From the safety of Lena’s Mercedes, Max had watched in awe as she made good on her promise. In a matter of hours, any trace of their crimes would have been erased and the day’s events would begin to fade into memory.
Whatever happened now, they were bonded by this. Aish’s death had left Max numb and foreboding, but with Lena, they felt warm…and for the first time in ages…safe. Perhaps in the morning, guilt would arrive and demand to be heard, but for now, Max felt superhuman, and they’d do anything to stay that way.
[end of part one]
(transcript below)
(LENA): So um, bathroom and kitchen are to the left if you wanna shower or eat and then the rooms in front of us are the living room, bedroom and study so…
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Luis and Lourdes had driven in heavy silence, neither willing to speak first for fear of igniting another argument. Being at odds was new to them, and in the deepest recesses of Luis’ mind he wondered if this dynamic would be permanent, further distancing him from his already fractured family.
Lourdes, who typically preferred peace over conflict, found herself bubbling with a rage so potent, she felt like a stranger to herself. For the first time she seemed to truly understand the truth of womanhood in her family. So much pain to hold back. So much poison to swallow down. It was clear to her now why her sister behaved the way she did. Before, Lourdes had loved Lena in spite of her violent nature. Now she wondered if that same violence was bravery instead.
(transcript below)
(LUIS): [Noticing Lena’s car] Let’s get this over with.
[As the siblings walk towards each other, the air is thick with tension. The one-two punch of seeing both of her siblings arrive mixes with Lena’s ongoing anxieties over Max. Betrayal and fear distil themselves into an ache in her chest, giving her a brief pause before she speaks. However, the silence proves too much for Lourdes and her rising panic makes her talk first]
(LOURDES): Lena…I know how this looks, but please. If you let us explain then I’m sure we can have a civil conv-
(LENA): Sure? Oh that’s funny. An hour ago I was sure my sister wasn’t a traitorous bitch.
(LOURDES): Lena! You don’t understand!
(LENA): Get the fuck out of my sight Lourdes, before I change my mind.
(LOURDES): I-
(LUIS): Go wait in the car.
[Lourdes, now devastated, stomps off in the direction of the car]
(LUIS): If it’s any consolation, she hated lying to you and mami, and probably she hates me now too.
(LENA): She can join the fucking club. What is wrong with you Luis? [Gritted teeth] Why would you do this? What was there to gain?
(LUIS): Even if I told you, you wouldn’t understand. You have no idea what it’s like to atone for the sins of this fucking family.
(LENA): Oh give me a break! Do you think you’re the only one who’s been through shit? Who’s fucking sacrificed?
(LUIS): No. But unlike you, my shit isn’t self-inflicted.
[Lena punches Luis to the ground]
(LOURDES): [witnessing it] here we fucking go.
(LENA): [Flexing her hand] get up.
[Luis scrambles to get back on his feet]
(LENA): Do you know what your problem is? You don’t know how to de-escalate. You just expect people to back down and acquiesce to your point of view. [Luis gets back up, breathing heavily] …And if you can’t get your way, you provoke people into being their worst selves, so that you can say your hand was forced. Now we both know that shit doesn’t run with me, so how about you try telling the truth instead?
[Luis takes this opportunity to shove Lena to the ground, they fall together and immediately start fighting.]
(LUIS): [Breathless, mocking] that ‘I’m so tough’ shit is getting old, Lena.
(LENA): [venomous] Prick. [She surprises Luis by shoving him off her, quickly regaining the upper hand. Her gun clatters to the floor in the process.]
(LOURDES): [quiet, panicked] Oh fuck!
(LENA): Aw poor Luis, it’s so hard being daddy’s favourite, I’m such an angel! It’s my sister who’s a big bad monster! Boo-fucking-Hoo. [deadly] You know I promised mami I’d bring you home, I just didn’t say what condition…
[Lourdes sprints back into view, Roy’s black SUV pulls up]
(LOURDES): Lena! That’s enough!
[Lena releases him immediately, shocked out of her blind rage, the two sit, facing each other]
(LENA): …He’s fine.
[Car door slams, Roy steps out, but so does someone else]
a/n: only one more update left after this and then I am temporarily freeee!
start / previous / next
(transcript below)
[Luis scrambles to his feet, in the background, now holding his sister’s gun]
(LENA): How are you here?
(MAX): I- um, Roy helped me with…I needed to see you.
(LOURDES): [Quietly] Luis are you okay? Do you need a hospital?
(LUIS): [Hoarse] I’m fine. [He points the gun] And I’m sorry Roy, but when all is said and done, you’re a loose end.
(ROY): [holding max at gunpoint] I have to say, you’re not the one I thought would be holding that. Makes my insurance plan feel a bit flat. Tell your brother to drop the gun, Lena.
(LENA): [low, tense] Luis…don’t make them a part of this.
(LUIS): I’m sorry Max, I don’t know what my sister has you caught up in, but she should’ve known better.
(LOURDES): Luis please! Lena’s right! Let’s just go home. You don’t have to do this!
(LUIS): This doesn’t concern you Lourdes. Go back to the car.
(LOURDES): No! [She stands in front of him] We are going home! I will not lose another member of my family! Drop the fucking gun! [She turns around] Both of you!
(LENA): [Quiet, urgent] Luis. Come on.
[Luis sighs before dropping the gun into Lena’s hand. Satisfied, Roy lowers his gun and releases Max from his grasp. They remain utterly silent.]
(LENA): Alright Roy. Let’s call a truce. It’s been a long fucking day.
(ROY): …Fine. Just this once. It’s not fucking worth it anywa-
(LENA): [To Max, mouthing] Duck.
[max ducks, lena fires her gun, the bullet hitting roy square in the chest, he collapses to the ground, his own gun clattering on the gravel]
(LOURDES): [Horrified] Fuck! Why?
(LENA): [staring at max] he crossed a line.
[Lena walks towards Max, who now stands over Roy’s body]
(LENA): [gentle] Max?
(MAX): [Staring at Roy’s body] Yeah?
(LENA): Look at me.
[Slowly, Max meets Lena’s worried gaze]
(LENA): Are you okay? Did he hurt you?
(MAX): I’m good. Are you okay?
(LENA): [Surprised] I’m fine. Just…sorry you had to see that.
(MAX): Don’t be… I get why you did it.
[*]
[Lourdes and Luis watch on in the distance]
(LOURDES): [Realising] Oh.
(LUIS): That doesn’t concern us. We need to get out of here.
[*]
(MAX): What happens now? Do you need to sort things with your siblings?
(LENA): They’ll be fine. What do you need?
(MAX): …Can we go back to yours? Don’t think I should be alone after all this.
(LENA): Of course.
(MAX): And…what about Roy? It’s not just him…in the boot there’s-
(LENA): [Understanding] I’ll take care of everything. Just trust me.(MAX): …I do.
Rita’s visit had left Max numb. It was as if no matter what they did, they were destined to suffer under the hand of fate. So much of their life had been devoted to staying upright in the face of the unimaginable. It never mattered that they rarely understood why their world was so often knocked off its axis, as long as they played along, all would fall into place. But it was tiring, constantly rebuilding and playing catch up to what everyone else always seemed to know.
Perhaps it was time to stop playing altogether and invent something in a language only they understood.
(transcript below)
[IPHONE]
(SIMONE): Do you know when you’ll be home, love?
(JORDAN): things r shit rn, but it’s gonna be ok boo, i promise. love ya lots x
1 MISSED CALL FROM: CLEO
(CLEO): Max, I just heard about the bar! I’m so sorry! Let me know what you need!
[NEWS ALERT]: Victor Feng: ‘The Spice District fire is a tragedy, but it further proves that San Myshuno is in a state of neglect.’
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Though her bones weighed that of lead, sleep came to Lena in conflict. Her mind was electric, furiously battling to knit everything together. She’d been on the backfoot to begin with, but to know that she had wasted so much time as an unwitting pawn in her brother’s machinations filled her with a specific and familiar dread. It was this same dread that had her fixated on a one word text, agonising over her reply. Deep down, Lena knew Max deserved far more than what she could currently give but despite it all, she was willing to try, even if it was at her own expense.
(transcript below):
[PHONE RINGS]
(LENA): Max?
(MAX): I might do something stupid.
(LENA): [sitting up]…Stupid how?
(MAX): As in really fucking dumb.
(LENA): Max I’m too tired for this, just tell me what’s wrong.
(MAX): [sniffling] Right. Well before I get into it, I should tell you that I am not sorry I blocked you. You really pissed me off that night and I refuse to be treated like a dickhead, but seeing as I’ve unblocked, texted and now called you, I’ve clearly moved on.
(LENA): Max-
(MAX): I’m not finished. Rita’s selling the bar, which is as fucked as it sounds and did you know that Victor Feng thinks San Myshuno is in a state of neglect? What do you think he means by that?
(LENA): I don’t fucking know, but-
(MAX): [low, dangerous] It was them wasn’t it? The fire. Probably a warning?
(LENA): I-I [sighing] I mean it looks that way, yeah.
(MAX): Good. Look, I never thanked you for helping me with all of this. I know you were never quite comfortable with it all, but it was…I’m glad that you did.
(LENA): W-Wait, please don’t do what I think you’re doing.
(MAX): Lena, you don’t have to worry about me! I’m fine. Everything’s gonna be fine.
(MAX): They let me back in about an hour ago. Only to the flat though.
(RITA): Right…Well we should probably see the damage for ourselves.
(MAX): …Oh, um I’m not sure if- [Off Rita’s look] Okay well I’ve got some unopened masks upstairs, we should probably put them on incase of fumes.
[***]
(RITA): …Fucking hell.
(MAX): …Yeah. I’m sorry.
(RITA): What for?
(MAX): I don’t know, you left OSB in my care and it’s literally gone up in flames. I know how hard you worked to establish this place and I’ve only ever tried to honour that but-
(RITA): -Max you’re rambling. Why don’t we step outside for a bit? Get some air.
[***]
(RITA): I can’t remember if you smoke or not.
(MAX): Only socially, and I kinda quit that but…fuck it.
[They smoke in silence]
(RITA): [Exhaling] Max, you have nothing to be sorry for. You’ve done an amazing job with this place and with…everything I’ve asked of you. In fact, if anyone should say sorry it’s me. I should have never put you in that position with Luis.
(MAX): You wouldn’t have asked if you didn’t think I could handle it.
(RITA): I know, but still. You’re young and you shouldn’t have to deal with all this. It’s funny, even before the fire I’d been thinking about coming back for a bit. My sister’s doing better and it’d been a while since I’d checked in with you. I thought that once I saw it again I’d realise how much I missed it all but…I don’t. I haven’t.
(MAX): Rita…
(RITA): I think it’s time to sell this place Max. Rid us both of the burden.
(MAX): It’s not a burden! Not to me! It’s my home! And what about the others?!
(RITA): [Sighing] Look Max I'm sorry, I’m not doing this to hurt you. I know you’ve been through it lately. But you’re what? 26? You’re gonna land on your feet. You all will. If you’re worried about money, I’ll make sure you’re not left high and dry but I don’t have it in me to run this place anymore, and you deserve to not have it weighing on your shoulders. You won’t get it right now, but I’m doing you a favour.
a/n: welcome to the part 1 finale of wifey! I’m so glad you’re here! there’s so much to share in this chapter and I needed to close out this section of the story on a round number so i’m going to split it into acts! hope you enjoy ❤️
When Luis was young, his father seemed gigantic to him. He was broad shouldered, statuesque and seemed to absorb every space he was in. At the time, Winston often assured his son that one day, he too would get his 6 '4 height but instead he grew to an unremarkable 5' 10. It was as though the universe was forcing him to know his place, like the firmness of his father’s hand wasn’t enough.
Years later, when Winston keeled over on a cliffside in Selvadorada, Luis finally saw his father for who he was. Not a giant, but a man. One so deeply afraid of what he might lose, that he could never fully accept what he had gained. It was down to Luis to play his father’s role, and keep his family from disintegration. But though he knew the lines, his performance always fell short. The costume was ill fitting and the ghost of his father loomed in every corner, casting a large shadow over his first and only son.
It was almost predictable then, when in the quiet of late night drives or the still dark of his bedroom before sleep, images of a life beyond his current circumstance started to flash through his mind. What was surprising, is that in a rare act of benevolence, the universe appeared to gift it to him.
(transcript below)
[NINE MONTHS EARLIER]
(LUIS): Why come to me?
(ROY): Enemy of my enemy. God saw fit to deal with your father. It’s up to me to handle the rest.
(LUIS): I see…and you’re sure this will work?
(ROY): I’m certain. You help me, I help you. We both get what we want.
(LUIS): Alright…I’m in.
[SEVEN MONTHS EARLIER]
(LOURDES): Have you lost your entire mind?!
(LUIS): Lourdes-
(LOURDES): Dad hasn’t even been dead a year and now you want to break Mami’s heart all over again? You want me to lie to my only sister?
(LUIS): Lourdes please. What I’m doing will save our family. It will make us better!
(LOURDES): You don’t know that! I feel like you’re not telling me the whole story. I don’t get why we just can’t go to Lena and Mami-
(LUIS): Because they won’t understand! Do you honestly think I’d ask you to help me if I wasn’t desperate? You’re the only person I trust in this world! I need you by my side on this. And you’re right, I’m not telling you everything, but it’s because you don’t need to know. You have to let me protect you, just like I'm trying to protect Mami…[off Lourdes’ look] and Lena too.
