The Game

He has never enjoyed leaving his house. If he could, he would stay there forever. He remembers the last time he had to do that. It was his mom’s funeral. It was exactly ten years ago. He was playing with his son in the backyard when his wife showed up with red watery eyes.

She stared at him for 30 long silent seconds. He was preoccupied. Why was she so quiet? Why was she crying? Why didn’t she say something, anything? That was the worst day of his life. Today is the second worst day of his life.

Don Corneone leaves the hospital where his son Luca is getting treated. He doesn’t like going to America but told his men to prepare his jet the very moment he heard his son was shot. He spent all the way from the old continent to the new land thinking about his son. He couldn’t lose another beloved person. He had just recovered from his mom’s death.

He leaves the hospital where he has just seen his son. He seems fine. Thank God for that. well, as he told his son and wife, he has business to attend and will get back as soon as possible to take care of Luca and his perpetrator.

Don Corneone is a big man. He has always been bigger than the other boys since he was a teenager. Despite all his size, his nickname is The Whisperer. Why? He doesn’t speak out loud. Never. It doesn’t matter how he feels: sad, happy, stressed, excited, worried. He always has the same tone. And that’s what scares most of his enemies. And friends. And family.

It starts raining the moment his car leaves the garage of the Brooklyn Hospital Center towards Madison Square Garden. This week is Kobe Bryant last game in the Big Apple and Don Corneone doesn’t want to miss it for nothing in this life. He played basketball with Kobe’s father, Joe Bryant, when he lived in Italy and ever since they became best friends.

- Come va fratello?

- Sto bene, e tu? Come è il mio giocatore preferito tuo figlio?

- Ok...ok. Stop right there. Haha… My Italian is rusty.

- Your Italian was never that good.

- The same goes for your English.

Both giggle and then hug each other.

- I asked you about Kobe. How is he?

- Oh, he is just fine, anxious for the last game at Madison Square Garden.

-I would be too if I were him. Is he here?

- Nope. He went to a friend’s house. He’ll be back later. What are you doing here in America?

- I came to see my son.

- Yeah, Luca. How is he?

Don Corneone tells Joe what happened to Luca.

- Wow. I’m sorry to hear that. Is he ok?

- Sì. I think so. He’ll survive.

- Watchyagonnado?

- I dunno. I’m still working on it.

- Lemme know if there’s anything I can do.

- Actually, there is something you could do.

- What? Tell me. Anything.

- Do you have extra tickets????

November 8^th, 2015

- Oh Mio Dio! Non ci posso credere!

Luca is astonished, amazed. He cannot believe what is just happening in front of him. His father got tickets for the game at Madison Square Garden and, along with his mom and dad, is witnessing a historical game of a historical player on a historical day.

- The Mamba is a great player. One of the best, ever. Wow!!!

- He’s good.

- Mom???? He’s good??? He is AWESOME!!!

- And handsome. Very handsome.

- MOM?!?!?

- What? È un ragazzo bellissimo.

- I’ll tell daddy.

- Oh please. Give me a break.

- By the way. Where’s dad, mom?

- He’s over there talking to Joe. They are catching up.

While Kobe plays well as usual, Joe and Don Corneone talk about business. Joe is trying to convince Don to open a Mamba franchise in Italy. Business has been good, and he wants Don to be part of it.

Not far from where they are, Luca, his mom and Rafaello watch the epical game. Luca is amazed. He never thought he would live to watch the last game of Mamba at MSG. He is not a huge fan of the game – he prefers soccer – but today is a special day.

While he talks to Rafaello about Kobe’s plays, he sees a familiar face. He can’t believe it. The scimmia who attempted to take his life is two rows down. That is the chance he asked God for. It is payback time.

- Hey, Rafa.

- What?

- Check it out.

- Check what out?

- Over there. Do you recognize that figlio di puttana?

- Oh My God!!! Is that who I think it is?

- Yeah. That’s him.

- Hey, man. You are not gonna do anything stupid, right? Luca… Hey Luca.. Lucaaaa…

Luca is gone. He is going to teach that boy a lesson he will never forget. He will tell him that he should have killed him when he had the chance. Now it is too late. Now it is payback time (Luca loves using this expression).

- Hey, nigger. It is payback time.

Sam looks back and he freezes. He doesn’t believe in his eyes. There is a boy pointing a gun right at his chest. And it is the same boy he shot some days ago.

- What the f*** are you doing here, maricon?

- MARICON IS SPANISH. I AM ITALIAN.

- Whatever, man. I thought you were dead.

- Well, I’m not.

- Listen, maricon. I am watching the game, alright?

- I don’t give a damn.

- Watchyagonnado? You gonna shoot me?

- You’re damn right I’m gonna shoot you.

- So do it. DO IT.

- A GUUUUUUUN. HE HAS A GUUUUUUN. AAAAHHHHH!!!

A woman who is beside Sam sees Luca holding the gun and starts screaming. Now everyone is looking at them. Literally everyone (the people at MSG and the people at home) because a camera is showing Luca, Sam and the gun in the big screen.

Everybody stops what they are doing. A father stops talking to his son; a young boy stops kissing his girlfriend; the sports commentator of ESPN stops commenting; Don Corneone stops talking to Joe; Kobe stops playing.

- Alright, maricon. You got all the attention now. Are you still gonna shoot me, huh?

- Yes, I am, and no one is gonna stop me.

He looks back. His father is looking at him.

- Papà. Non avvicinarti.

- What are you doing, son?

- Remember I told about about the black boy? Well, this is him.

Don Corneone tries to get closer.

- STAY AWAY, DADDY! DON’T GET ANY CLOSER.

- But son…

- No buts. He shot me and he will die now.

Don Corneone takes two steps towards Luca.

- I SAID STAW AWAY.

Luca points to the ceiling and shoots twice. BANG! BANG!

Some people duck. Others start running. Sam tries to move.

- Stay still. Do not move a muscle.

- Hey, man. I’m so sorry, ok.

- No, it’s not ok. You tried to kill me.

- Yeah. I did. And for that I am sooo sorry.

- Stop apologizing. That’s not gonna save your ass. You die today. And this is not revenge.

- It’s not???

- Nope. This is a lesson. People will learn that they cannot mess with Italians.

- No??? Why not???

That voice. He recognizes that voice. It is… it is… MAMBA.

- Cosa stai facendo figlio?

- Kobe?!?! Parli Italiano?

- Sì. Ho transcorso la mia adolescenza in Italia.

Luca doesn’t know what to do. He is talking to Kobe in Italian.

- What are you doing, son?

- With all due respect Mr. Mamba… I didn’t mean to interrupt the game or anything like that but… I’m gonna kill this nigger…

- Oh… so he is a nigger.

- Yeah. A monkey.

- Ok. So if he is a monkey, a nigger… so am I, right?

- No, Mr. Mamba. You are not a nigger, not a monkey.

- No???? Why not? We have the same skin color.

Sam stops crying. He is happy now. His idol is defending him.

- Yeah. That’s right, maricon.

- Shut up, boy. Maricon is Spanish and this boy is Italian. Can’t you see the difference?

Sam stops talking. His idol is teaching him a lesson.

- Hey, son. Give me your gun.

- But… but… HE TRIED TO KILL ME.

- He did? Well, that was stupid. Don’t be stupid too.

Luca gives his gun to Kobe who takes it and gives to a security man who was next to him. But before doing that, he asks Luca:

- How did you get in with a gun?

- That’s a long story.

- And they say America is the safest country in the world. Bullshit!

Everyone starts laughing.

- Hey, you two. Come here.

Luca and Sam get closer.

- What’s your name?

- I’m Luca.

- And you?

- I’m Sam.

- Ok, Luca. Ok, Sam. Where does all this hatred come from?

They look at each other but say nothing. They don’t know what to say.

- You Luca hate him because of the color of his skin. And you Sam hate him because he speaks a different language. Is that it?

They still don’t know what to say.

- Let me ask you a question then. Do you guys like me?

Now they start talking.

- Of course. You are the best. You are incredible. You are a great player. One of the best of all times. People compare you with Michael Jordan. Some people say you are better than him. You are…

They can’t stop now. They love Kobe. Both of them. Kobe interrupts them. He is flattered with all the complements, but his face shows a serious Kobe.

- Ok. Lemme tell you something Luca because maybe you haven’t noticed… I… AM… BLACK. Oh, lemme tell you something too Sam…. I… SPEAK… ITALIAN.

Both don’t know what to say.

- Lemme ask you another question: Do you know each other? I mean, for real? Have you ever been to each other’s house? Do you know each other’s family?

They still don’t know what to say.

- Your silence explains a lot. Come on, guys. You can do better than that. See, you can’t hate what you don’t know. And the same goes for love. You can’t love what you don’t know. For example, you love me because you see my games, my documentaries, films talking about me and my family. Do you feel me?

Both nod.

- But the question is: do you really know me? Maybe if you know me deeply, well, you will hate me. Or love me more. I don’t know. But you’ve got to know me.

They look at each other now. The hatred in their eyes has vanished.

- I know, boys. These are confusing times. There are people who believe Earth is flat; others believe war is the solution for all problems; others believe a race can be superior than others. Really confusing times.

Sam looks at Kobe and, with disbelief in his yes, says…

- WHAT???? EARTH IS NOT FLAT????

The tension is over. Everybody bursts with laughter. After some time, Don Corneone approaches Sam.

- Hey, kiddo.

- You are Luca’s father, right?

- Yes.

- Wow. Your voice is awesome. It sounds like you’re whispering.

- I know. Cool, right?

- Yeah. Cool.

- Well, kiddo. I want to say I am sorry.

- Sorry for what?

- When I was talking to my son about what happened I called you negro. I’m sorry for that.

 - That’s ok. You didn’t know me.

- Can you forgive me?

- Yeah, of course.

Everybody is talking to everybody, a scene unimaginable 30 minutes ago. Instead of blood, death and hatred we can see and feel SMILES, LIFE and LOVE.  

The PA system of the Madison Square Garden informs that due to the unexpected event the game will be postponed. People who bought the ticket only for that game will be reimbursed.

Suddenly, out of the blue…

- EVERYBODY FREEEEEEEEEZE. 

New York Police arrives at the scene.

- I SAID FREEEEEEEEZE.

Kobe tries to talk to them.

- It’s ok, sir. Everything is ok now.

- Shut the fuck up.

- Hey!!! Take it easy man.

- Take it easy, my ass. I hate the Lakers. I am New York Knicks.

Luca tries to defend Kobe.

- Hey, signor. Kobe è il miglior giocatore della lega.

- Oh, shut the f*** up, maricon. I don’t speak Spanish.

Sam tries to defend Luca.

- Hey. He is not Spanish. He is Italian.

- Oh, shut the f*** up, nigger.

The harmony is over. People start shouting in English, in Spanish, in Italian… it is a chaos.

Kobe sits down. He is tired. He looks up, and as he is talking to God he says…

All I want is a world with less hatred and MORE...

LOVE