> start
> background/start
> music/loop/loop
> choice
---
# choice
[grid/main/full/choice]
Train > train
Meeting > meeting
Roulette > roulette
Lily > lily
Fruit > fruit
Anchovy > anchovy
Boat > boat
Finale > finale
---
> background/train
> grid/train/location/in
[grid/train/location/caption] Trans Europ Express // Continental Europe, 3:02pm
> grid/train/location/out
> grid/train/log/in
> grid/train/log/clear
[grid/train/log/say] The train thunders across the track. Steel strikes against grass as it ploughs through stretches of forest once untouched by human hands.
> grid/train/log/clear
[grid/train/log/say] It cares not for its destination, only for progression. To keep chuntering forward as its role dictates.@ A simple mechanism, only a cog to turnings of fate.
> grid/train/log/clear
> grid/train/log/out
[grid/train/andrey] He's a remarkable man.@ Astute. Calculating. Ruthless.@ Handsome.
[grid/train/sofia] Goncharov?
[grid/train/andrey] Indeed.@ He's everything I aspire to be.
> grid/train/log/in
[grid/train/log/say] The train shudders against the rails.
> grid/train/log/clear
> grid/train/log/out
[grid/train/sofia] You've never met him, Andrey.@ You're infatuated by the idea of him.
> choice
---
> background/meeting
> grid/meeting/location/in
[grid/meeting/location/caption] Immagina Hotel // Naples, 5:49pm
> grid/meeting/location/out
[grid/meeting/katya] And what makes you think he has time for you?
[grid/meeting/andrey] This is why I came to this city. I have to see him.@ Surely, you understand why.
[grid/meeting/katya] I understand why well enough, but my husband's whims are not my own.
[grid/meeting/andrey] Katya,_ please.
[grid/meeting/katya] I will tell you this, Andrey.@ Goncharov does not waste time on the ordinary man.
> choice
---
> background/roulette
> grid/roulette/location/in
[grid/roulette/location/caption] Irreale Casino // Naples, 8:16pm
> grid/roulette/location/out
> grid/roulette/log/clear
> grid/roulette/log/in
[grid/roulette/log/say] The air is heavy with cigarette smoke.@ Thick. Warm.
> grid/roulette/log/out
> grid/roulette/log/clear
[grid/roulette/mario] I ask him for a friendly face-to-face, and he sends you.@ Again.
[grid/roulette/katya] Goncharov is a busy man.
[grid/roulette/mario] I'm more than aware.@ This is the fourth time he's refused to see me.
[grid/roulette/mario] Tell me, Katya. Does he think it's a waste of his time?@ Or is he simply a coward?
> grid/roulette/log/clear
> grid/roulette/log/in
[grid/roulette/log/say] The pill spins, and clatters across the track.@ Zero.
> grid/roulette/log/out
> grid/roulette/log/clear
[grid/roulette/katya] Why don't you guess?
> choice
---
> background/lily
> grid/lily/location/in
[grid/lily/location/caption] A Private Garden // Naples, 9:46am
> grid/lily/location/out
[grid/lily/mario] Lilies.
> grid/lily/log/clear
> grid/lily/log/in
[grid/lily/log/say] He presents it to Andrey, a single flower freshly cut from the ground.
> grid/lily/log/out
> grid/lily/log/clear
[grid/lily/mario] Representing purity and refined beauty. Passion and chastity. They're one of the prides of this country.@ Not that I would expect you to know.
[grid/lily/andrey] Why am I here, Mario?
> grid/lily/log/in
[grid/lily/log/say] A petal detaches, dancing away into the gentle breeze.
> grid/lily/log/out
> grid/lily/log/clear
[grid/lily/mario] I did wish to discuss@ your relationship with Goncharov.
> grid/lily/log/in
[grid/lily/log/say] The lily spins as he rubs thumb to index finger.
> grid/lily/log/out
> grid/lily/log/clear
[grid/lily/andrey] What's there to discuss?@ We're enemies. You said as much yourself.
[grid/lily/mario] Right now, yes, you could say that.
[grid/lily/mario] But...@ I have propositions for you.@ Wouldn't you want to be the most powerful man in Naples?
> grid/lily/log/in
[grid/lily/log/say] The wind whips against the leaves.
> grid/lily/log/out
> grid/lily/log/clear
[grid/lily/andrey] No.@ I wouldn't.
> choice
---
> background/fruit
> grid/fruit/location/in
[grid/fruit/location/caption] La Pignasecca // Naples, 12:29pm
> grid/fruit/location/out
[grid/fruit/sofia] You've treated me too kindly.
[grid/fruit/katya] You must understand, Sofia, rejecting a gift is not the generosity you think it is.@ Is it too good for you?
[grid/fruit/sofia] I didn't mean to offend you.
[grid/fruit/katya] Then please.
> grid/lily/log/clear
> grid/lily/log/in
[grid/lily/log/say] Katya once more gestures to the basket of fruit.@ Sofia takes the one balanced at the peak, cautiously, flicking dubious looks to Katya.
> grid/lily/log/out
> grid/lily/log/clear
[grid/fruit/katya] You've never been pampered in your life, have you?
> grid/lily/log/in
[grid/lily/log/say] Sofia snaps the apple in half, almost effortless with one twist of the wrist.
> grid/lily/log/out
> grid/lily/log/clear
[grid/fruit/sofia] And you've never suffered.
> grid/lily/log/in
[grid/lily/log/say] Katya raises an eyebrow.
> grid/lily/log/out
> grid/lily/log/clear
> choice
---
> background/anchovy
> grid/anchovy/location/in
[grid/anchovy/location/caption] La Notizia // Naples, 6:58pm
> grid/anchovy/location/out
[grid/anchovy/andrey] I didn't think—
[grid/anchovy/gonch] What?@ That I wouldn't accept the invitation?
[grid/anchovy/andrey] I've been attempting to contact you for days with no response.@ And now, almost on a whim...
> grid/anchovy/log/clear
> grid/anchovy/log/in
[grid/anchovy/log/say] Metal on ceramic. The clinking of plates.
> grid/anchovy/log/out
> grid/anchovy/log/clear
[grid/anchovy/gonch] You haven't touched your meal, Andrey.@ That's an insult to the establishment.
[grid/anchovy/andrey] I...
> grid/anchovy/log/in
[grid/anchovy/log/say] Goncharov stands, one hand on the table, and leans forward across it.@ He presses a thumb to Andrey's bottom lip, peeling it down to reveal teeth, chattering ever so slightly.
> grid/anchovy/log/clear
> grid/anchovy/log/in
[grid/anchovy/log/say] The clock chimes 7 o'clock.
> grid/anchovy/log/out
> grid/anchovy/log/clear
[grid/anchovy/gonch] Eat.
> grid/anchovy/log/in
[grid/anchovy/log/say] He raises the fish to his mouth, but Goncharov doesn't retract his hand.@ The thumb traces down to his chin, pulling his jaw open slightly.
> grid/anchovy/log/clear
[grid/anchovy/log/say] Andrey places the fish on his tongue.@ Goncharov smiles.
> grid/anchovy/log/out
> grid/anchovy/log/clear
> choice
---
> background/boat
> grid/boat/location/in
[grid/boat/location/caption] The Rowboat // Mappatella Beach, 10:47pm
> grid/boat/location/out
> grid/boat/log/clear
> grid/boat/log/in
[grid/boat/log/say] Silence that followed the shot deafens all present.
> grid/boat/log/clear
[grid/boat/log/say] The boat was no less than ten metres from the shoreline.@ Two people inside it, one lying on her back, bleeding.
> grid/boat/log/clear
[grid/boat/log/say] Sofia traces the wound with the lightest touch of her fingertips. Her hand shakes as blood strains under her fingernails.
> grid/boat/log/clear
[grid/boat/log/say] Red seeps through the white fabric.@ Katya exhales her last breath.
> grid/boat/log/clear
> grid/boat/log/out
> choice
---
> background/start
> grid/finale/location/in
[grid/finale/location/caption] The Clock Tower // Naples, 2:34am
> grid/finale/location/out
[grid/finale/mario] I knew it.@ You faked your own death.
[grid/finale/katya] What a shame we can't say the same for our dear Sofia.
[grid/finale/andrey] And you killed Goncharov.@ Gun in hand, you killed him.
[grid/finale/katya] I didn't kill him, Andrey.
> music/stop
[grid/finale/katya] Goncharov doesn't exist.
> delay/long
> music/loop/loop
[grid/finale/andrey] You're lying.@ I saw him with my own eyes! We even—
> grid/finale/log/clear
> grid/finale/log/in
[grid/finale/log/say] A gunshot.@ It's from a hand that's never missed, guided by an eye precise as the edge of a knife.
> grid/finale/log/clear
[grid/finale/log/say] But the bullet goes wide, metres from Katya's head. The clock face behind her shatters into a thousand pieces, scattering across the floor.
> grid/finale/log/clear
[grid/finale/log/say] She doesn't flinch.
> grid/finale/log/out
> grid/finale/log/clear
[grid/finale/katya] This is the question I wish to pose to you, gentlemen.@ Does it matter if he existed at all?
[grid/finale/katya] It was quite remarkable, in fact. I had to do none of the work myself.@ I gave you nothing but threads. The tale was woven by your hands alone.
[grid/finale/mario] You were behind everything.
[grid/finale/mario] You killed dozens by your own hand. You brought an entire city to its knees.@ Over a man that does not exist?
[grid/finale/katya] Yes.
> delay/short
> grid/finale/log/clear
> grid/finale/log/in
[grid/finale/log/say] Her declaration is blunt and forceful. A dead weight dropped into the centre of the room.
> grid/finale/log/out
> grid/finale/log/clear
[grid/finale/andrey] But why?@ What could you possibly gain from doing this?
> grid/finale/log/clear
> grid/finale/log/in
[grid/finale/log/say] Katya smiles.
> grid/finale/log/out
> grid/finale/log/clear
[grid/finale/katya] Wouldn't you like to know.
[grid/finale/katya] There is one thing I can tell you, gentlemen.
> grid/finale/log/clear
> grid/finale/log/in
[grid/finale/log/say] She twists the cigarette butt into her palm.
> grid/finale/log/out
> grid/finale/log/clear
> music/stop
[grid/finale/katya] You're out of time.
> epilogue
---
> music/stop
> background/ending
> delay/long
[grid/epilogue/x] ...That was it?@ That was Goncharov?
[grid/epilogue/y] What, did you not enjoy it?
[grid/epilogue/x] It felt like...@ Hm.
[grid/epilogue/x] I dunno. I enjoyed it.@ I think.
[grid/epilogue/y] Did you not like it just because of a cliffhanger?
[grid/epilogue/x] Not even that.@ It felt like a bunch of writers fighting over each scene and not being able to agree on the details.
[grid/epilogue/y] It's different. It's evocative.@ There's more than one way to tell a story.
[grid/epilogue/x] I get that, but it didn't make any sense.@ It's like it's trying to say something, but it doesn't really know what it wants to say.
[grid/epilogue/x] Or, it's trying to say too many things at once.
[grid/epilogue/y] It was...
> delay/long
[grid/epilogue/y] No, you're right. It really wasn't that coherent.
[grid/epilogue/y] It's like each scene was written by someone different, and an editor had to try stitching them together.
[grid/epilogue/y] JWHJ0715 is probably a pseudonym for a team, now I think.
[grid/epilogue/x] That's what the number means. Seven hundred people writing one movie!
[grid/epilogue/y] Could you imagine? Miracle that anything could be coherent, then.
[grid/epilogue/x] And, it was a completely different movie than what everyone was talking about!
[grid/epilogue/y] Wasn't there supposed to be a character called Ice Pick Joe?
[grid/epilogue/x] I know! And some shoot-out in Pompeii, I think?
[grid/epilogue/y] I'm surprised there wasn't a single post about how Goncharov wasn't a real person.
[grid/epilogue/x] Half the movie doesn't even make sense now.@ Unless the majority of it didn't happen? It was a dream, or something?
[grid/epilogue/y] Maybe it's symbolism for...
> delay/long
[grid/epilogue/y] There's better Scorsese movies. It didn't even feel like it was made by him.
[grid/epilogue/x] Yeah.@ Like what?
[grid/epilogue/y] Name one.
[grid/epilogue/x] Oh come on.
[grid/epilogue/y] Do it. See if you've learnt anything.
[grid/epilogue/x] There's...@ The Wolf of Wall Street?
[grid/epilogue/y] Ugh.
[grid/epilogue/x] But it is one, isn't it?
[grid/epilogue/y] It's the popular choice.
[grid/epilogue/x] I'm still learning.
> delay/short
[grid/epilogue/y] Yeah.@ I really like you trying.
[grid/epilogue/x] You got into cross stitch, I wanted to pay you back.
[grid/epilogue/y] I didn't "get_ into"_ cross stitch,@ all I did was organise your floss.
[grid/epilogue/x] You did.
> delay/long
[grid/epilogue/x] Wanna watch something else?
[grid/epilogue/y] I'd like that.
[grid/epilogue/y] How about something a bit lighter? Then you can stitch during it.
[grid/epilogue/x] What are you thinking?
[grid/epilogue/y] Alright, it's called The Navidson Record, and...
# choice
[grid/main/full/choice]
Restart > restart
---