Molto Bella

I know most people go to Rome or Venice,

I am not those people.

I'm just saying, you can't go

all the way to Italy and not see the Colosseum.

Any place that was good enough for Oscar Wilde or D.H. Lawrence

is good enough for me.

Yeah, I don't know who any of those people are.

Never mind.

Wait, Oscar Wilde, didn't he write that book?

- Famous playwright. - Anyway,

just promise me you'll at least check out Venice.

I think it will be really good for you.

Well, I just, I just wanted to let you know

- that I made it. - Hurry back,

I'm pulling double duty at the shop.

Ooh, yeah, about that, I think

I might just stay here forever.

So plan accordingly.

Yeah. Yeah.

Hey, Hal?

I'm really proud of you for what you wrote.

- People are still talking about it. - Hey, we're pulling in now.

Uh, give Stella a kiss. I'll talk to you, all right?

All right, man. Well, be good or be good at it.

Will do. Later.

Okay, Mr. Flynn,

uh, single room?

Uh, do you have, uh, a double or something?

- But you are single. - Yeah,

but I mean, you don't have anything bigger?

Like piu grande, or?

You are two person?

No, I am... It's just me, but...

Then the single room is good.

Okay. Great. Single room it is. Thank you.

Perfecto.

Perfecto.

You're welcome.

Huh.

Oh, I'm not playing for tips.

It's just for fun.

That's a great cover. It sound eerily close to the original song.

I'd hope so.

You take any requests?

Nope, I only play originals.

Well, yeah, but...

Oh, wow.

Okay, yeah, I feel like an idiot.

Here I am offering five euros to famous musician.

Oh, that's a bit of a stretch. I'm not famous.

Oh, wow. You're Josie Day.

I think so.

Wow. I am Hal. Hal... Hal Flynn. Just wow.

Stop saying wow. Wait, you're not one of those cruise ship people, are you?

- I'm sorry? - How'd you get here?

Planes, trains and automobiles, in that order, actually.

You know, you missed tourist season.

It, like, just ended.

No. I'm not a tourist.

You're definitely not a local.

Well, I'm not here to do touristy things.

Then what are you here for?

Hmm.

Hate to interrupt your playing, but would you do me a courtesy

and take my photo, just like this?

Courtesy? Why, yes, sir.

Oh. Beautiful. Who is she?

There you go.

Well, let me do you one better.

This was definitely not shot on an iPhone,

and I happen to know a cute, little Mom and Pop shop

down the road that still develops. Can I?

Uh, yeah, sure. But if you can still

get one on the phone too, if you don't mind?

Yeah. Of course.

- I think she stood there. - Okay.

Okay.

So I take it you've been here before,

uh, Taormina?

Once or twice.

Well, I've been in Sicily for a couple of hours

and I haven't eaten which is a cardinal sin

if I am not mistaken. Uh, any recommendations?

- You wanna know a secret? - Of course.

Wander into any one of these places

and you will have the best pasta and wine

you've had in you're entire life.

Hmm.

And there we go.

Think I got a few good ones.

- Great. - Your stuff.

Thanks. Um...

thank you for the... the photo and the song. I'm...

- I'm a fan. - Of course.

Uh...

Hey, Hal?

This place is pretty dead.

Yeah, people don't go out till late here.

Restaurants don't even open until 7:00.

Ugh, I'd wither away.

Where are you staying?

Uh, Hotel Victoria.

Mm, Oscar Wilde.

Precisely, how'd you know?

Oh, they put signs around for the tourists.

Mm. This is seriously amazing.

Oh!

- So you're a writer? - Uh...

That's a pretty big leap.

You're not here for touristy things,

you're staying at the Hotel Victoria,

- you carry around this notebook. - Okay, okay. Sure.

Not a writer, but more, um, aspiring.

So you're modest.

No, realistic. I enjoy it,

but there are just so many out there that...

Mm. This is seriously life-changing. It's... it's...

- What you got? - I think it was a Tagliatelle.

No, I mean your notebook. Read me something.

What, now?

No, in 15 minutes. I'll set a timer.

Yes, now.

No way, you're a famous musician.

Oh, my gosh. I am not a famous musician.

I have one semi well-known song,

and nothing since.

And nobody even knows who I am

except for you, apparently.

Okay. People know who you are.

Hal, I'm getting impatient.

Okay, fine. I have this... this poem of the day.

It's stupid short stuff, but...

Sounds perfect.

Normally, I wouldn't share these with anyone.

Well, normally, you wouldn't be in Taormina.

Okay. But you have to promise me something.

Okay. You can't do that thing where you pretend to like it

even if you don't, okay? I'll know.

Why are you not talking? It's just making me even more nervous.

Hal, you're stalling.

Oh, gosh, okay.

Um...

"I waltz through this wave of strangers."

Their conversations,

they topple over each other and it sounds somewhat like,

well, like rain.

For now, I'm lost and well, that's okay.

See, I'm happiest when I'm lost

because I learn to be happy with myself.

I'm reminded of a thought though,

of the time my parents were children too.

On the topic of children, there they are over there,

a few playing soccer on the piazza,

two restaurant chairs as their goal

and that's enough for now.

The town is big while they're small,

it will grow small as they grow taller.

And, hey, it really does. You're right.

The sun shines differently here

"effervescent bright."

- Hal, I need you to look at me. - Nope.

Right this instant.

- You're good. - You promise you wouldn't...

You're good.

- You're just being nice. - No.

But I am a little buzzed.

And that jet lag is not gonna cure itself.

You should get some sleep.

Of course. Right.

Do you want me to walk you?

Yeah, I'd like that.

Could I have your coaster?

Sure.

Grazie.

Oscar Wilde arrived in Taormina in 1898.

Well, there you have it.

Uh, I'll get these photos to you tomorrow?

Who needs the time, thank you.

Should we meet at the fountain at four?

Uh, yeah, I think I should be awake by then.

Okay. Here.

Hmm.

All right. Think I have a little something here.

There you go.

"To now, the memory of tomorrow."

Hey, so, should we exchange numbers or something?

Just in case, you know, anything comes up or...

Let's do this the old fashioned way, Mr. Oscar Wilde.