something i told jules about diego and the old woman he was married to that i’d like to share with the class…
i wrote abt this on here back in like….2016 but felt like it was worth while to share now too.
The woman who Diego was once married to was named Sylvia Sparrow (Sylvia? like silver? Silver Bullet?? the dots are connecting) and I think, initially, Diego did try to swoon her for her money and fortune. He made plenty of money in his own profession...however not enough for his liking. Probably saw Sylvia at a party once, didn't know who she was until he overheard from another conversation about her life as an actress and how absolutely loaded she was. Waltzing right up to her table to introduce himself, spend that night dining with her, drinking and exchanging stories back and forth. When most of the guests leave (I'm assuming this may be even at her estate) ... she confronts him. The only person ever to be straight with him, besides Johnny. Saying she knows what he's after. But, compliments him on his attention to detail-- meaning picking up on small cues she'd been giving him all night, being attentive, bluffing his entire way through her questions about her own career. If he wants her money so badly, he can have it. She has no reason to hold onto it with her age. In return, he must marry her for it. Almost like a test to see if he really will. Diego’s probably pretty taken back by this himself, only a handful of times in his life had he ever been so speechless. Sylvia tells him that it’ll be more of a partnership and she doesn’t want a romantic relationship. She has no children and no living relatives. If her fortune is going to go to someone, it might as well be towards someone who entertains her, even if he’s a brat. As an old woman, I picture her to be still very snappy and quick-witted. A cynical view of the world around her had helped her to get where she was, of course. Maybe she even looks like an older Bette Davis.
And so, they wed. There are PLENTY of rumors, Diego Brando?? Marrying an old maid?? It was neither here nor there to him. When Diego moves in completely…it’s like living in a castle. It takes time to get used to, spending time with an old woman rather than fraternizing with people around his own age. Her kindness towards him, genuine kindness, is something that towers over everything she owns. Sylvia was an actress that was popular back in the day of black and white movies. She was beautiful and very well known. I don’t think Diego’d taken much of an interest in movies before meeting her. Sure, he liked them, but she was able to show him different things to look for, commenting on camera angles, special effects, how they’re able to capture such scenes they watched together.
Their time is spent well ; analyzing old and new movies, probably educating Diego to some degree because he never did go to school, having midday lunches outside under the terrace, enjoying her large garden. Which Diego eventually did spill the beans to her about his childhood and mother…and I believe Sylvia would probably feel a little sad for him but not comment much. Instead of coddling him, encourage Diego to have roses planted for his mother. The current garden needed to be scalped and this property would soon be his anyway. She told him to start (after their relationship as friends grew) changing things, tearing down and rebuilding. However…Diego left everything the same. His only change that was made was the garden. A sea of red roses as far as the eye could reach, across their back lawn. Twisting into a beautiful maze of hedges and pockets were even more roses grew.
They rarely left, except when Diego had to race. Becoming a shut-in, which really didn’t help a lot of what was being said about them either. The demands of the world outside were just. Becoming too great. I picture Sylvia in a wheelchair, Diego walking her through all the flowers, talking her ear off while she listened quietly. She’d lived a year longer than the doctors had told her, in which she’d thank Diego for that. Giving her a little longer and showing her that the world wasn’t so bad nowadays. And he was right there with her, in her own bedroom, when she passed. Holding her hand, telling her that he’d remember her always, and thanking her for giving him a chance. She’d tell him not to get married to a bratty woman and to keep everything she’d given to him to himself. Still being blunt with only a few breaths left. Even with her dead, Diego didn’t change anything still. Not a pillow or a couch, a chandelier or a rug. Her room was never touched after that.
bonus: maybe she’s even where he learned his crappy jokes from KDHDLDH