Embers of Romance in Traveste

Act One

The sun sets over Traveste as 25 year-old Castellano trudges home from a long day at work. Although the job isn't his deepest passion, it pays the bills and gets him out of having to depend on his family, which is something Castellano takes pride in. Still, the grind of mundane existence has been slowly eroding at Castellano's soul and he's been steadily losing hope of ever having something more than being able to pay the rent on time. Little does he know, however, that something unorthodox awaits him around the corner.

As Castellano turns down the familiar street, a familiar figure huddled against the wall catches his eye. Mielle, his old high school best friend that disappeared from his life many years ago. The joy at their reunion quickly sours when Castellano realizes that Mielle is wearing the same blouse she did in those formative teenage years... but she is also wearing the same necklace his old lesbian ex-girlfriend had bought. In an unexpected moment of vulnerability, Mielle apologizes for not returning Castellano's feelings as a teen and reveals that she had come to terms with her sexuality. Armed with this knowledge, Castellano quickly snaps into a punkier and more determined state of mind - realizing that he had, in some sense, lost himself to the complacency of his situation.

With a renewed sense of vigor, he invites Mielle over for the night. As they walk home the streets sparkle with their conversations, and unhindered laughter - reaffirming the unique spark of chemistry they had all those years ago. As they near Castellano's home tension filled silences start appearing in the conversation, building to a crescendo by the time they arrive.

Act Two

The next day, filled with residual apprehension, Castellano takes Mielle to his favorite lookout spot outside of the city - an old ruin with a stunning holanic view stretching for miles into the evening sky. In mid peak, Castellano diverges from their ascent and wordlessly begins pouring the illicit substances he had bought the night before into two waiting cups - offering one to Mielle in a gesture of understanding and complicity. In the growing warmth of the evening the two start talking and - against the glowing backdrop of the sun - the two start talking.

Throughout the conversation Castellano can feel an equal mixture of tension and anticipation as he silently awaits Mielle's unburdening - her apologies to him for not returning his affections interspersed with confessions of her lingering love for him. With increasingly faltering breath, Mielle apologizes for not having the capability to return Castellano's feeling as she leans towards him, and in the white light he sees that same elusive spark from all those years ago.

Act Three

With both of them tumbling rapidly, the pair figuratively and literally fall asleep on the summit - Mielle waking up slightly disoriented the next morning. As Castellano stirs, he notices Mielle has placed a supportive arm about him and glances over with a profound sense of clarity to find her gaze both pleading and expectant. Though neither party spoke, it was within this moment of understanding that Castellano decided to accept Mielle on her own terms, despite the next of mindbogglingly difficult obstacles that lay ahead.

A deep sense of fear startles Castellano out of his emotional fog as they began to descend the mountain in earnest. The past days' dawning revelation begins to feel hollow and surprisingly rigid against the unknown perils of a society that would rarely accept such hearts desires of the two lovebirds.

Act Four

The hours and days flash by in the scramble to prepare a suitable path for them to be together - discussions of passports, of birth certificates and more in an attempt to preempt any challenge that could possibly be thrown at them. Lawyer after lawyer is visited for counsel, settlements are met and met again as both parties must also wage an economic war in order for them to remain appreciably together. Finally, it all crescendos with a bloody fistfight that happens on the newly-adorned doorsteep of the duo's apartment building. The fight is tempestuous and ultimately most-crucial to their burgeoning plans.

The preceding days of grueling hardwork finally crystallizes with a mystical acceptance and understanding as the two are granted passage amidst a flurry of sunlight and tears. In the foreground, two figures with packs can be made out - Castellano and Mielle, hand in hand as they slowly disappear in the vast unknown of the Italian horizon.