( He signals a passing server to bring his son and him another round, still not turning his gaze. The sound of the guests around them and in the pool fill the silence as Teo remembers his night fondly. He doesn't hurry him. Or, push. He'd just as rather shut the whole thing down if it couldn't go anywhere. But every father has to try.
He does smile, though. And it meets his cheeks. It's real. He can hear his tone. He can see the blush in his cheeks without looking right at them. He likes Hawkins Fuller. )
I don't complain. ( His mother complains. But, he turns then, taking off his sunglasses finally. He folds them and sets it on the small, shared table before grabbing an hors d'ouerves. ) I'm not concerned with his age.
( Not when he says sincere things like 'I had a date,' and 'He was a gentleman. Finally, he contorts his entire body, legs resting against each other as he faces his son. )
What I hope for, in your life, is for every decision you make to be yours. Whether you believe in it, or not. There are the harder decisions. The decisions you never want to have to make, but are unavoidable. And then after - do you recognize yourself. I want you to be able to look yourself in the mirror. Or, to ask for help. Or, to try again. Disappear, come back stronger. My dream for you in your life is that you live. You, Teo, are your grandfather. ( Two more espresso martinis are sat down, Stefan pausing until they're alone again. )You are his best parts.
( He is too smart for his own good. Innovative. Manipulative, but in a way that draws people in. He can look into one's soul. He is inquisitive. And principled. (Guiseppe had principles. Not all principles are good ones.) He can be painfully stubborn. And contrary. And then the next moment, he can light up, especially about something passionate. He is not a hateful person. Nor conniving. But, he is challenging. And, his parents earned his ire. And his distrust. He knows that. )
You believe in people. And you find people who, rightfully, believe in you. Despite what you're up against. Despite what's held you back. Despite your environment. Despite your parents. You are the best of all of us.
( And even from afar, under street lamps and on corners, in dimly lit bars in surveillance and once in person -- he could see that Hawkins Fuller -- )
If he sees you. Whatever his age. He needs to see you. You, il mio sangue, la cosa migliore che abbia mai fatto, deserve to be seen.
( Again, he holds back. He does not believe his son was overlooked, but he knows Teo would say he was. If only he knew how deeply his parents had to care to make the choices they did. To fight Guiseppe, to fight each other, to claw themselves to everything they could. To give him the life he deserved. Even if it didn't look like others. Even if his parents could hardly stand each other. But, he was always on their minds. Always. )
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He does smile, though. And it meets his cheeks. It's real. He can hear his tone. He can see the blush in his cheeks without looking right at them. He likes Hawkins Fuller. )
I don't complain. ( His mother complains. But, he turns then, taking off his sunglasses finally. He folds them and sets it on the small, shared table before grabbing an hors d'ouerves. ) I'm not concerned with his age.
( Not when he says sincere things like 'I had a date,' and 'He was a gentleman. Finally, he contorts his entire body, legs resting against each other as he faces his son. )
What I hope for, in your life, is for every decision you make to be yours. Whether you believe in it, or not. There are the harder decisions. The decisions you never want to have to make, but are unavoidable. And then after - do you recognize yourself. I want you to be able to look yourself in the mirror. Or, to ask for help. Or, to try again. Disappear, come back stronger. My dream for you in your life is that you live. You, Teo, are your grandfather. ( Two more espresso martinis are sat down, Stefan pausing until they're alone again. ) You are his best parts.
( He is too smart for his own good. Innovative. Manipulative, but in a way that draws people in. He can look into one's soul. He is inquisitive. And principled. (Guiseppe had principles. Not all principles are good ones.) He can be painfully stubborn. And contrary. And then the next moment, he can light up, especially about something passionate. He is not a hateful person. Nor conniving. But, he is challenging. And, his parents earned his ire. And his distrust. He knows that. )
You believe in people. And you find people who, rightfully, believe in you. Despite what you're up against. Despite what's held you back. Despite your environment. Despite your parents. You are the best of all of us.
( And even from afar, under street lamps and on corners, in dimly lit bars in surveillance and once in person -- he could see that Hawkins Fuller -- )
If he sees you. Whatever his age. He needs to see you. You, il mio sangue, la cosa migliore che abbia mai fatto, deserve to be seen.
( Again, he holds back. He does not believe his son was overlooked, but he knows Teo would say he was. If only he knew how deeply his parents had to care to make the choices they did. To fight Guiseppe, to fight each other, to claw themselves to everything they could. To give him the life he deserved. Even if it didn't look like others. Even if his parents could hardly stand each other. But, he was always on their minds. Always. )