you really got me good."
Astorre is looking strangely; Elizabeth has told him all about Celebrity Cy how instrumental she was in championing him. It was some kind of karma she won that trip to Cote d' Azur to that place of her dreams she helped make his dream come true but that's not only the reason he likes her its because she's real not a fake she's a strong woman and Astorre has an infinity to strong courageous females a trait he got from his mother and grandmothers who raised him. A single mom who is not doing bad for herself. She's a happy person she's cracking jokes making them breakfast and nodding for Elizabeth to pour coffee,
"Astorre we have little Italy right here in Baltimore," she gets them laughing again.
Not only do they go to Walmart where Elizabeth finds much needed lightweight jackets on sale but rain gear as well she buys up the lined raincoats, rubber boots. Cy takes them to Little Italy before the first set.
When Elizabeth says how great the location is Cy goes on, "Its the best comedy club you never heard of. It wasn't always this great but we got lucky with gentrification." Now its in a more upscale part of town its called the The Pendalum District. Marcello complements the decor,
"I went for a speakeasy type vibe we've kept it up its important we keep the integrity of the club and its a lot of decor are antiques we salvaged from the period . I concentrate on the food and drinks...when I first started they were awful."
Elizabeth walks around, "Cy I love it, its really nice I didn't think it would be so so..."
"Artistic?"
She smiles at her friend, "Yeah artistic."
Astorre picks up the wine menu tales out a pen from somewhere and starts jotting down and scratching out several items. Cy assures him they can't afford Marcello wines he smiles and keeps writing.
Someone must have called it in because a small crew meets them in front of their car.
"What brings you to Baltimore's All Jokes Aside?"
“To see the show obviously,"
"Do you think its funny?"
Its Elizabeth who speaks, “it made us laugh, so yes. Astoree.. Would you say its funny?"
He nods his head, "I'd say so."
This is their first interview as husband and wife it begins the Marcellos banter they'll become known for with the press. Elizabeth pushes him into an awaiting limousine, "what a stupid question."
She mocks the reporter using her hand as a mike but something just dawned on her, "Mr. Marcello it was you wasn't it. You called the reporters to give her club some of your buzz. What a thing to do for her Astorre. How do you feel being such a wonder to me right now? Speak up, I'm a roving reporter."
"Sublimely serene," he opens her coat, raises her blouse and kisses her navel she runs runs her fingers through his thick curly hair every time his lashes brushes her stomach she giggles.
They're in route to the Pierli jet night flighting to New York City to sequester themselves in a rooftop honeymoon suite. He meets a business associate for an hour, other than that, they're basically bed bound watching movies making love and the bestest.... no press. "After we pick up the kids we're going to stay home for a looong time," she coos in his ear.
----------------------------
And for a time they did Astorre worked mostly out of the townhouse; Paola came in for Christmas they took the train together back to Monferatto on occasion. Elizabeth and the kids learn more about wine making, its winter, "we're in dormancy now when the snow from the Alps melt by spring we'll plant." Paola explains to Cameron, Mimi and Jake. "Then in the fall you pick grapes again it will be your second time."
"Where are the grapes we picked before," asks Cameron " They are still in the cellaring process we put special tags on your barrels when they are ready you can taste it then you'll bottle them and put them in storage to wait until you're older."
Astorre explains to Elizabeth in another section of the winery, "this vintage is from five years ago these grapes were in stainless steel, transferred to oak barrels for fermentation then aged in new French oak for eighteen months." He places the glass under her nose; Elizabeth frowns still not understanding the technical mumbo-jumbo,
"I have a lot to learn but it tastes good." She smiles its inspired her to paint Pierli Vineyard in dormancy because it quietly fascinates her.
Astorre Gregorii Marcello is from a wine legacy thanks to his grandfather Savan his daughter Paola di Angelis Pierli and wine-collecting father Alessandro he's entrenched in several generations of wine history, import distribution and retail Mr. Marcello speaks to Lot: Vini d'esti.
Congratulations on your marriage. Thank you we’re immensely happy.
How would you describe your wine personality? Diverse, international and esoteric.
What are your favorite foods? Italian, Thai. Not that French and American food isn’t great.
What are your favorite wines to drink? Riesling, red Burgundy, northern Italian reds, Madeira, and aged Bordeaux. And your wife? St. Emilion 2004 and Nobleza Tequila.
What’s the most epic wine you’ve ever tasted? Cheval Blanc from 1961 - it was old, elegant and definitely epic. Does your Italian background make you partial to Italian wines? Of course, but it makes me extra critical of them as well. Just like French wines can be fantastic, but they aren’t always so great.
What’s your favorite wine region to travel to? Besides Piedmont, Madeira, Portugal, Madeira makes totally unique wines on a subtropical island in the middle of the Atlantic filled with history.
What could be better than that? Also America’s Napa Valley I find fascinating. What’s awesome is they are excited by such an enormous potential of exploring they are a force in wine making.
Why did you get into wine? It combines my interests and passions - history, culture, science, language and cuisine - it’s our family business.
If you had one piece of advice for buying wine, what would it be? Buy what you like and find people who can recommend what you like - curators with similar palates.
What do you like about New York? It’s a city that never sleeps! Where else can you get Chinese food or fresh croissants at 3 a.m.?
Despite the media scrutiny, its been quiet and eerily peaceful being in love with him, seeing Rome through his eyes in an entirely new way. "I like living here with you its exciting."
They walk about the city holding hands, kissing in the park or strolling through an exhibit, their last, Raphael. She rides a bike to her gallery to paint or borrows signora side of the rooftop. They've been rarely separated but she rides to meet him at the train exit and they'll walk back holding hands or he'll ride and she'll walk along side.
If he stays more than a day she goes to Monferatto with him or more than two days they take the kids and make arrangements with their school.. Its been sublimely serene past perfect.... until February when Tales of Two Portraits would not only be screened at the Festival but was submitted in competition for a Palme d'or for Best Documentary in Film. All hell broke loose by April. Georgy was so amped Astorre insisted she stay at the townhouse for fear of her health. The buzz is all over the writer, director, and producer.
One afternoon they were hijacked and followed in the park with a series of pestering redundant questions about the film...then, "Mrs. Marcello about your wedding theme."
She can't imagine why its brought up from six months ago but its the first time she's made a comment, "we wanted a wedding that is reflective of who we are as a couple we have a thing for rooftops, goodnight ladies, gentlemen, see you at the festival," they sprint faster across the park to the house's back entry.
Astorre can tell she's upset this would have to happen on the day they've been invited to a dinner to promote the film. They're in his dressing room, “Darling if this is too much I can make excuses.”
“We can’t disappoint your pompom girls.”
He smiles takes her in his arms there's no music but he dances with her whispering, “I didn’t think this would be so intense it’s become like your dog and pony show fairly quickly." He takes aspirin from the medicine chest, "for the lights.” He knows her routine she’ll tilt her head to shield her eyes from the popping bulbs coming from every direction in various shades of blues, soft whites harsh yellows she'll either get a headache, or her neck gets sore.
She moves as close as she can into him and snatches the bottle from his hand making fun of herself in a diva voice in her oh woe is me gesture, “sometimes they make my eyes hurt or give me a headache.”
“Lets wear sunglasses tonight,” he swings her out and pulls her back in. She looks up to him grinding her hips on his,
“then I won’t be able to see you clearly and that’s one of the best reasons for going to this shindig.” Elizabeth is happy for them and wouldn't dream of spoiling their big evening especially Georgy she's counting on her being there. He fingers the cleft in her chin, "I sure screwed things up didn't I. Who knew this little film of theirs would get such attention."
Later at the dinner, It isn't just the little film that got their attention. The Rome Festival president drops by with a friend to give a letter to Astorre he reads aloud its contents which pretty much says,
"The festival's next edition the last week this October will honor Alessandro G. Marcello with an Marco Aurelio prize for his extraordinary achievements, as one of Italian cinema's outstanding figures who in his amazing career made splendid contributions to consolidating and expanding the frontiers of cinematic arts"
It may have been Elizabeth who sat down to eat miffed at the press but Astorre has gotten indigestion and is livid he could barely contain it for Georgy and Dillon he explodes when they hop in a taxi but when he gets home he's pacing with a glass of burgundy in one hand and a cigarette he's tempted to light in the other he fiddles with it,"those SOB's set a trap they had fucking photographers right there to snap me looking like an ass if I refused."
Over the years requests came by way of him or his mother to honor his father for this or that but their stock response, sorry at this time I am unable to participate...and would appreciate it being postponed for another time when I can and of course that time never comes. "They tricked me."
He loosens the J. Press tie and peels out of his Canali shirt, "they know how we feel about this," she hasn't seen him angry but a few times in their years maybe that's why its such a stunning sight.
"Davide's uncle just happens to stop by all the way from Paris to our table to read a letter how can I say no to the face of an eighty year old man I've known all my life one of my father's closest friends."
"Astorre I think that's why they did it this way you've avoided them for years so they button-holed you at dinner... another time ask me how I really feel about this because I think you have issues about your father you need to deal with and this is coming from someone who refused to confront hers and kept them buried for years. Lainey said to me once, in order to accept who you are you have to come to terms from whence you came. Your father is a famous man maybe its best just to get it over with maybe they'll leave you alone. That's what you want right...to be left alone regarding your father's work? Its quite an honor and in eight months you may feel differently by then."
He looks under a hooded brow, "you've always been such a sweet but I doubt it. Elizabeth there are things I've never shared with you and its because I didn't want you to know ...you didn't ask the hard question."
Astorre is not a man that confesses his sins, but for some reason just like the night he told his love to her he now wants her know, "I shot Karpove in Port Charles."
She doesn't speak right away, even after he lights the cigarette, " I already knew that answer; I've waited for when you're ready. I overheard Sonny and Jason discussing it years ago," she doesn't mention it was before she knew Gregor and Marcello are one and the same.
She stares at him fixedly, "I know what you're capable of Astorre and just how dangerous you can be."
Aware he's broken his word he expels a huff through a puff of smoke thinking she's so terribly kind but doubts she has a clue how dangerous he's been. He got so worked up they didn't get a chance to dance after dinner. Elizabeth turns on music and holds out her hand he stubs out the cigarette on the marble floor and takes it.
Georgy's Blog A view over the Boulevard de la Croisette
Director with a Port Charles connection wins Le Festival de Cannes best documentary filmmakers of Tales of two Portraits were in the photo booth answering press who commended the young director’s acceptance speech …. he spoke soveryfast, Astorre Marcello translated to French:
We have too many people to thank I won’t get to everybody …first to the audience who appreciated the film…. out there somewhere my some of my mother Tracey who gave me our first loan. The audience erupts in laughter…Dillion continues, Georgiana Jones whose writing speaks for itself where to begin ..... Dame Paola di Angelis Pierli Marcello whose wisdom set me straight on what classic movie magic truly is Ah… and wine making really is about … thank you\,." he blows a kiss. Turning sideways to Astorre. "To the Marcellos, Astorre thanks for everything you're the man who gave us a plan," and money he mouths, he gives him a thumbs up; the audience erupts in laughter, "But more than that you believed in us sight unseen, your wife," he squints his eyes and places hand over his brow "out there somewhere gave us confidence when the chips were down thanks fair Elizabeth. Davide who taught me its not just making a film but editing a film …a special tribute to master blaster Walter Much who believed that our little engine could from the very beginning he encouraged the film by lending his expertise. We have a distributor we’re hoping for an August release date in the US of A."
When Georgy gets to the microphone, “Ditto and I’d like to thank my Uncle Mac, Robin, and Maxi our sweet treasure Emma.”
Astorre steps up to a standing ovation, “To my mother… and… father Alessandro who loved making movies. My wife Elizabeth and our three children who love watching movies. Grazi"
The press caught up with Astorre later just before boarding Illusion, “What is next Mr. Marcello?”
"Well I promised my oldest if we win they’ll each get an extra day for a diving lesson so that’s three days so that’s where we’re headed… ciao."
"Mr. Marcello anything else?"
“We’re celebrating we have a boatload of family and friends ….”
The Reporter clarifies, “No I mean are you producing another movie…anything else coming up?”
”Not at the moment, ciao”
Port Charles New York, The Warehouse District
Jason Morgan finally makes small progress with Franco…getting shot put him out of commission a few months no telling how far along Franco got while he was out. His shoulder is still tight and he experience sharp burst of pain. The doctors are concerned that it will develop into bursitis and that's not good basically its arthritis of the joint and they want to treat with medicine that has steroids in it...No can do he told them. He'll have to go through therapy for that the rest of the year but the foot is back to normal. He’ in a loft studio or whatever you want to call it. Its nothing like Elizabeth’s studios.. Its dark, dank, dreary, lifeless. .. like his art.
With Spinelli's help he found his address there’s candles, dinner for two, he walks around and there's pictures of his life spanning over several years. Its titled Morgan the Magnificent in big letters. With so many threats converging all at once Sonny hired a new guy Dominic, that night they took eighth over to Hudson after an ambush they just blundered into. It happened so fast he didn’t have time to do the usual clean up. Three men died of gunshot wounds he looks closer at another picture that’s Joey Limbo come to find out somebody crushed his windpipe on Canal Street. He looks around there's pictures of all that …including video streaming footage from atop of the Canal Street bank of him in the gunfight.
On another wall hangs a tag board with people he knows and cares about there's Carly shopping for a Christmas tree with Josselyn. An earlier edition of today’s Chronicle Art and Entertainment section with pictures of Port Charles residents on the red carpet last night at his cousin’s film opening. There's Dillon escorting Tracey; Ned, Lois and Brooklyn; Emily and Nik; Monica and Alan; Skye and Lorenzo. There's Georgy with Robin and Maxi; Kate and Xavier in a group shot and there she Elizabeth with Marcello holding hands. His own family supporting her in contact with her while he's left in the cold with Sam. He looks around one last time and leaves as quietly as he came.
When Jason gets back to his penthouse he has a message from Spinelli that Sam wants to see him tonight. He texts her back ‘2tired maybe 2morrow afternoon arm hurts.’ That’s a good excuse. He hasn't been able to rise to the occasion in some time and he doesn't feel like trying tonight with her. He heads to the fridge raising his beer here's hoping she finds thrills elsewhere. He goes straight for the internet and searches for Cannes Film Festival keys in Marcello clicks images more shots of them on a 166 feeder named Illusion. He remembers they had a boat times on Mystic Blu. She's kissing him deck in a green bikini. She looks unbelievable each time he sees her she looks different her hair is longer almost to her waist like the other one. Maybe its those extensions she use to wear sometimes. Or other times its blonder and shorter…before that darker almost black he feels stirrings he hasn't felt in a long time. Everyone keeps telling him how she’s very different than she use to be especially with Marcello he has to admit she's grown out of her reclusive tendencies with him. That arrogant prick he’s a vain spoiled only child and its hard to believe Elizabeth chose to marry him. Jason Morgan says aloud, " he's definitely not her type and it won't last." He'll bide his time.
He finds a picture of Mimi and Jake swimming in the Mediterranean his hair is still blond and Cameron he barely recognizes he’s a lot taller he and Marcello are taking off scuba gear… He wasn't in town when they came for Halloween and they didn't come for Thanksgiving or Christmas. It wouldn't have mattered he was in Concordia Hospital. When he first got home his foot still swelled to the size of a football he couldn’t get around for weeks.
He grabs another bottle of beer. oh... there's cold beef Egg Foo Yung. He opens it and takes a whiff .. good..still smells fresh. Eggs are tricky a few months ago he got salmonella it took six days to recover. It didn’t matter because he was already in discomfort popping pain meds what's one more thing? He doesn't like being medicated but the pain was overwhelming and it dulled the ache of giving up his wife and kids. This time last year he was sitting a dinner table with home cooked meals They would eat under the pergola outside, a a set table even saying grace from time to time with his children and a wife who loved him.
He looks over the cartons he asked her to date her orders so he knows which ones to throw out. He looks at the lid of course no date...he puts two cartons in the garbage and two in the microwave, 45 seconds should do it, if you let it run a minute the rice gets too crunchy.
Marcello Estate Alpes-Côte d'Azur region 14 La Canebière, 1er Arrondissement, Vieux Port 13001 Marseille Provence, France,
Kate's at the infinity pool in a black lacquer KHO swimsuit reading a magazine she hands Elizabeth a tropical drink she flops on the lounger next to hers, "Finally all of them sleep and at the same time those scuba lessons tires them out. Gram is watching Cary Grant in To Catch a Thief Paula’s taking her to Monte Carlo or wherever it is you go to gamble around here she’s so excited it beats Sunday bingo with the club.”
”Where’s Georgy?” Kate lays flat and pulls her hat down over her face."
Elizabeth between sips, “not sure she and Dillon may have gone back on Illusion with Astorre and Xavier. She’s another one excited I think this win is just what she needs she’s really worked hard this should help validate her as a writer and I kept my end she said if she wins I wear black nail polish for a week. I think Astorre understands."
“Yeah hard work and a little luck five years ago, just think Franco was an anonymous wall tagger in New York City, and now he's a world-famous photographer and artist.”
“And.. why are we talking about the artist known as Franco exactly?”
She shows her a picture of his latest installment in Art du jour, “ And....Sam and Spinelli opened some kind of PI / Security company. I didn’t tell you then but that bint actually asked me could they cover his exhibition at your gallery she’s not the brightest. I think he's planning another one for sometime next year at the Museum of Contemporary Art in LA. “So Spinelli is in with team Jason and Sam … turncoat.” “Not Stan he refused to have anything to do with her.” Kate eyes dart around, “so this is where Gregor hung out … the south of France with topless women laying on beaches. I wonder what Xavier is doing on that boat?” After her divorce from Sonny because of his affair with Claudia Zacharra Kate has never trusted her relationships she tries to be optimistic with Xavier but always has her guard up.
"Kate, we're still newly wed I don’t think those thoughts yet besides Astorre isn’t dumb enough to have Hooters on that boat."
"Just kidding ... there was something today a before and after it showed him then a bachelor and now …I guess with the festival win they re-worked old news." “What is the now? Its with me and the kids I suppose.” “You were included it had a few of your greatest hits in there even a new one you two cavorting in the sea he's nude you've got on this green swim suit which its time to change by the way, you're in about six photos with the same suit."
Elizabeth looks deep in thought. "He's no longer eligible the press knows it. Don’t tell me that playboy crap still gets a rise out of you.” Kate says.
“Not as much as it use to... and talking with Robin helps she went through the same thing with Patrick. How about a swim?”
“Wait Elizabeth,” she grabs her lap top punches up an address, “check this out.”
“Kate none of that now.” “No really see this."
Its some video on YouTube interviews from the film festival, “there’s Astorre,” Elizabeth says, he’s boarding Illusion.
"Would you do it all over again he's asked.
“I can’t take my eyes off her she’s this porcelain delicate beauty but what makes her interesting is that she has this simmering fire underneath that is slowly revealed to me which makes each day with her fascinating. I can’t wait to see what happens next. Then we have these three allurring little people alike but different that are amazing. I find glamour in family life.
"Amazing, isn't it, how a script can flip." Kate says.
"Excuse me, I want to find my husband." Elizabeth walks to the dock that runs along side of the the house Illusion docks at the end. She grabs binoculars he keeps roped to a pole. He's dallying in the sea swimming in front of Illusion nude. She jumps off the end and swims to him they swim along side each other silently for awhile before she says, "I need to talk to you." They hike back up on Illusion not bother drying off their swinging above the sea.. "I saw a video what you said about me is so beautiful.' She looks at him as if seeing him for the first time. "Its really true isn't it you really loved me all that time, you." she blew out a gasp he's said it but right now she saw it on that video. "you really waited for us... for this chance didn't you?" "Yes, you've always held my heart."
Port Charles New York, The Warehouse District
Jason Morgan finally makes small progress with Franco…getting shot put him out of commission a few months no telling how far along Franco got while he was out. His shoulder is still tight and he experience sharp burst of pain. The doctors are concerned that it will develop into bursitis and that's not good basically its arthritis of the joint and they want to treat with medicine that has steroids in it...No can do he told them. He'll have to go through therapy for that the rest of the year but the foot is back to normal.
He’ in a loft studio or whatever you want to call it. Its nothing like Elizabeth’s studios.. Its dark, dank, dreary, lifeless. .. like his art. With Spinelli's help he found his address there’s candles, dinner for two, he walks around and there's pictures of his life spanning over several years. Its titled Morgan the Magnificent in big letters.
With so many threats converging all at once Sonny hired a new guy Dominic, that night they took eighth over to Hudson after an ambush they just blundered into. It happened so fast he didn’t have time to do the usual clean up. Three men died of gunshot wounds he looks closer at another picture that’s Joey Limbo come to find out somebody crushed his windpipe on Canal Street. Franco's got pictures of it all around his loft …including video streaming footage from atop of the Canal Street bank of him in the gunfight. On another wall hangs a tag board with people he knows and cares about there's Carly shopping for a Christmas tree with Josselyn.
There’s an earlier edition of today’s Chronicle Art and Entertainment section with pictures of Port Charles residents on the red carpet last night at his cousin’s film opening. There's Dillon escorting Tracey; Ned, Lois and Brooklyn; Emily and Nik; Monica and Alan; Skye and Lorenzo. There's Georgy with Robin and Maxi; Kate and Xavier. There she is Elizabeth with Marcello holding hands. His own family supporting her in contact with her while he's left in the cold with Sam. He looks around one last time and leaves as quietly as he came.
When Jason gets back to his penthouse he has a message from Spinelli that Sam wants to see him tonight. He texts her back ‘2 tired maybe 2morrow afternoon arm hurts.’ That’s a good excuse. He hasn't been able to rise to the occasion in some time and he doesn't feel like trying tonight with her. He heads to the fridge raising his beer here's hoping she finds thrills elsewhere.
He goes straight for the internet and searches for Cannes Film Festival keys in Marcello clicks images more shots of them on a 166 feeder named Illusion. He remembers they had boat times on Mystic Blu. She's kissing him on deck in a green bikini. She looks unbelievable each time she looks different her hair is long almost to her waist like the other one. Maybe its those extensions she use to wear sometimes. The other time it was blond and shorter…and before it was darker almost black he feels stirrings he hasn't felt in a long time thinking about their times on Mystic Blue making love. Its probably what's she's doing on this boat...Illusion.
Everyone keeps telling him how she’s very different than she use to be especially with Marcello. That arrogant prick he’s a vain spoiled only child and its hard to believe Elizabeth chose to marry him. Jason Morgan says aloud, "he's definitely not her type and it won't last." He'll bide his time. There's a few new pictures of Mimi and Jake swimming in the Mediterranean his hair is still blond and Cameron he barely recognizes he’s a lot taller he and Marcello are taking off scuba gear.
He wasn't in town when they came for Halloween and they didn't come for the Thanksgiving or Christmas. It wouldn't have mattered he was in the Concordia Hospital in Rome. And when he first got home Sam still had some ugly little Christmas tree sitting on his pool table which aggravated him and his foot kept swelling to the size of a football he couldn’t get around for weeks. Last year he was sitting down at a set table eating homecooked meals under the stars, under a pergola or in front of the Tyrrhenian Sea they gave dinner parties with family and friends quite often saying grace. When they were in Port Charles they always entertained.
He grabs another bottle of beer. oh... there's cold beef Egg Foo Yung. He opens it and takes a whiff .. good..still smells fresh. Eggs are tricky a few months ago he got salmonella it took six days to recover. It didn’t matter because he was already in discomfort popping pain meds what's one more thing? He doesn't like being medicated but the pain was overwhelming and it dulled the ache of giving up his wife and kids. He barely noticed Sam when she came around...He looks over the cartons he asked her to date her orders so he knows which ones to throw out. He looks at the top of course no date...he puts two cartons in the garbage and two in the microwave, 45 seconds should do it, if you let it run a minute the rice gets too crunchy.
From: Rome Town House 30 Via Archimede, Parioli Roma Italia five months later first year Anniversary
Astorre slowly climbs the stairs with Scuzzy scampering ahead of him. He arrived at the office at seven but after four hours it feels like a full day and it ended in a bantering bickering session with the consortium. He makes his way up the winding staircase to the second of three landings finds Elizabeth lounging and sketching in their bedroom.
“What is that wonderful American smell.”
She doesn’t look up, “dinner is finished. I made your favorite pot roast with lots of mushrooms and gravy over mashed buttered potatoes, grilled vegetables. Dinner rolls are in the oven. Are you hungry?" When she does look at to him, “darling you look beat.”
He falls flat across the extra king sized bed grunts out, “They smell heavenly and yes Madam I am very hungry, very beat. Ask me now and I’m ready to just be a winemaker. Thank you I know its a special day but I didn't expect it would take this long."
She wanted to spend the day in bed they've spent a lot of time in bed this past week, strolling the streets of Rome, their nightlife, going to markets or an outdoor cafe, shopping the open markets at night. Spending this time with him she feels every beat of the city…but here something is different the pulse it excites them then they return home to make love some more.
"I don't care about that as long as we're together at home with you and the kids its a perfect first anniversary and its enough for me." She takes his hand in hers and fiddles with the gold band around his finger, "I can handle it you know the consortium business. I’m not afraid Astoree.”
“I didn’t wait for us all this these years for this. I'd like to spend time with this family too my way... relaxing. I'm enjoying the diving lessons; I'm a nature boy what is there to give up. I spend most of my time like today on our anniversary no less putting out fires refereeing the others and the bickering of late is not much fun. I’ve done this over a decade; Elizabeth I’m stepping down as head of the consortium.”
She looks into deep brown eyes, “It’s your decision.” She remembers a similar conversation during her first marriage he said he wanted a life with her, and the children, the white picket fence, in the end he lied. She can think on Jason Morgan without becoming enraged it is a wound that hasn't closed and still a sore spot in her heart but she doesn't love him anymore its gone.
He stretches his arms out and …she takes his hand in hers strokes the gold band. Its still there for some reason it wouldn't have surprised her if he'd worn it for awhile then took it off but he never did...except when he goes swimming or something like that. As for the consortium she knows what he does not every detail but she's not naïve it isn’t all on the up and up its high echelon mob type business no matter how he tries to dress it up. Instead of killing people like Jason he takes their money which is just as dangerous look what happened to Jax. She doesn’t want to get into it,
"you don’t have to change anything for me. If you decide to stay is up to you."
“Truthfully? I’m bored with it and looking forward to tackling something new,” he sighs and clasps her fingers, "I did what I said I would accomplish there is nothing much left but maintenance after a year or so on the sideline I'm easing out altogether. ”
“You’ve said it’s a powerful position are you sure?”
“It was never because of power that's only a fringe benefit I enjoyed for a brief time but even that got old. Sitting as chair isn't a lifelong commitment; it was because of the vineyards. Being a producer is flexible it’s something I can pick and choose whenever it suits my fancy and being involved in my father’s work was enjoyable it was an adventure.”
“Being with you is an adventure.”
“You think so?”
"Ummm-hmm so a producer? I enjoyed collaborating with Dillon, Davide and Georgy we were in sync we work well together."
"Seems you've got your team in place."
"I have a production company that has produced one documentary but take a look at this. My anniversary present from Paola." He goes to his briefcase and takes out an assortment of binders handwritten notes he unties a purple ribbon they all flop out on the bed. "Its my father's screen play he worked on for almost forty years ... my parents love story.. some parts at the beginning are typed and computerized towards the end but most of it is the old fashion way...handwritten on a legal pad."
"Have you ever seen this?" Elizabeth picks up ledgers in white and yellow some faded with time.
"Never it wasn't unusual to see my father scribbling he was always writing..but I didn't know this existed until she gave it to me she says she thinks I'm ready now." He's looking through it with Elizabeth, "I'd like to do something with it but it needs a lot of work and I don't know if this is right for me...my father had early successes starting from his first role to directing he only produced a few projects but they were well received too. Everything he touched turned into box office gold. He never failed except once the day he died." Astorre is still resentful of the circumstances that placed him in the situation that caused his death its never been about him saving the kids but why they had to be saved in the first place. "What do you think?"
She's reading a page, "its a hell of a thing to live up to but I think your father was doing something he loved and if you make this for you and your mother, if other's like it then fine if not you did something you wanted to do. Its how I've approached painting basically, I paint for myself ...its selfish."
"This is a lot of work," he says again looking through yellow sheets that were once white. "and spans several decades, the early stuff is a mess some handwritten, some typed and follows no particularly order; a good thing is he's meticulous every page is dated with a time. Its not every day and some have gaps of several weeks...months. The computer generated pages started about his last fifteen years or so they are very well put together."
"How far back does it go?"
Astorre blows out a sigh, "late teens until age seventy and my mother has diaries and journals too its a massive undertaking this is like his biography."
She divides the pile into two stacks his and hers, "it needs organizing, so let's devote time to sorting this out. Then take it from there."
He looks at her strangely, "What...right now?" "Mr. Marcello there's no time like the present we'll get started because all this."
she hits the pile of papers, "needs to find its way into a computer."
Spinelli may be a turncoat but she lived across the hall from StaNelli Services Ltd for years she knows when to use technology. There was a time she could call on him and he would offer solutions, it just occurs to her, there is someone she can call.
"Some of these pages are fragile and hard to read ...but," she acts very wifely loosens his tie and unbuttons his shirt pushes him down to take off his loafers and kicks them under the bed, she straddles across him, "you're tired school won't be out for a few hours its Giada’s turn getting them home today. ... how about we take a nap."
His tongue grazes her neck as their lips meet, "Sounds thrilling." A warm feeling surges through him before he knows it he's moving against her but he's too tired to follow through his fingers trace over her mouth, "we'll have our time later." She gets his belt off, then moves his pants down his legs covers him with a sheet then lays down beside him until he falls asleep. "Thank you my darling," he whispers.
Part X Beguiled Page 2