Dialogue: Heroes

Mamá Welles

V? Hm, been a long time since you call... Since Jackie passed away.

V

Wanted to call you before, Mama Welles, but... Eh, you know how it is…

Mamá Welles

You had other important things on your mind, hm?

V

1AJust wanted to know how, you know, you were holdin' up.

Mamá Welles

1ANo good, V. Parents should not bury their own children. Hmm, and I can't even do this.

V

1BUm... just wanted to explain why I didn't, y'know...

Mamá Welles

1BIt's OK, V. You don't need to. I know how things are.

V

1BI was with Jackie when he...

Mamá Welles

1BV, listen. This is the path my son chose. He knew what he signed up for.

1BIf he could have been saved, you would have done it, I know.

I suppose you still do what you... hehh, what you did before.

V? Good to hear you. Finally.

Been a long time since we talk. Since when Jackie pass away.

V

2ACallin' to offer my condolences.

Mamá Welles

2AHm. "Offer your condolences."

2AHave the decency not to treat me like some stranger you just met!

2AI was going to call you. I prepared an ofrenda for Jaquito. We can't let him go without a proper goodbye.

2AThe ceremony will be at the Coyote Cojo. Many of his friends will be there.

V

3ASay no more, Mama Welles. I'll be there.

Mamá Welles

3AHm, I did not doubt it for a second.

V

3BDo my best to make it.

Mamá Welles

3BMhm. Do your best…

V

3CDon't know that that's... somethin' for me.

Mamá Welles

3CIt is for you. So you can say goodbye. Like a human being.

V

2BHow're you doin'?

Mamá Welles

2BHow you think? My son is dead.

2BBut I am hanging in there.

V

2CI'm sorry, I-- I should've called before.

Mamá Welles

2CYes, you should have. But better late than never, hm?

Mamá Welles

The pool table, we got to get rid of it.

Pepe

Really…? It's pretty massive. female V only

Mamá Welles

V, nice to see you.

V

1AWouldn't mind one.

1BI'm good, thanks.

Mamá Welles

A lot of time has passed. How you been?

V

2ABeen better, to tell you the truth.

Mamá Welles

2AWhat is happening?

V

2AThat night, when... when Jackie fell... Let's just say things haven't exactly been easy since.

2BHangin' in there, somehow?

Mamá Welles

2BSomehow.

2BHmm. But OK – we put it behind us, hm?

Mamá Welles

I am in the middle of preparing an ofrenda. There is still so much to take care of...

V

4AWanna take part in the ceremony, but... wanna do it the right way – in line with tradition.

Mamá Welles

4AMhm...?

V

4ABut somethin' I-I'd lay by his casket, that'd do justice to his memory – I... I don't got anything.

Mamá Welles

4AFff, don't worry, it's symbolic. Look for something in his garage. His past is all there.

V

6AThanks, Mama Welles.

Mamá Welles

6AEh, don't mention it, V. You have respect. I admire that.

6AThe garage is on Republic.

6AYes, it's me.

6AI am having an ofrenda. I must send my son off.

6AYes, consider yourself invited.

6AMhm. See you then.

6AHier ist Montserrat Welles. Vom Coyote, ja.

6AI need a special delivery.

6ABeer – an even dozen cases. Sure, yes, ten and two of the ginger stuff.

6ATequila… ayy, fuck it, a dozen cases too…

6AJa, Zitronen und Limetten auch.

6AHmm...

6AIs me. I'm having an ofrenda for Jackie.

6AUh-huh... You can't?

6AI see.

V

5AJackie had a garage?

Mamá Welles

5AHe used it for his motorcycle, mostly. But not so long ago he moved in. You'll find something there, I'm sure.

V

5AWon't mind me digging through his stuff?

Mamá Welles

5A<mothertongue l="mex" m="No, mija." b="" a=". He's gone. And funerals are for the living, not the dead. Toma, take the key."/>

V

4BCould help you with that.

Mamá Welles

4BIt's enough you come to say goodbye.

V

4CAn ofrenda? Wh-what's that, exactly?

Mamá Welles

4CHm, friends and family… we gather to celebrate the departed, our memories of them. And we bring things they loved in life and might need in the after.

V

4CSure some beer'd be at the top of Jackie's list.

Mamá Welles

4CHeheheh. And there will be beer.

I call you many times. You don't answer, you don't call back…

Pepe

Hrghh... One heavy... ugh... bastard.

Hrgh... argh, yeah... C'mon, chingado…

Mamá Welles

So...?

Pepe

Maybe we scooch it, put it up against the wall?

Misty

Hi, V.

V

1AWhat're you doin' here?

Misty

1ASittin' and waitin'... And, yeah, waitin' for him, though I know he's never comin' back.

1ALately I've just been comin' here to sit. An hour, sometimes two.

1AI know it's gonk, it's just... I miss him. A lot.

1AWanna sit? Catch up?

V

2AHardly gonk at all... just, well, human.

Misty

2AI guess.

V

3AJack talked about you... a lot. Always sayin' how much you meant to 'im.

Misty

3ADid he really say that? I bet he used different words.

V

3AHeh, maybe, but... that's what he meant. I really believe that.

Misty

3AYou actually got to know him – the real Jackie. Everybody else thought he was a goofball with a rough-hewn face and an edge. But they're wrong.

V

4ANah, Jack was... Jack was a little of that, too. Always lookin' on the bright side…

Misty

4AHe wore his heart on his sleeve. And wasn't at all afraid to live fully.

4AHad his inner demons, though.

V

4AWho doesn't?

Misty

4AExactly. They're what makes us who we really are on the inside.

V

4BWhat'd you see in him?

Misty

4BLemme tell you what he told me once.

4BTold me he'd take a bullet for me – in an instant. Even if it'd kill him.

V

4BSpoken like a true Heywood boy.

Misty

4BA man – with dreams, ambitions. Only thing they cost him was his life.

3AThere's a huge chunk of his past in there…

V

5AMama Welles is having a send-off for Jackie. I need to find somethin' he really cared about.

5BHow come you're outside?

Misty

5BI don't have the key.

V

5BJackie never gave you a set? You two didn't get that far?

Misty

5BHe offered. But I wanted him to have his own space, just his own.

V

3BYou knew each other long?

Misty

3BHalf our lives. Grew up in the same streets – saw each other a lot but just never got together…

V

3BTill a year back.

Misty

3BYeah. Best darn year of my life.

V

1AMind givin' me a hand?

Misty

1AI'm not sure I should go in there, V.

V

1AStill too soon?

Misty

1ANo, it's not that. Mama Welles and I aren't exactly on the best terms.

1AShe wouldn't want me touching any of his things, disturbing the memory – that I know.

V

1AJackie'd want you here – that's more important.

1ACome on.

V

7ABasketball signed by Dante González.

Misty

7AHe was from Heywood, too. Everyone here shot hoops, Dante ran circles around 'em.

7AI think he mighta been the first kid to ditch the Valentinos.

V

7ALike Jackie?

Misty

7AMhm. They both wanted more outta life.

7ADante's captain of the NC Blackouts now.

V

8AHm. This'll be... fitting.

V

9A"For Whom the Bell Tolls" – Ernest Hemingway.

Misty

9AJack read it a dozen times. Always right before a big job.

9AHe said the guy who wrote it was tougher than Morgan Blackhand.

V

9AYou read it? Is it any good?

Misty

9AI, uh... I never got the chance.

V

9AIt'd be a good tribute for the ofrenda, though.

V

10AJack, pure and simple…

V

11ALooks like he swapped out the exhaust pipe.

Misty

11AWhat?

V

11AAdvised him to do it... right before the job.

V

12AFine piece o' metal and mechanics. Yeah – he was sooo psyched...

V

13ALoved to poke around engines.

Misty

13AHe was fifteen when he first got on a bike.

V

13AKnowing him, it is a miracle he never wiped out.

V

14AGuess no man cave's complete without some of those, huh?

Misty

14AHe said they're collectibles. They don't print them anymore.

V

14AThat's definitely why they're up there, yeah.

V

15AHeh, gotta be hanging here since 2020.

V

16AHeh, Jackie loved to pump iron, didn't he?

Misty

16AHe called it his form of meditation.

16AHe used to say barbells are the best listeners. They understand all your problems and never give you gonk advice.

V

17AStill full.

Misty

17AHis favorite.

17AStrategic reserve. No touching.

V

17AHow come?

Misty

6AWell, you got something for your ofrenda. But we could look around a little more.

V

18ABetter get goin'.

Misty

19AOh, Jackie...

V

19AThat a... a mandala...?

Misty

19AMhm. Oof, it's a long story.

V

20AHey, you all right?

Misty

20AI'm so much better than all right.

20AI once told Jackie he should sweep all the dark energy out of this place. A sand mandala'd do the trick, for example.

20AHe told me that out of sand, he'd build a castle, a home, the Welles' family hideout, stronghold, somethin'…

V

20AI guess you made a bigger impression than you thought.

Misty

20AI guess I did...

V

21AIsn't it just a little... janky?

21BIt's beautiful.

Misty

20AIt's hideous.

20ABut it's also the most beautiful thing I've ever seen.

V

22ANice still.

22ANice still.

Misty

22ATypical Jackie.

22AOf course he'd go for this one.

V

22ANice still.

V

23AAn aquarium?

Misty

23AUsed to be Taco's.

V

23AAnd Taco was...

Misty

23AHis fish. A dwarf shark, like, mini.

V

23ASounds like a mighty expensive fish.

Misty

23APfft. Oh, I don't think he bought it.

V

23AAn aquarium?

Misty

23AUsed to be Taco's.

V

23AAnd Taco was...

Misty

23AHis fish. A dwarf shark, like, mini.

V

23ASounds like a mighty expensive fish.

Misty

23APfft. Oh, I don't think he bought it.

V

23AAn aquarium?

Misty

23AUsed to be Taco's.

V

23AAnd Taco was...

Misty

23AHis fish. A dwarf shark, like, mini.

V

23ASounds like a mighty expensive fish.

Misty

23APfft. Oh, I don't think he bought it.

V

24AHeh, Jackie's favorite tequila. Still sealed.

24APart of the strategic reserve?

Misty

24AIt's his lucky charm. One of the first bottles ever made by Jesús de Abajo.

V

24AThe founder of Centzon Tequila?

Misty

24AOnly a hundred of 'em left in the world – all owned by the one percent.

V

24AHow did Jackie get this one?

V

25ATakin' this, yeah. Perfect for Jackie.

Misty

24AIt's his lucky charm. One of the first bottles ever made by Jesús de Abajo.

V

24AThe founder of Centzon Tequila?

Misty

24AOnly a hundred of 'em left in the world – all owned by the one percent.

V

24AHow did Jackie get this one?

Misty

24AIt's his lucky charm. One of the first bottles ever made by Jesús de Abajo.

V

24AThe founder of Centzon Tequila?

Misty

24AOnly a hundred of 'em left in the world – all owned by the one percent.

V

24AHow did Jackie get this one?

V

26AGotta be Jackie's dad.

Misty

26AOld school ganger. Valentinos, of course.

V

26ADid you meet him?

Misty

26ANo, I only ever heard about him. But he didn't exactly inspire many fond memories.

V

26AGotta be Jackie's dad.

Misty

26AOld school ganger. Valentinos, of course.

V

26ADid you meet him?

Misty

26ANo, I only ever heard about him. But he didn't exactly inspire many fond memories.

V

26AGotta be Jackie's dad.

Misty

26AOld school ganger. Valentinos, of course.

V

26ADid you meet him?

Misty

26ANo, I only ever heard about him. But he didn't exactly inspire many fond memories.

V

27ALeather belt?

Misty

27ASort of a memento. His dad's. Used to beat both Jackie and his mom with it.

27AUntil one day Jackie fought back, kicked his butt, told him he'd kill him next time. Old man was hospitalized and then he left.

V

27AWhy'd he hold onto it?

Misty

27AIn case his dad ever comes back.

V

28ATrue memento, this.

27ALeather belt?

Misty

27ASort of a memento. His dad's. Used to beat both Jackie and his mom with it.

27AUntil one day Jackie fought back, kicked his butt, told him he'd kill him next time. Old man was hospitalized and then he left.

V

27AWhy'd he hold onto it?

27ALeather belt?

Misty

27ASort of a memento. His dad's. Used to beat both Jackie and his mom with it.

27AUntil one day Jackie fought back, kicked his butt, told him he'd kill him next time. Old man was hospitalized and then he left.

V

27AWhy'd he hold onto it?

19AHm. Locked. Wonder what's in there.

Misty

19AThat's his lair, slept there. He musta had a different key.

19ALet's look around, might be tucked away somewhere?

V

19AFound it.

V

1AMama Welles is having a send-off for Jackie. I need to find somethin' he really cared about.

1BYou here alone? This is not exactly the safest neighborhood in town, Misty.

Misty

1BI used to sit on the stairs when I was ten. Twenty-six now – if anything was gonna happen, it wouldn'ta taken this long.

V

That a... a mandala...?

Misty

Mhm. Oof, it's a long story.

V, what're we doing?

What now? Huh?

Uh, whaddaya expect to happen?

Should we even go in there? I'm not really sure…

You decide, V. We goin' in or not?

Think you have everything you need?

Something else, V…?

Mamá Welles

V, it's good you're here.

We're about to start.

Sit down, please.

Mamá Welles

1AI thank you all for coming today.

1AI'm not going to tell you what kind of man my son was or lament about how much I miss him.

1AInstead, I'll tell you a story.

1AWhen he was about... nineteen years old?

1AJackie was in the Valentinos. They were at war with Maelstrom back then.

1AI get a call from the hospital. They tell me he got shot. Three times. Just by the heart.

1AAls ich ankam, war er bei Bewusstsein. Überall waren Schläuche. Mein Junge sah aus wie ein Tintenfisch.

1AEr sagte mir: „Mach dir keine Sorgen, Mama. Sieh, ich bin kugelsicher. Mir wird nie was passieren.“

1AAnd when I go, he take off his Valentinos ring. He swear he won't need it anymore.

1ABut he was not scared. He just didn't want me to worry.

Viktor

1AAmong the membership of the Night City Devils boxing club, we had this saying.

1AMake your best friends among the fighters who knock you out cold.

1AAnd it's true. Jackie's arm was a cannon. No one's ever hit me as hard – heh, I can still almost feel it.

1ATwelve rounds, buddy.

Mamá Welles

1AAnyone else...?

V

2AI, uh... I often think back to the first time me and Jack met.

2AIt all started when he put a heater to my head.

2AThen some badges showed up. Beat the shit out of both of us – half my fault, half his. We hightailed it out together.

2AHalf an hour later we were eatin' dinner at Mama Welles'. Turned out to have more in common than we thought – principles.

2AJackie Welles.

V

3AThe best friend you could ask for, loyal to a fault.

3BAn honorable man. He placed principles first and stuck hard to 'em.

3CAlways hungry for more. And never gave up, not once.

2AOnce he set his mind on something, he was ready to die to achieve it.

V

4AHe kept Heywood in his heart, always. It made him who he was.

4BFor his loved ones, he'd sacrifice his life, without hesitation.

4CHe always knew what he wanted. And took it without askin'.

2ABut most importantly…

V

5AJackie loved life and had no fear. Heart on his sleeve, he... he didn't overthink things, he just went for it.

5AThought he was bulletproof and that he'd become legend at the Afterlife.

5AAnd ultimately, he did what he set out to do – shit in the shoes of some powerful people.

5AIf he's watching, bet just about now he's flippin' 'em all the bird.

5BEveryone saw Jackie as a grinning charmer who saw the good in everyone, everything.

5BThey were wrong. Jackie Welles was a helluvan ambitious choom who never gave up, and whose drive cost him his life.

5BBut he did in life what he said he'd do – reached for fortune and fame, no fear in his eyes or heart.

2AI'd been hired to drive him and some contraband across the border.

2AHe'd bought some goods klepped from Arasaka. Top secret, priceless... a lizard, heh.

2AAnd I remember what he said then. That I came from a place where everyone's family, so he must be, too.

2AIt feels like it happened a century ago. At another time, in another place. Jackie saved my life.

2AAnd then, years later in Night City, he saved it again. At a time when I thought I'd lost absolutely everything.

2AI found my own freedom, then. But it would not have happened without him.

V

6AA Heywood kid with a helluva drive.

6ARest easy, choom.

Mamá Welles

6AI would like to say a toast.

V

6BHe always wanted more than he got outta life.

6BRest easy, choom.

Mamá Welles

6BI would like to say a toast.

V

6CHe feared no one. And wasn't afraid. Lived life to the fullest.

6CRest easy, choom.

Mamá Welles

6CI would like to say a toast.

V

6D"When you go to war as a boy, you have a great illusion of immortality. Other people get killed, not you... Then, when you are badly wounded the first time, you lose that illusion."

6DRest easy, choom.

Mamá Welles

6DI would like to say a toast.

Mamá Welles

1AThank you for your kind words, V.

1AI'm glad you're here. It was a beautiful ofrenda we gave him.

1ASo viele Leute sind gekommen ... Selbst dieses Mädchen, auf das er sich eingelassen hat.

V

8AHer name is Misty.

Mamá Welles

8AWhat...?

V

8AMisty. She was very important to him. Do you understand?

8BLet it go, Mama Welles.

Mamá Welles

8BExcuse me?

V

8BShe's a good woman, and your son loved her.

1AGo, invite her along for dinner. It's the least she deserves.

Mamá Welles

1AD'you know what? You're a good woman.

1AJackie would want you to have this.

V

9AThank you. I'll take such good care of it.

Mamá Welles

10AIt's so, so good to see you.

10AJackie chose his friends well.

V

9BThank you, but... I really can't accept this.

9BI hope you can understand…

9CUh... you sure?

9CJackie'd kill me if I got so much as a scratch on it.

Mamá Welles

9CSo don't get any scratches on it.

Padre

My deepest condolences – he was a fine boy.

Mamá Welles

Then go raise a glass to him, Padre. A few glasses.

V

1AHey. You all right?

Misty

1AYeah... I think I'm just still in that garage, mentally.

1AI just need a sec.

So? Shall we go?

V

2AYou ever thought you might leave Night City?

Misty

2ASure. Once upon a time I even tried.

V

2ASeriously? Meanin'?

Misty

2APacked my bags and hopped on a plane – to Nepal. Thought I'd stay there.

2AAfter a week I realized I couldn't live without the traffic outside my window and my neighbors' hollering.

I'll see you at the Coyote, then.

Actually, V... I think I'll stay a while.

Say bye to him here. Mama Welles wouldn't want me there anyway.

V

3AYou gotta come, Misty – got a right to be there.

Misty

3AI'd rather not get in Mama Welles' way. It's for family.

V

3AYou were family to him.

Misty

3AI guess you're right. Thanks, V.

V

3BI understand. Take care of yourself, Misty.

Misty

3BYeah... You too, V.

V

3CWhat happened between you two, what's the beef?

Misty

3CLet's just say she didn't see me as daughter-in-law material.

V

3CWhat'd she have against you?

Misty

3CThat my name wasn't Camila and I wasn't Jackie's ex-output. Camila was Mama Welles' favorite.

V

3CRight.

V

4AHey... everything OK?

Misty

4AYeah... I just need some time, y'know?

V

1AGonna miss him. I already do.

Viktor

1AHere's to Jackie – gone off to greener pastures.

V

1BHehh... Sucks to meet like this, huh?

Viktor

1BFarewells aren't that bad once you get used to 'em.

V

1BHave you? Gotten used to 'em?

Viktor

1BWhen you get to my age, friends don't come and go. They just mostly go.

V

3AI'll see ya, Vik.

Viktor

3ASure, hang in there, kid.

V

2AJackie Welles.

Viktor

2AA proud son of Heywood.

V

4AHeh, I should mingle, Vik.

Viktor

4ASure, see ya later, V.

V

1AYou're, uh, you're the Padre, right? I'm V.

Padre

1ASebastian Ibarra. I have heard of you, about you.

V

1AThat so?

Padre

1AThey say there's an echo in Heywood. You say one thing, you hear it a few more times after.

V

1BHere to say goodbye to one of your own, Padre?

Padre

1BI'm here to say goodbye to a good man.

V

2ASo, Padre. You think Jackie's looking down upon us... from up there?

Padre

2AI believe he has met God, stood before Him.

V

2AThat's it?

Padre

2AI don't know if God left the meeting happy, but I'm pretty certain Jackie did.

V

2BJackie – did ya know him well?

Padre

2BI remember the day his mother brought him into this world. The day his father left. The day he took you into his home.

2BYes, V. I knew him quite well.

V

2CHow're things in the streets?

Padre

2CThis is not the place to conduct business. Have some respect.

V

2DI'm 'onna move on.

Padre

2DGo with God.

Pepe

Pour you another? For Jaquito.

V

1APour. For Jackie.

Pepe

1AAmen, sister.

V

1BI'll have another.

Pepe

1BHave as many as you want.

V

1CWeird bein' here without Jackie.

Pepe

1CCan't shake the feelin' I'm 'onna turn an' see him sittin' at the bar. In his favorite spot, where he always used to sit.

V

1DSee the Valentinos haven't forgotten about Jackie.

Pepe

1DDays like this even the meanest motherfuckers pay their respects.

1DPrinciples. And Jackie lived by them – they's what kept him going.

Let's honor his memory, hm? You drinking?

It's good you came. He'da liked that, wanted it.

Gang Fa Crying

Yeah, I'm at the Coyote...

Been a couple years, now, but still… y'know?

Just came to say goodbye.

Gang Fa Gang Chat

You hear the job came from Dex?

Yeah. You know what the word was about 'im.

Gang Ma Gang Chat

Welles knew, too. Just wouldn't listen.

Gang Fa Smoking Chat

Nice gesture... the letter. Coulda not sent anything after that thing with Gustavo.

Gang Fa Smoking Chat

Welles had a beef with the Ortas?

Gang Fa Smoking Chat

That thing, yeah, you know – Gustavo hit some girl? Hard?

Gang Ma Smoking Chat

Welles decided Gustavo should explain himself.

Gang Fa Smoking Chat

Fuck, didn't he know who he was talkin' to?

Gang Ma Smoking Chat

Oh, he knew. Got Gustavo to apologize.

Anyone else, they woulda planted a knife in their heart.

Rey Ma Friend

Fuck, it's wake after wake these days. The boss, now Welles.

Rey Ma Friend

Campo's head was so done in they didn't let him out for the funeral.

Rey Ma Friend

He's lucky they let him out for Gustavo's.

Rey Ma Friend

True, but him and Welles were tight, man. It's sad.

Rey Ma Friend

Hey. Raise a glass with us?

V

1AThink I've had enough for the day.

Rey Ma Friend

1AYeah, we're goin', too.

V

1BYou guys know Jackie well?

Rey Ma Friend

1BNot us. Our bosses. Had only good things to say about him.

V

1BYour bosses?

Rey Ma Friend

1BGustavo Orta, Campo?

V

2ABottoms up.

1CGustavo Orta's dead?

Rey Ma Friend

1CSomeone fuckin' dropped him. No idea who.

Rey Ma Friend

1CBut we will fucking find out. Soon.

Rey Ma Friend

1CMan, shit month for the Valentinos.

Rey Gustavo

Ehh, Campo's all torn up. Says he feels like he lost one of his own.

Rey Martha

Wonder if he'll be as torn up after you die.

Rey Gustavo

Psst, hey you! Have a drink with us, hm? To Welles.

V

3AGood for now, thanks.

Rey Martha

3ASee? Ya gotta know when to stop.

Rey Gustavo

3AAyy, gimme a break.

3AAll right, let's go.

V

3BThink we might know each other.

Rey Gustavo

3BGustavo Orta.

V

3BV.

Rey Gustavo

3BYeah... I've heard about you.

3BNice speech you offered.

3BWell, heartfelt condolences, friend – from me, Campo and all the Valentinos.

V

3BThank you.

V

4AAll right, why not.

Rey Gustavo

4ATo Welles. May he rest in peace.

V

3CHow'd you meet Jackie?

Rey Gustavo

3CUh, we started out together.

V

3CIn the Valentinos?

Rey Gustavo

3CNo, in the fucking Bible book club.

Valentino

Hello, V.

V

5AGood to see ya. Shame the circumstances.

Valentino

5ABeautiful speech, V. I was moved.

5AToday you drink to him, you hear?

Ugh…

Gle Mom

Lupe's been handling the loss pretty good.

Gle Dad

She's a strong woman.

V

6AWe meet again. Didn't know you and Jackie knew each other...

Gle Mom

6AWe know his mother. We are here to support her.

Rey Ma Friend

How 'bout another?

Rey Gustavo

Another?

Jaquito Welles – in memory.