A few hours ago, at the Gatti's mansion...
Maria was in the middle of a heated argument with her father, about changing his mind on her proposed marriage partner. She didn't want to get married to Marcello.
She didn't even want to see him at all. The last time they met was at the basketball court. From that day, she never attended school again. She moved to another country and avoided Marcello like a plague.
Marcello also didn't care a bit about her. He didn't ask about her from her father or tried to reach out.
"Maria, my darling daughter, you have to do this for Papa"
"No way! I'm not doing this for you, Father. How can you let me, your only daughter, get married to that... That gay boy" she asked, screaming in frustration. After pacing about the living room, she finally sat down, burying her face in her hands.
Her father sat close to her, gently rubbing his hand on his daughter's back.