Epilogue

V parks his Torton in front of a small diner. Around him everything is covered with snow and pine trees as far as the eye can see. V slowly gets out of the car and crosses two truckloads of tree trunks. He pauses to ponder in front of the entrance, stroking his long beard and mustache. After a moment he shakes off his gray jacket with the "Samurai" logo and puts on a pair of sunglasses.

V opens the diner door and enters, shaking the snow off his boots. The diner is half empty, only two guys are eating, sitting at a small table, in silence. V approaches the counter behind where there is a man in a chef's uniform and slowly leans his cap with an "NC" logo on the counter.

V: Good evening, I would like to order.

Clerk: What can I give you?

V: Uhm...Two burgers with fries, please.

V takes off his glasses and notices a small, half broken television hanging on the wall. In the disturbed broadcast is a middle aged man in a suit and tie holding a press conference.

Man (TV): Everything that has been said about the incident in the Biotechnica plant is pure speculation. The explosion that compromised its operation was the result of a mere industrial accident and nothing else.

Woman (TV): Excuse me director, could you clarify the involvement of the Aldecaldos in this story? We have satellite images that clearly show their presence at the accident site.

Man (TV): Pure propaganda put up by Arasaka. Let us rather focus on the images showing one of their helicopters opening fire on innocent civilians. As explained in last week's press conference, the Aldecaldos have been a valuable ally for our company and NUSA since the Night City incident, for which Arasaka will have to answer. I take this opportunity to echo the words of our president, Rosalind Myers and immediately call for a bilateral table with President Yorinobu.

V slowly looks away from the TV set and notices that the guy at the counter is staring at him with a bag in his hand, petrified.

V: How much...How much do I owe?!

Clerk: Nothing... It's on...It's on the house…

V grabs the bag and slowly walks to the door, almost sneaking out. V quickly gets into the car, sitting in the driver's seat, throwing the bag on the passenger side and slowly rests his head on the steering wheel. After a few seconds he raises his head, turning his gaze to the sky full of stars above him, looking at it sad but hopeful. After a while, he leans back in his seat and stares at the sunglasses in his hand and rests them on the dashboard of the Torton. Suddenly a hand grabs V's face from the backseats.

V: What the hell, Panam!

Panam wears a light green shirt and has short hair, shaved on one side and long on the other. She jumps into the passenger seat, grabbing the bag and yawning.

Panam: Mmm…What did you get?!

V: Burger with fries.

Panam takes the chips from the bag and throws the rest at V.

Panam: Bleah. You can have it. I'm gonna stick with the fries.

V looks at her, smiling.

V: What?! Why?

Panam smiles while eating chips.

Panam: I'll tell you one day, Vincent.

Vincent fiercely begins to eat his burger as he starts the car and begins to drive. 

Panam: Hey, hey, Vincent…What's the rush?! You've been strolling around until now, It took us forever…

V: Yeah and you slept the whole time, actually no…You snored the whole time.

Panam assumes an offended expression, then she gives a light punch to V's shoulder, he smiles.

Panam: What an asshole!

V: The guy in the store, I don't know...He looked at me strangely. Hope he didn't recognize me…

Panam: Of course he recognized you. I've been smuggling stuff all my life, and you know what never fooled anyone, Vincent?!

Panam rips off the V mustache and sticks it on his forehead, he lifts his eyes, chuckling. She does the same.

Panam: A pair of fake mustaches.

V wipes the mustache off his forehead, then places the burger on the dashboard of the Torton and looks at Panam, concerned.

V: Pan…

Panam: Yeah?

V: Are you ok?

Panam darkens, turning toward the window, saying nothing.

Panam: Yeah…

Vincent stops the car on the side of the road and puts a hand on Panam's face.

V: Panam…

Panam slowly turns and grabs V's hand, smiling sweetly at him.

Panam: No Vincent, what you wanted to ask me is whether I'm sure about this. It was my choice and I have to live with it, not you.

V smiles and lowers his head, pleased and moved. Then he starts the car again.

V: Since we've sworn to tell each other the truth, I really have to tell you that I don't like your haircut, Pam…

Panam smiles.

Panam: But you don't have to like them, Vincent. I have to.

V: Yes but maybe they had, I don't know some kind of meaning…

Panam bursts out laughing.

Panam: Vincent, who do you take us for? An African tribe, maybe?! Come on…

Panam turns around and grabs something from the back seats. It's an Aldecaldo jacket.

V: HEY! Where did you get that?! You can't wear it, Panam!

Panam: Where I got it's my business. Besides, look who's talking, Vincent. You walk around with his jacket and his glasses, you fucking look like him! All you're missing is a shirt that says, "I nuked the 'Saka".

V laughs so hard that he lowers his head on the steering wheel, Panam does the same while wearing the jacket.

V: Maybe you should've fixed the heating. Would've helped.

Panam: Well, you know, we never had much use for it in the desert…

Panam get closer to V, intrigued.

Panam: I don't understand one thing, Vincent… Do you smoke or not?

V becomes serious, looking at the rearview mirror.

V: Smoking is a very bad habit, Panam.

Panam: Glad you figured it out.

V: Listen I have one last question to ask you and then I'll stop, I swear.

Panam rolls her eyes, annoyed.

Panam: Damn Vincent, how is this a new beginning if you keep asking me about my past?!

V: Deputy. Of Finance. Of the Kaukaz.

Panam bursts out laughing, covering her face.

V: I swear, I've been thinking about that since you told me.

Panam: Ok then. I was twenty-two more or less…I don't remember where we were, maybe Arizona, Colorado...Who knows. There was this guy we called Skinny Pete, he had a farm just outside of town...He said he was a fixer, but I never believed it. At the time I used to go around and pick up old scraps of metal to bring back to camp and honestly I was sick of it. Anyway, one day I drive by and he offers me this job: a transport across the border. I just needed a car…Two thousand eddies to carry around a politician, Vincent. Seemed like a crazy amount at the time.

V looks again at the rearview mirror, concerned.

V: Then, what happened?

Panam: One evening I left the camp and went to a gas station, borrowed a beat up Mitzutani and showed up to him. Three shady guys show up and stuff this poor asshole into my trunk, along with a tank. I start driving, then after we cross the border I stop at a Motel. I open the trunk to ask him if he wants to go to the bathroom or get something to eat…

V turns to Panam, baffled.

Panam: He was dead, Vincent. He had forgotten to open the tank nozzle.

V smiles slightly, Panam tries to hold back laughter.

V: Panam, seriously it's not funny, at all. Didn't you hear him shout?

Panam: Vincent, I was twenty-two years old, I drove with the music blasting for the whole trip, I had no idea what the fuck I was doing. Anyway I panicked, luckily I had my makeup with me and I gave him some color back. I got to the meeting point and told them he was asleep and they bought it. Of course no one paid me.

V: And what did you do then?

Panam: Nothing, I went back to the camp. 

V: Did Saul give you a lecture?

Panam: Nope. Mitch did. Saul made me carry around scrape of metal back and forth across the camp for two weeks. Under the sun.

V: Damn. 

Panam lowers her eyes, sad.

Panam: Yeah…

V: What on earth was a minister of the Kaukaz doing in Arizona or wherever you were?!

Panam crosses her arms, smiling.

Panam: If that was the finance minister of the Kaukaz, I'm the snow queen, Vincent.

V: You'll be soon, Panam.

Panam: Oh c'mon…

V stares at the rearview mirror for the last time and notices a car beaming at them.

V: Somebody is following us.

Panam looks at V, concerned.

V: The glove box Pan, quick.

Panam takes out a gun from the glove box and hands it to V, who leans it against the door, holding it in his left hand. He slowly pulls over while from the car behind him gets out a man who approaches them while V rolls down the window.

Clerk: Hey!

The man is the clerk of the diner. He is standing under the snow in an overcoat, holding V's hat in his hand. They both look at him, petrified.

Clerk: You forgot your cap.

V slowly grabs his hat.

Clerk: I recognized you know?!

V slides the trigger on the back of the gun, loading the shot.

Clerk: You're the one from the Night City series. The one set in Watson, aren't you?!

After an endless silence, V opens his mouth.

V: Yeah, It's me.

Clerk: I knew it! Would you give me an autograph?

The man passes a marker to V. He scribbles something on his hat with it then hands it back to the guy.

V: Here.

Clerk: Thanks! What are you doin' here?! I followed it from beginning till the end, but I didn't like the open ending at all...I've been waiting for answers for years! I was wondering...Could you tell me how it ends?

V: Listen man, I'm just an actor. It's the production that writes the script.

The man starts staring at V, intrigued.

Clerk: Excuse me, but...Didn't you have a mustache?!

Panam leans out the window, stretching his hand toward the clerk, shaking his.

Panam: Matilda Pennyworth, assistant director of production for channel 58, very pleased. You were nice for the meal, really but we are trying to run a million eddies production here. He's been preparing his whole fucking life for this role, you know?! And you keep bothering him with your fucking questions. You got your damn autograph so GET THE FUCK AWAY!

The man nods displeased and walks away, heading back toward his car.

V: What was that?!

Panam grabs V's gun and puts it in her jacket.

Panam: That was my best corpo impersonation, Vincent. A bullet in the face is not always the best solution, you know?! Now start back the car before we get in any more troubles.

V and Panam set out on the snowy road until they arrive at a small wooden house with a mill. Vincent stops the car and they both get out, approaching the house.

V: What do you think, Panam?

Panam: Well…I don't know what to say Vincent, I never had a home.

Panam walks up to an old mailbox. There is "Palmer" written on it.

Panam: Vincent, What's this? It has my name on it...

V: Actually, I have no idea. The old owner told me that it was used to receive mail. You have to write the name of the family living in the house on it. You pretty much paid for all of it, so…

Panam widens her eyes, stunned.

Panam: Vincent, are you out of your mind?! I understand that you wanted to be romantic and all but…

V: We're in Wyoming, Panam. Who the heck is going to come looking for us here?!

Panam begins to stare at the mailbox, intrigued.

Panam: So it's electric! How does it work?! It doesn't seem to be plugged anywhere…Besides, don't you have a last name?

V turns to Panam, smiling at her.

V: I got one now.

Panam smiles back, touched.

V: Come on Panam, it's freezing here. Why don't we go inside?

V and Panam walk up to the house, passing the porch with a rocking sofa on it and opening the old wooden door.

The house is completely covered in wood. On the left there is a small table, also made of wood. On either side of the door are two huge windows with white curtains, and in the room to the right of the hallway is a small living room with an old, worn out sofa and a fireplace.

V: Well, there's work to be done. I'll give you that.

Panam: No Vincent, it's romantic, actually. It reminds me so much of that farm in the middle of nowhere.

V: Wait Panam, I'm going to see if I can find some wood for the fireplace…

V turns toward the door, Panam grabs him and pushes him against the wall.

Panam: Oh no Vincent. You're not going anywhere, you owe me something…

Panam grabs V and brings him closer to herself then she begins to caress his chest.

Panam: I lost my tank because of you. And I miss it very, very much...

Panam goes down with his right hand and comes closer to V's ear, whispering something softly to him.

Panam: Especially the artillery.

V smiles. Suddenly two headlights illuminate the house through the windows. Panam pushes him away, alarmed.

Panam: VINCENT, THE BACK, QUICK!

V: Panam…

Panam moves the wooden table, blocking the door with it, then she draws her gun, crouching down near the window.

Panam: Don't stand there like an asshole Vincent, I TOLD YOU TO COVER THE BACK!

V: PANAM!

Panam: WHAT?!

V: I called them…

Panam slowly opens the door.

Panam: Who?!

Panam's eyes widen, catching a glimpse of three people getting out of a car.

Panam: HOLY SHIT!

Panam starts running through the snow and sees Mitch and Cassidy. Panam hugs him with all her strength, overjoyed.

Panam: But...But how?!

Mitch: It's called presidential pardon, Panam. For all the Aldecaldos. I grabbed my fuckin' paper and took off on my own. I certainly wasn't going to stay down there and kiss Militech's ass.

Cassidy: Don't I deserve a hug too?

Panam: Cass!

Panam hugs Cassidy, while V opens the house door.

Mitch: They kept us three hours at the border because Cassidy refused to show his revolvers. We recovered almost two hours by cutting through the woods, though.

Cassidy: These guns have been in my family for generations, they are older than this country.

V approaches the group, spreading his arms wide.

V: You arrived early, how lucky!

Panam chuckles.

Mitch: Hey Vincent! Good to see you looking this good. Looks like fresh mountain air is good for you.

V: Why don't you come inside? Maybe there are even some beers.

V and the others approach the house Mitch tries to open the door but it is blocked.

Mitch: This damn door is stuck, V. You should do something.

V: Wait, Mitch…

Mitch pushes the door open with a shoulder thrust, breaking the wooden table that was blocking it into a thousand pieces.

Mitch: Shit…I'm sorry.

V: Nah, It was old. We're going to buy a new one.

V and Panam sit on the worn out sofa, V rests his arm on her shoulder while she rests her head on his chest. The others get some chairs and sit between the sofa and the fireplace.

Panam: It's good to see you, really. What are you all up to?

Mitch: Went back to Night City, opened up a garage. It should have been called "The Aldecaldos Garage". After a week two morons in suits show up with a cease and desist letter for copyright infringement. Fucking assholes…In any case, things are going well. I have a line of cars outside the workshop, so I'm not complaining.

V: Glad to hear that, Mitch.

Cassidy: I well…I'm not going back. I just came by to say hello, then I'll retire to Mexico. These guns are not done having their say yet.

Panam smiles, then realizes something and sits up straight.

Panam: Wait, where's...Where is Carol?!

Everyone lowers their eyes, becoming sad.

Mitch: We don't know…Nobody knows. When Militech showed up, she took all the data we had on the servers and ran away. She knew that they wanted the intel about the other families. They want to clean up, Panam.

V lowers his eyes, ashamed. Panam covers her face with her hands, bitter.

Panam: Fucking coward…

Panam gets up from the couch in a fit of rage.

Panam: FUCKING COWARD!

Mitch: What was Garry supposed to do, huh?! They showed up with a dozen tanks and helicopters. It was just going to be a fucking useless bloodbath. You…You think it didn't cost him anything to make that choice, Panam?!

Panam gets closer to Mitch with bloodshot eyes.

Panam: BULLSHIT! I would have fucking died for the family!

Mitch: WELL, THEN IT'S A GOOD THING YOU WEREN'T THERE, PANAM! Because we'd be six feet under, too.

Panam turns her back and crosses her arms, looking out the window.

Mitch: What did you think was going to happen?! That they would forget about us? That they would let us go, just like that?! You made your choices Panam and we made ours…We would have made them again, because we love you…But you can't expect those choices not to have consequences. They were fair, those who wanted, stayed and the others were free to go.

Panam lowers her eyes, broken.

Panam: I'm going to get some air.

V hears the door slam and covers his face, then he gets up from the sofa.

V: Maybe...Maybe the old owner left some beer…

V walks through the kitchen and finds in the dusty old refrigerator a box of beers. He takes them back to the living room, giving them to the others, then he goes out and sees Panam sitting on the porch, watching the snowy landscape.

V: Are you ok?

Panam: Yeah Vincent. I've already told you I'm ok.

V rests a hand on Panam's shoulder.

V: Panam, look...

Panam: Vincent...Leave me alone. Go back with the others.

V lowers his eyes and leaves a beer next to Panam, then walks back into the living room while Panam closes her eyes. She remembers the Badlands and the Aldecaldos camp, full of people but when she opens her eyes she can only see an empty field full of snow and the wind blowing her hairs. She tries to hold tears but one escapes from her left eye.

Mitch: I think it's better that... I don't know…That we leave, maybe?

V: Nah Mitch, you all faced a fifteen hour journey. Rather, let's raise a glass.

Everyone raises their beers.

V: To Scorpion...to Bob...to Teddy...to Saul and Goodwill. Who made it possible for us to be here.

Mitch: Yeah!

Cassidy: Yell said, kid.

Panam: …To Jackie!

V suddenly turns around and sees Panam leaning against the wooden arch that divides the hallway with the living room while holding a beer in her hand.

V: To Jackie.

Panam then walks up to Mitch and puts a hand on his shoulder, then she hugs him, moved. He does the same then everybody sits back down.

Another pair of high beams pass through the window, illuminating the living room, Panam turns to V.

Panam: Are we waiting for somebody else?

V: Uhm…

Panam draws her gun again. Everyone stands up, Cassidy draws his pair of revolvers while Mitch grab his shotgun.

V: Woah...Woah, guys... She's a friend.

Panam turns to look at V, surprised.

Panam: A…What?!

V leaves the house again and runs to a black van, parked in the snowy field, from which a woman in a padded jacket with black hair gets out. The woman hugs V and kisses him on the cheek while Panam watches the scene from the window.

Panam: What the fuck?!

Panam rushes out into the porch with the others and continues to stare at the woman, crossing her arms, angry.

Cassidy: Wrong move kiddo, wrong move.

Judy: V, it's really good to see you again, really.

V: Same here, Jud.

Judy slides open the door of her black van and pulls out pizzas.

Judy: Uhm I got these, but like two hours ago in the last town we passed through, they're going to be ice chunks. I couldn't remember your favorite flavor, so I got a little bit of everything.

V takes the pizzas from Judy's hands and turns around, facing Panam, furious.

Panam: Are you serious, Vincent?!

V: Well, I didn't know whether they would come or not, so I called her as well. Thought you would feel less lonely.

Panam replies to him, almost disgusted.

Panam: How thoughtful.

V smiles, then walks back toward the house. Panam blocks his arm, glaring at him.

Panam: Give me a reason not to punch you 'till all your teeth fall off…

V: Well, pizzas would fall, Panam.

V starts walking back toward the house while Judy hugs Panam. She remains silent and annoyed.

Judy: Panam, it's good to finally meet you. You are exactly as I imagined. 

Judy starts caressing Panam's hair

Judy: What have you done to your hair?! I liked it better the way they were before…

Panam pushes Judy away,looking at her angrily and annoyed.

Panam: Back off!

Judy: You have an attitude, too…Well done Vincent, well done.

Judy walks toward the house as a woman with blue eyes, blond hair, and a coat gets out of the van and runs toward Panam, she looks at her, puzzled.

Bianca: Hi! I'm Bianca, nice to meet you. You have to excuse her... She is…well, complicated.

Bianca runs toward Judy while she turns to look at them. The two begin to argue, at one point Bianca points her finger at Panam, angry, while she widens her eyes, puzzled. Suddenly Judy shushes Bianca by kissing her, then they both get in the house, along with the others.

Panam crosses her arms, stunned, then turns to look at the darkness of the pine forest in front of the house, from which comes a chill wind that penetrates her bones. Frightened, she stretches her look toward the sky, managing to catch a glimpse of the stars, hidden by some clouds.

After a moment, Panam slowly walks toward the house, passing the mailbox, smiling.

Judy: V, look what I've fixed!

V: No way! Does it really work?!

Judy: Sure, V! Come on, let's take a picture!

THE END.

Kid: Mooom! What's that?! What's that?!

Panam: That's Orion, honey.