BEHIND THE SCENES | Alland, Romagna, Orillia
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The night unfurls like a well-worn tale as family cars glide into the courtyard, each arrival a thread in the intricate tapestry of their lives. Laughter dances through the air, warm and inviting, yet Lucian stands at the periphery, ensnared by a web of his own making. The faces of his siblings blur into a vivid tableau of love and familiarity, but within him simmers a storm—questions unasked, regrets unshared. He watches the unfolding scenes with a heavy heart, a silent witness to a joy that feels just out of reach.
transcript below↓↓
It’s a friday night, and Fiona and Liams clan is going to dinner together.
The night is crisp as cars start to pile in the courtyard. The family is back for their monthly get together. A tradition that started when all of Fiona and Liam’s kids started to build lives of their own. A traditions that keeps the connected. Especially since the older girls rarely attend the coffee dates Lucian and Lorraine so regularly frequent.
They are all familiar with the space of course. Having grown up in the palace for most of their childhoods. They arrive individually of course. Fiorella is the first, with her growing family of 4, soon to be 5 with the new edition prominently displayed in her person. She walks with her father, Her husband and sons trailing behind them.
Next to arrive is Flo’s family. She is also a very pregnant individual, and carrying her son. Dorian is with them as the walk through the doors into the dining room. Some of them are already sitting at the table. Florentia gives her toddler to the nanny to keep him occupied during their meal. She walks up to her father, and kisses him on the cheek while he continues chatting with Aleksi. Dorian goes to give Fiorella a greeting, standing behind her chair as she looks up at him in pleasant greetings.
We then see Lucian arrive, not long after Lorraine walks up behind him. She grabs him and holds him back from entering the room for a moment. It might be a bit awkward because the footman is standing there as well, but so is regular royal life. She whisper shouts at him.
Lor (from afar)] Luc?!
Lor(pulling him)] Come with me.
Lor] What’s going on?
Luc] {exasperated} Lorra
Lor] You haven’t picked up my calls! And I read the articles…
Luc] You know better than th—
Lor] I told you not to pursue this!
Luc] Maybe it’s none of your business.
Luc] [Angry] I can’t listen to this right now.
Lor]scoffs Lu-
He walks away into the dining room, Fiorella dogs on Him as he walks in.
Fio] You both are late.
Luc] It’s her fault.
Fio] laughing Clearly they’re lying.
He goes to sit next to Florentia and Dorian. The conversation continues now that he’s there. Florentia whispers to him and dorian looks over at him as well.
Flo] I’m so mad, we only ever hear from you in the news!
D] It’s not really news, is it? More so Tabloids.
Flo] That’s worse! Shocking, isn’t it? What’s true, what isn’t?
Lor] He’s involved with some girl.
Luc]annoyed Lorra-!
Dor] We know that. Even if she’s not actually— uh, what would you say?
Flo] — Committed, people love the jump to conclusions. You’re not gonna tell us?
Luc] Flo exasperated.
Fio] Won’t you give us what we want?
This is the time when Fiona walks into the dining room. everyone has been waiting for her. The stand up at attention, and when she gets to her seat and sits, they all follow suit.
Fiona] Honestly, both of you. You’d think you were paid to argue.
Liam] They’re young, Cara, can’t help it, can they?
Lor] I know, dad! whiny
Fio] You’re twenty-four Lorraine. snarky
The different conversations continue one. And dinner has also been served. Lucian watches sort of detached as conversations whiz around him. Fiona and Fiorella are talking about possibly sending Finnick to a boarding school in another province. Lorraine and Dorian speaking about Cars. Lucian observes it all.
Flo] Why not Gordonstoun?
Fior] Finnick wouldn’t like it in Drossel. So far away… Too cold, It’s a bit far for a boarding school.
Fion] [serious] is that not the point?
Lor] I finally got that spyder we talked about.
Dor] The Porsche?
Lor] What else? she’s a beauty.
Dor] Just how much are you making in that company of yours? Can’t have business at the table, but If I can convince you to sell me a share or too…
Lor] You’re interested?
A few hours later, everyone is leaving. They are full, and want to head back to their homes. They vow to make it to the next monthly dinner. They all will. As Florentia starts to break away from the group, Lucian calls out to her. She tells him that Dorian went to pick Leo up from the nanny
Luc] Hey Florentia!
She stops and turns to him.
Flo] I’m waiting for Dorian. He’s picking Leo up as we speak.
Luc] He’s cute.
Flo] laughing you’re talking about Leo, right? Because if not, we’d have a serious problem.
Luc] laughing as well…
Luc] Are you happy?
Florentia contemplates this for a moment. She is in her second trimester at this point, and what else could she say.
Flo] It gets tough. Work, family, marriage… it all takes its toll. And the compromises! Sometimes it feels like too much. But even so, they’re what bring me the most joy.
When she says they make me happiest. Show Dorian and Leo in the distance of a hallway, waving at their person. Lucian and Florentia look at them from afar. Standing still now instead of walking.
L]Francesca and I… we’re done.
F] Oh, Luc… I’m so sorry.
Luc] "I feel helpless… I don’t know what to do anymore."
Florentia listens intently as Lucian begins to share the story of what Francesca told him, his words tinged with regret and pain.
Luc] "She told me everything, Flo… and I didn’t even see it. I didn’t know… I wish I could’ve. I could’ve done something… anything."
F] Lucian. [softly, disappointedly]
She speaks to him tenderly.
F] I don’t know this… Francesca, but I do know you.
She touches her stomach
F] It’s unimaginable—the pain, the torment. They say a child is a blessing, and that one was yours.
She touches his cheek.
F] If you truly love her, go to her. Set aside your pain, the loss, the betrayal—everything. Think about what she’s endured…
F] "A woman so alone, scared, in a world that feels too big."
F] "Her walls are high, but be the one she might lower them for, or at least the one she could open a door for. Be the one she’s been waiting for."
He pulls her into a hug crying, he kisses her on the cheek. She hits his arm slightly annoyed, but also smug.
L] crying Love you, Flo.
F] Go, don’t wait longer!
Dorian and Leo walk up to meet them in that hall. Dorian gives Leo over to Florentia , florentia with her arms open and kisses grabs at him, and he cooes at her. Lucian stares at them for a moment.
At the end of the post, he goes to Francesca’s apartment. Fully ready to have a strong reconsiliations. but when he knocks on the door, no one answers. He goes to look through a window, and he gasps. We then see that the apartment has been cleared out. They’ve moved out.
