THE YOUNG SOPRANOS XXXII (Continued)
THE
YOUNG SOPRANOS
XXXII
BY J. BECK
2024
...
(CONTINUED)
WATERFRONT
WAREHOUSE DEPOT DOCKS
HUDSON RIVER
NEW JERSEY
XXXII
The following morning A.J. Cork & Jack Black paid Coco an early visit at Butch's old post-war depot warehouse on the New Jersey side of the Hudson River waterfront docks.
WATERFRONT
WAREHOUSE DEPOT DOCKS
Coco stands to his feet, having them kicked
up on the same desk that Butch sat behind when he was murdered by Jack Black
(&Meadow).
"How
can I help you Anthony?"
"I
have heard that you wanted to be named Boss Coco?"
"Yes. I did. But,..." (BUT?) "But the Comission Ruled & Named you." (AND?) "And, You Are." (So does that mean, I am Your Don?) "Yes." (Then Say It.) "You are my,...Don, Anthony."
"GOOD!--Just Checking Coco!" & A.J. slaps him across the back.
"So
Jack Black here is my new Body-Guard (& Enforcer). & I want him to shadow you so you can
show him the ropes around here on the docks for me." (OK, Sure. I can do
that!) Coco shakes Jack Black's hand.
Then A.J. informs him that he did such a good job being the stand-in boss during the transistion period that he wanted to make Coco his De Facto--Front-Boss when he was absent. "Can you do that for me Coco?" (Yes Sir!)
"Good Man!--I knew I could count on you!" A.J. shakes his hand & says, Come On Cork--I gotta go now & pick out an engagement ring!--See you Jack!" (Later.)
STELLA BREWSTER & ANTHONY SOPRANO
A.J.
took Stella & Meadow to go wedding ring shopping & lunch. They went to 3 high end jewelery stores to
examine their diamonds rings that were not in glass displays but those
catologed in their safes. After
finishing their lunch-date, Stella told A.J. the ring she wanted was from the
last jewelery store they visited & It was the last ring they seen that cost
$20K.
A.J.
called Hymie Hyle & asked him to meet him at the Swize Club for a sit-down
business meeting & dinner. Hymie
accepted & arrived at the appointed time to find A.J. there waiting for
him.
A.J. asked Hymie, "That really wasn't tasteless Under-taker Humor as you dismissed your comment about selling Brains to Meadow was it?" (No.)
"So there's truly a Market for such
body-parts & organs?" (Yes.) "What sorta of money are we talking
about?"
"It all depends upon a number of variables." Hymie answered. (Such As?) "The main influencer would be based on Supply & Demand." (OK?) Then it depends upon the condition of the parts based on age, race, & the reason or method of death." (As you joked the other night that you couldn't sell that gun-shot brain?) "Yes, Exactly A.J.--Any undamaged brain, same as the eyes, heart, kidneys, lungs bone marrow, tissue & skin will have some measure of value. (Such As?)
"Such as a brain would be worth $10K to $20K & Maybe up to $50K+. A Heart & kidneys would be in the same price range. There are also a market for entire bodies in some circles." (Circles?)
Yes the Demand side of the market has to do with science & research labs & medical transplant institutes mainly. (Mainly?) "Yes there is a Dark Market for cults & art." (I see & you have such connects Herman?) "Yes."
"What you telling me is the cleaner the method of death, the greater the value of the body?" (Yes. Avoiding Head Trama, Gun-shots & stabbings wounds can damage & waste the potental worth of any given corpses' body-parts & organs.)
"Drug
over-doses,Stranglization, Hangings, Broken Necks, Suffication,
Choking-out--Bleeding-out make the best donors?" (Yes.) "This is good
to know, if we were to do business together in the future?" (Yes A.J.--We
can do business together anytime A.J. Herman assured him.)
"Good.--And I have one last question,...(Yes?) What if there was a body to be cremated? Say, like a car without out a title that needs to be junked & crushed. (Yes?)
"Is there a price for those services?" (Yes.--$10K is the going rate.) A.J. smerks & knods his head in agreement & shakes Hymie's hand.
When Dolly appeared at their table with a young dark gothic male character. Dolly introduced him as Vito to Hymie & A.J. saying they had gone to school together before Vito left & has been gone ten years.
"VITO?--Vito
Spatafore Jr." A.J. stands to his
feet to greet him. "Vito--It's A.J.
Soprano!"
"Hello,
Anthony!"
"Come
& sit down with us, sit here beside me!" A.J. insisted as he motioned for the waitress
to come so they could order more drinks.
"Look at You Vito! You are all grown up now!" (So are you A.J.) "When did you get back?" (Today.) Dolly butts in telling A.J. that she picked Vito up at the Bus Station earlier. "Where are you going to stay?" (I don't know yet.) "You can stay with me then!" (What?) "Yea! I have a Flats apartment over in Jersey with a guest room--You can stay as long as you want!" (Are you sure A.J.--I don't want to be a burden to you or embrass you?) "You will do neither Vito!--We are the Same; We are Equals as young, American Italian brothers.--Our two fathers were close friends & my father said Vito Sr. was his Top-Earner & it wasn't even close! He called him a "Come from Behind" sort of guy."
A.J. takes Vito Jr. to his Flats apartment & showed him his own room. "You can shower & eat, make yourself at home." A.J. gave him a door-key to come & go as you please. "Do you get high?--Here is some pot if you want it. I have to run now Vito. But I will be back in the morning to get you & we can go after coffee & donuts!"
The following morning A.J. awoke alone in his hotel bed, feeling the warm spot beside him where Stella left to go for her early morning run. A.J. seen Meadow was still asleep so he slipped out to go get Vito.
SGT STELLA BREWSTER
NYC--PD
"Officer
Brewster!"--("Agent Grasso.") "I should congraduate you
with your Wedding Engagement. Although,
I feel that I am obligated to warn you against marrying a Mobster,..."
Vito
tells A.J. "I am not Gay!" (Yea?) "No, I'm Not!--I just don't
want you to think I am because of who my father was & the fact that I was
with Dolan when we ran into each other at the Club."
"I don't care either way Vito." (What?) "I don't care. If you were or not. That's your business, not mine.--I know there are those who disapprove among us but I for one don't care. The important thing is that whatever our behaviors are? We must guard & shield the Family from any unwanted attention. (I understand that.) "I know you do Vito.--Tell me something,..." (Yes?) "Do you have any aspirations of becoming a Made Man of Honor?" (Yes. I do Anthony, if I get the chance to prove myself & "Make my Bones, someday.") "Good.--You will then Vito & Perhaps someday, sooner then later?!"
"Do you want a job working for me Vito?--I need a driver & some muscle--& You look like you can take care of yourself! I will pay you $1000 a week to start & give you this 2 week advance to start." "Yea. Sure A.J.! (Thank you for everything Anthony.)
"It is my pleasure as it is my Duty to do for my brother, Vito." As the two shake hands on it. A.J. tosses Vito his car keys, "You drive then, Driver--But if you are going to work for me we have to get you some better clothes; A couple new dress-suits & a fresh hair-cut & close shave!" (Whatever you say A.J.--Where to?) "Let's go see Mr. Monte at the 7-11 for fuel & coffee first."
That afternoon A.J. & Vito stood side by side, waiting outside of the front-door on the porch at a Sheephead Bay home after ringing the door-bell twice. Before the heavy wooden door cracked opened slowly.
"A.J. Soprano?"--And, Oh my God!--VITO? Vito my Son!" Vito's mother began calling for Franny to come & see! "It's your big brother Vito! He has come home to us!" Marie paniced with warm tears streaming down her flushed cheeks as she struggled to unlock the screen door to reach her long lost son. "My prayers has been answered!"
Marie falls into her
son's strong arms as she hugged & kissed him when Francesca came to the
front-door: "VITO!" & She
joins her mother & brother in a group hug out on the front porch. "We should go inside before the
neighbors begin staring!" Marie
herds them all inside the house hugging & thanking A.J. for bringing Vito
home to them!
FRANCESCA "FRANNY" SPATAFORE
PIANO
MUSIC MAJOR
Franny leads Vito into the house leaving A.J. & Marie alone. A.J. says, "Can i ask you a serious question Marie?" (Yes.)
"Who is Vito Jr.'s father?" (What?--You know who that is?) "Do I?--I don't believe that is true." (Why?--Why don't you believe that?) "Why did you ask my father for 100K$ to relocate your family after Vito's untimely death because Vito Jr. was acting out & rebelling? Why did you feel that it was appropriate to approach my father for that much money? Why did my father feel obiligated to assist you & your children? Unless my Dad was Vito's real father?"
"Why are you bringing all this from the past up today, after you just returned my son home to me after 10 years being gone?"
"Because
I want to know.--& I deserve to know Marie." (As Do We!--Vito &
Francesca said together as they over-heard their conversation between A.J.
& their mother.
"Yes. Tony was Vito's real father, Not Vito. Vito was sterile before we were married. & Tony & I had a long-lasting affair that we kept secret between us until today. Francesca charged into the room & stood face to face with her mother, staring deeply into her eyes.
"How about me Mother? Who was my real father?" Marie drops her head to sob in her hands--Tony. He was both of your's father.
"Why haven't you told us?--Vito & Tony have both been dead 10 years?"
"It's not all about You & Vito, there are others who would be affected by it besides us!" (Like Who?) "Carmela, for one!"
Franny
turns and grabs A.J.'s arm, "Please, Take me with You & Vito Anthony,
I am an Adlut now!--& I can't stay here another minute in this house with
this woman who is suppose to be our mother!
(No.) She has made our entire lives nothing more then her own big
lie!" (NO!) "Good-bye Mother."
A.J. takes his half-brother & sister, Vito & Francesca to his Flats apartment to stay together & collect themselves after the revelation of who their real father was, Tony Soprano. He told them he would return in the morning. (After he figured out how he was going to break the news to Meadow & how was she going to react to it?)
But
to A.J.'s overwelming surprise, Meadow was emotionally happy once the
realization that they had a younger half-brother & sister in Vito Jr. &
Francesca Spatafore.
"What
are you saying A.J.?" Meadow pleads with questioning eyes.
"We have two younger siblings. (How?) Our father had two children besides us, younger then us. (What?) Yes. Dad is the real father of Vito Jr. & Francesca." (HOW?) "You know How! He had an extended affair with Marie that they kept secret between them." (How do you know it's true?) Marie confessed it to all three of us this afternoon." (Why?)
"Because I asked her who Vito's real father was?" (Why did you do that?) "Because I wanted to know--We all deserve to know!" (What did you say to her to make her confess?) I asked her why she asked our Dad for $100K to relocate after Vito became Rebellious. Then why did our Father feel obiligated to place Vito in that military school?" (What did she say then?) "She said it was true, Dad was both Vito & Franny's real father bevause Vito was sterile before they were married." (So what Happened?)
"Francesca got in her mother's face & told her that her entire life was her mom's big lie, if she was even their mother? Then she insisted she left with Vito & I, saying she is an adult now." (What did Marie say?) "She said she couldn't tell them because she didn't want to harm Carmela!" (CHRIST.)
Meadow began crying & reaching out her arms to A.J. "Hold me A.J." & She broke down in tears telling him she didn't understand why she felt her heart over-flowing with a happiness that she had never felt. She told A.J. that she always wanted to have a little sister as he agreeded wanting a brother too. "Where are they now--Are they safe?" (Yes. They're at my Flats apartment together. I told them I will be back in the morning.)
Good. I will go with you. Franny should come & stay up here with us!--Vito I am sure is fine staying there but she is still a child."
"You
are the Boss, Big Sister!" A.J. sighed, being relieved that Meadow took
the news so well as he continued to hold her.
They could hardly expect their mother, Carmela or their Aunt Janice to
take it so well.
(A.J.
had recorded the entire encounter & conversation with Marie's confession so
she could not deny it. & He'd have
it as proof for Meadow or their mother if he needed to prove the fact of it.)
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