Day 9

"naho"

- A person often meets his tragedy on the road he took to avoid it. The one who pulled the trigger is the puppetmaster, his face unseen. His black and deep desires reveal themselves.

Black and Deep Desires is the ninth episode of 91 Days.

Staff

 *  Written by:  Yuichiro Kido.
 *  Storyboard:  Hiroyuki Yano.
 *  Animation Directors:  Ju-Hyeon Lee, Kazuyuki Ikai, Konomi Sakurai, Moriyasu Taniguchi, Sadao Ōshima & Tomohiro Kishi.
 *  Directed by:  Takeyuki Yanase.

Plot
Just having murdered Fango, Corteo walks quickly though the streets of Lawless, trying to make his way to the train station. Just as he's about to board the train, someone reaches from behind and pulls him back. He is accompanied by two other men.

At Avilio's apartment, he is awoken by the ringing of his phone. He hesitates but answers it nonetheless.

At the Vanetti Mansion, Avilio is led to the garage. There, Nero, Barbero, Ganzo, Corteo are all located. Corteo is being roughed up for answers about his betrayal of the family by Carmelo. Avilio asks how they know it was him, and he motions over to Gatto. He explains that Corteo leaked Nero's schedule to Fango then came back to the island yesterday. Barbero explains that Gatto came to throw himself at their mercy with the info about Corteo. Gatto says that the higher-ups want to work with the Vanettis. Since Fango's gone, they're done for.

Ganzo pushes Carmelo out of the way and begins beating up Corteo and demanding that he explain himself. Avilio watches this without emotion. Nero calmly leaves and Avilio follows him.

In Nero's office, Nero smokes a cigar and Avilio sits on the sofa. Nero says that they have no choice; Corteo needs to die. Avilio doesn't react to this and continues to look down as Barbero also enters the office. He asks Nero if he has a moment. Barbero explains that he's called the Fango family executives to meet with them in the morning of the next day. As Barbero starts to talk about Corteo, he asks Avilio to leave the room. Without a word, Avilio stands up and leaves while Barbero seems to glare at him.

Outside, Tigre and Gianni are talking about Fango. As Tigre notices Avilio, and calls out to him. He says that it must be hard as he knew Corteo for such a long time. Avilio asks of he said anything yet. Tigre says that he hadn't said anything yet. Gianni says that Ganzo might kill him before he does. Tigre says that Ganzo has a real temper when it comes to Nero and begins to say something before looking up at Avilio and apologizing. Avilio tells him that it isn't a problem before walking away.

Avilio calmly walks through town. It briefly shows a sign for Florida. He comes to his house and goes inside. It seems that someone is watching him from across the street (Who wears similar clothes to Cerotto). Once inside his room, Avilio yanks off his tie and kicks his table. Cerotto knocks on the door and Avilio lets him in. After going through the situation, Avilio asks why Corteo killed Fango. Cerotto explains that Fango betrayed Corteo and that once he got the recipe from Scusa, he didn't need him anymore. Distressed, Cerotto says that he would have never seen this coming since Corteo hated the mafia since he was a kid. Cerotto asks why he would want to kill Nero so bad that he would team up with Fango. Avilio thinks back, but then just looks out the window and then leaves without saying anything.

At the Vanetti mansion, Avilio jumps over the wall. He hides behind a tree and stares at the garage and pulls out his pocket knife. Suddenly, gunshots ring out and Ganzo yells for someone to get in there. Avilio is shocked but stays hidden. Having been shot in the arm, Ganzo stumbles out, cursing, as Tigre and Gianni come running. Ganzo tells them that Corteo escaped out the back window. The two run to the back as Barbero and Nero run out as well. Nero runs to Ganzo and asks if he's alright. Nero picks him up and Avilio comes out and asks what happened, to the surprise of the two.

Inside the garage, Nero, Ganzo, and Avilio look at the damage. The back window had been broken and Carmelo lays dead on the floor, having been shot. Ganzo says that Carmelo charged out of nowhere and whipped out a gun. Barbero enters and asks if he got away. Ganzo says that he had a feeling about Carmelo from the start. Ganzo calls him trash and kicks him. Nero tells Barbero to not let Corteo get away. Barbero says that they've locked down all roads leading out of the city.

As Avilio walks to Corteo's apartment, we see that the Vanetti men are all out looking for him. When Avilio enters Corteo's apartment, he finds it completely trashed.

In Nero's office, Nero and Barbero are talking. Barbero says that since Corteo and Avilio have known each other so long, and since Avilio's covered for Corteo before, he feels a bit uneasy about him. Nero says that it's only because they're friends from childhood. Nero says that Barbero has a bad habit of being too suspicious. Nero says that first they find Corteo and then everything else will come after that.

On the phone in his apartment, Avilio says to someone to let him know if they find him and then hangs up. Just before he puts the phone down, it rings again. He answers without saying anything. No one says anything for a moment before Avilio asks if Corteo is on the line. Corteo apologizes then says that they're going to kill him if Avilio doesn't kill Nero. Shocked, Avilio asks where he is. Corteo doesn't answer and simply says that he'll phone at the same time the next day. He again says that if Nero isn't dead, he will be. It shows that someone is pointing a gun at him as he speaks. Avilio calmly asks who's with him. Corteo starts to say who sent him the letter, but the line goes dead.

Avilio sits on a chair in his apartment and thinks back to what Nero said on their camping trip about the night his family was killed.

Avilio goes to the Vanetti mansion and walks past Del Toro. As he walks past him, though, Del Toro looks back at him, suspicious. Avilio walks outside to the backyard where he find Nero juggling rocks. He drops one and it rolls to Avilio's feet. Nero greets him and Avilio notes that he seems to be taking it easy. Nero says that he isn't an idiot like Fango. Avilio asks if they'd found any trace of Corteo. Nero replies that they hadn't yet. Nero says that some former bigwigs are meeting today to talk about where the family goes from there with Fango out of the picture. Nero smiles and stands up, and tells Avilio that he should come too. Avilio agrees. As Nero walks away, he kicks the rock he dropped earlier.

In one of the rooms, Ganzo, Avilio, Barbero, and Nero are inside. Nero asks Ganzo how his wound is. Ganzo says that it hurts a bit, but it's nothing serious. Del Toro enters the room and nods. He then brings them to Vince's room. As Avilio looks at Vince, he seems disgusted. Vince apologizes for calling them all the way there. Nero tells his father that he wants Barbero to serve as a family executive from now on. Barbeo says that he swears his loyalty to him anew. Vince gestures and Nero introduces Avilio as a new recruit. He asks if he's the one with the booze. Nero says that he's the one who brought it to them. He also says that Avilio has a lot of moxie. The two look at each other before he asks that Avilio takes care of Nero. Avilio agrees and calls him don. Vince says that "Children grow up before you know it. You do so much for them, then... Frate's dead, and Fio's gone too. Nero, I'm not blaming you. You did it all to protect the family. I thought welcoming Ronald into the family was the best way to protect it, and I listened to Ronald over you. But that made things worse with Frate." He continues to apologize, but Nero says that it's enough, and that it's all in the past now. Vince says that if Frate hadn't dies, the Galassia's would never have stepped back. He says that Nero did the right thing. Vince stands up and says that "God helps those who help themselves." He says that from now on, Nero will be the don.

Barbero and Nero are initially taken back. Nero quickly gathers himself and walks over to kiss his father's hand. He then sits down in his chair. Ganzo, then Barbero, then Avilio, walk over to kisses his hand. After this, they begin a meeting.

Barbero reads that the Fango family is now incorporated into theirs. He says that from now on, he'd like to reconsider the Island as a primary sales route, that they continue rebuilding while expanding the Lodge, and that they work toward mass production. Then, regarding Lawless Heaven, he'd like to prepare to sell it in Chicago in the near future. Ganzo is surprised, as he feels that the Galassias won't like it if they sell there. Nero says that they'll negotiate with them, of course. Nero says that he'd also like to send some to Don Galassia before the Playhouse's opening. He asks Avilio if he'd go in his place. Barbero says that he will handle that, as Avilio isn't ready. Nero disagrees and says that they'll leave it to him. He says that they have the preparations on the Playhouse to finish. Avilio agrees, and Nero says that he's counting on him. Nero tells his father that the rehearsals are starting at the Playhouse soon and that everything's in place. Vince looks happy and says that he can't wait.

Downstairs, Tigre downs a glass of Lawless Heaven and marvels at Nero becoming the don. Tigre says that he'll make a great don and Nero smiles happily at him. Avilio asks who the man beside his father was. Nero asks if he means Del Toro. Avilio says that he's never seen him speak. Nero says that he heard he got messed up in the European war. Since fighting there, he's served under Vince. Tigre asks if he was in prison. Nero says that he was on a job for the family. And he only got out the year before last. Avilio asks how long he was in for and Nero says that he isn't sure, but he thinks 5 years. Avilio says that he went to prison 7 years ago, he asks if Nero went on his first job with him. Nero says no, because he was supposed to, but got sent to prison before that. Tigre says he has to go to the bathroom and leaves.

Now alone, Avilio thinks about what Corteo had said the night before about killing Nero. He stares at the knife sticking out of the ham on the table. He looks at Nero, who is drunk and looking at his lap. He seems to be slowly reaching for it, before Nero says that Ganzo thinks pretty highly of Avilio and that he really pushed for him to take Avilio there. Nero says that he was shocked, since Ganzo had always been an old-fashioned kinda guy and that he was sure he'd be the one to ague against it, but it was the opposite. With the knife no longer in the ham, Nero lights his cigar and sits back into his chair. Avilio says that he's glad the Nero was acknowledged by Vince. Avilio says he's drunk and that Nero should go on ahead as he walks out.

Before he exits, Nero says "Seven years ago... That night, when Dad took me along on my first job... It wasn't just the kid who ran away. I couldn't shoot anyone. I was afraid to shoot. I felt like Dad held me in contempt for it. That's why, to get him to acknowledge me, I've thrown myself into my work, done a lot of killing. And then, even Frate... In the end, maybe nothing's really changed since then..." Avilio looks back slightly angry and says "But you could kill him now, right? That kid you failed to shoot seven years ago."

Avilio then travels to Cerotto's Bar and hands him something. Outside, he looks up at the stars. At the mansion, Nero is laying outside, doing the same. Avilio comes to a house and looks at his clock before knocking on the door. Someone opens as Avilio points a gun at them. Avilio says "It was you, wasn't it?" Smiling, Ganzo says "Right answer, Angelo."

Character Appearances

 * Avilio Bruno
 * Nero Vanetti
 * Corteo
 * Barbero
 * Ganzo Alary
 * Vincent Vanetti
 * Cerotto
 * Tigre
 * Gatto
 * Carmelo
 * Gianni
 * Del Toro

Trivia

 * The title, "Black and Deep Desires," comes from Act 1, Scene 4 of MacBeth. The full line is "Stars, hide your fires; Let not light see my black and deep desires."
 * The quote for this episode comes from Jean de La Fontaine. Originally, it's " A person often meets his destiny on the road he took to avoid it."
 * The knife that is in the ham that it also stolen by Avilio is later shown to be used by him to kill Del Toro.
 * The billboard for Florida is made more important in the final episode.