The concert is almost over. The young woman on the stage releases the final notes from her Crackling Box, allowing them to flutter into the air.
But just as the audience stands ready to head back to their cabins, she unfolds a piece of paper she had earlier tucked away.
Barcarola: The last song of the evening.
Barcarola: For a traveler, who shares my homeland.
Barcarola: Please, everyone, hold on just a moment.
She gently places the Crackling Box down, then walks briskly toward the stage's edge.
The sailor waiting there hands her a violin.
Guest: A violin?
Guest: Could it be that she's from Cremona? Could this be a creation from Cremona's most famous bottega?
Cruise Ticket Seller: Why don't you listen with your own ears and see if you can tell?
Cruise Ticket Seller: With your kind of expertise, it's no wonder that you'd recognize it.
Whispers ripple through the crowd below.
The audience directs their attention to the young musician standing at the center of the stage.
What piece is most fitting for this violin?
It should be a song often heard in her homeland, one performed by musicians on the side of the street.
Flowing like a small boat drifting downstream, a memory of peace and serenity.
"Home."
Upon hearing this word, the first thing to enter her mind is this melody.
As this is to be the farewell song for the evening. The crew positions themselves at the exits, ready to usher the guests away.
All applause and praise are hushed, not a single soul present daring to disturb the melody or drown out the notes.
Guest: Ah, this is the song.
Guest: The first Neapolitan song ever translated into Italian. I heard it often as a child.
Guest: At the time, I never thought of it as something so wondrous.
Guest: But now, so many years away from my hometown, I've never heard it performed like this.
Cruise Ticket Seller: So, you might say you're satisfied with this performance, sì?
Cruise Ticket Seller: Be sure to recommend the "Free Breeze" to all your friends and family!
Guest: Naturally! I'll tell everyone I know about this ship and its talented musicians.
Guest: I think I'll stay a bit longer before going back to my room. I don't want to miss a single note.
Guest: I'll stay until the very last note.
Cruise Ship Musician: It's time for me to go and practice. The whole orchestra will be rehearsing tomorrow.
Cruise Ship Musician: When Barcarola wakes up in the morning, we can rehearse again.
The two crew members step through the door, one after the other.
The deck is nearly empty, with only a few travelers remaining to enjoy the night air.
Cruise Ticket Seller: Didn't you say you were leaving the band this week to go back to your hometown?
Cruise Ticket Seller: Have you mentioned it to the captain and the others yet?
Cruise Ship Musician: I'm postponing my vacation. The captain shared something with me.
Cruise Ship Musician: He found someone to take over the ship, and our new course has already been decided.
Cruise Ticket Seller: Wherever the ship takes me, I'm happy to go.
Cruise Ticket Seller: I wonder if our new destination will have any decent taverne.
Cruise Ship Musician: Perhaps not, since it is quite a small island.
Cruise Ship Musician: But I've heard that the people on the island have a special custom of wearing shells. Maybe we'll have a chance to drink from one!
Cruise Ship Musician: Or something like—hm?
She hears a faint noise through the door and signals for her companion to be quiet.
The sea breeze almost sweeps the gentle melody away.
Barcarola: Inside the tents, putting aside supper.
Barcarola: On such a quiet evening.
Barcarola: On such a quiet evening.
Barcarola: Who wouldn't demand, who wouldn't desire?
Barcarola: Santa Lucia, Santa Lucia.
The bottega hostess listens to the entire song and rewinds the tape to the start.
Cremona is seldom this silent.
Where is her ship headed, and when will her next letter home arrive?
All she can do is wish her child well.
Barcarola: On the sea glitters the silver star.
Barcarola: Gentle the waves, favorable the winds.
Barcarola: Come into my nimble little boat.
Barcarola: Santa Lucia, Santa Lucia.
