TERRY.  It was seven long years ago that my good friend Danilo and his beautiful new wife Isabella first met.  Through me, as it goes.  Funny that… Pause. I’ve done it again.  Pause. I’ve trusted people and let them into my life and they’ve taken everything away from me and left me without a penny in the whole world! 

He nods, knowingly, verging on tears.

And here I stand today – the best man.  Best.  Better than the rest.  Standing and talking and waiting. Always waiting.

Two people meet and like…two oil tankers on a collision course – and there’s nothing to do to stop them!  But you try all the same.  You do your best.  Because you are the best.  And there’s oil everywhere. 

Looks at his hands.  Sticky.  Messy.  The loss of life – the loss of life is enormous.  Shouting, out of control. And the next thing you know, you’re at a wedding with a glass in your hand [looks at the glass in his hand] and you’re saying these words!  And people are all looking at you.  Sobbing. Everyone, their eyes on you.  “Let’s drink sambuca!”  That’s what he used to say.  “Let’s drink the whole night!”  And you think it’ll never change, it’ll always be the same. But - it - does.

Can I just thank the lovely bridesmaids?  And also Carmen for making their beautiful outfits.  It must have taken her a lot of time and dedication to do that and it’s fabulous.  Isn’t it fabulous, everyone?  To see how that hard work has paid off?  Yes, what an inspiration she is to us all.  You see, she’s getting on with it, isn’t she?  She’s not dwelling on the past and letting the loss of her poor dead moggie stop her from getting on.  Yes, it’s a great day today. A day when we celebrate the union of a man and a woman. 

Pause.

I have a present for the happy couple.  In fact, it was meant as a personal gift to the beautiful bride.  It’s here.

He holds up a photograph album-cum-scrapbook.

I made it myself.  Put a lot of love into it.  There’s a whole life in here – photographs, letters, post-its, tickets to the theatre: a scrapbook of a heart wrenched out of its body, a testament of a past and a promise of a future.  If we’d had a son, we’d call him Angelo.  Like an angel.  That’s what she said.  Funny thinking of that now. Perhaps, you’ll have a son!  Ladies and gentlemen, please, raise your glasses as I give you – the bride and groom!

ALL.   The bride and groom!