Oh, No, Tony!

Scene 1

The scene opens on a young, dark-haired man, early twenties, sitting at a table in a low-light, otherwise empty restaurant after-hours. The man - TONY ESPOSITO - appears shaken up about something, running his fingers through his hair. In front of him is a piece of paper formatted as a letter, and in TONY’s free hand is a pencil. He is muttering his written words aloud as he writes.

TONY: Dear Giulia Romano, I have determined that I am decidedly unfit for the family business. (He pauses to sip at his drink. In the process, he spills a few drops onto his white shirt. TONY sighs as if this result is no surprise, and returns to his letter.) As such, I wished to ask your advice on the matter. Please respond. A fan, Tony Esposito. (TONY sets his pencil down and sips carefully at his drink. It is obvious that, while he does not spill the drink, he nearly drops it. With a final, long look at the page, TONY picks it up abruptly and disappears off stage left with purpose, the forgotten pencil lying next to his drink rolling off the table and onto the floor. As he leaves, people begin streaming into the restaurant as it opens. MILES CANTI enters with several other townspeople. He watches with blissful smile as TONY passes. MARCO ESPOSITO, TONY’s younger brother, enters and begins working.)

The opening song begins, and as TONY bashes his skull against the doorframe on the way out, a lot of the customers start laughing, except for MILES.

"FOR WHAT HE'S WORTH" (music break)

The song ends. TONY reappears, looking frazzled as he walks through the doorway. MARCO looks up at his entrance.

MARCO: Tony, shouldn't you be working? Dad'll be angry if he catches you slacking again, you know.

TONY, with a sigh: I'm aware. Painfully. (He walks to where MARCO is standing). And knowing me, I could never put in enough effort.

MARCO doesn't say anything to TONY, although he does look on with a sympathetic frown. MILES hesitates momentarily before approaching TONY, looking uncertainly at his defeated face.

MILES: If... if it makes you feel any better, I think you're the best you there is.

TONY: (He smiles a little at MILES' attempts. His tone is deprecating.) Is that really saying much?

MILES, softly: Always. (He notices people looking at him strangely, and he flushes.) Er... What I mean is, everyone has good and bad traits. And people can learn to love both equally.

TONY looks at MILES for a long second before he grins outright. Although MILES' words aren't enough to convince TONY, they are enough to lift his spirits, and that's good enough for MILES - for now. There are plenty more opportunities for persuasion than this one, after all.

TONY: Thanks, Miles. You're a good friend.

MILES, starstruck: Any time.

MILES turns to go, and the lights fade out as he retreats to the exit. As the door clicks shut, the lights go out completely, shrouding the stage in darkness.