'... ... ... ... ...

... ... ...!

I... I've... ... I've done it! I've done it!! Lucilda, I've done it! Woohooooooo!!!!'

Thus shouted our hero as the grandstand, too, roared exultantly -- it was as if they had won it with him. Lost bets forgotten, they were sharing in their fellow gambler's ecstasy.

"Ladies and gentlemen, Tango has done it!" shouted the announcer. "Tango has done it! The pay off is..." (and here, constant reader, he fumbled for the odds table, Taishinoh not being anything like a favorite) "Three hundred to one! Three hundred to one! Unbelievable!! Tango has won it again!! I don't believe what I just saw!"

It was as if the announcer had forgotten his job entirely, and was shouting like any deliriously happy fan.

"Tan-go! Tan-go! Tan-go! Tan-go! Tan-go! Tan-go!

Tan-go! Tan-go! Tan-go! Tan-go!"

The assembled throng were chanting Tango's name. Can you imagine it? The Chocobo Raceway was on the verge of bedlam. Pandemonium, this was! "Tan-go! Tan-go! Tan-go! Tan-go!"

"Darling?" Suddenly our hero spotted Lucilda in the crowd.

"Outta the way, I've got to get through!" he implored as he fought his way through the mass of people. Finally, he found himself face to face with her.

"My darling..."

'Lucilda...'

Play music

The two of them looked in each other's eyes, and the huge crowd immediately fell silent.

'Lucilda, I..."

1. I love you, Lucilda!

2. I'm sorry, Lucilda!

3. Let's be married again!

1. I love you, Lucilda!

'I love you, Lucilda! I don't want anyone else to have you.'

"I want to be with you always, darling."

To Finale

2. I'm sorry, Lucilda!

'I'm sorry, Lucilda! I've had nothing but bad luck, and it's ruining my life. I've put you through so much..."

"But, Tango! I got to see your smile!" Lucilda was in tears.

'Don't cry, Lucilda.'

"Darling (sob)... let's be together always..."

To Finale

3. Let's be married again!

'Let's be married again! Here, today, now. Let's begin our lives again from the start!'

"Darling... Tango... we'll make a wonderful home together!"

To Finale

Finale

Play music

And then the assembled crowd roared in appreciation again! They surrounded Tango and Lucilda.

"Tan-go! Tan-go! Tan-go! Tan-go! Tan-go! Tan-go!

Tan-go! Tan-go! Tan-go! Tan-go!"

And then they started chanting Lucilda's name!

"Lucilda! Lucilda! Lucilda! Lucilda! Lucilda! Lucilda!

Lucilda! Lucilda! Lucilda!"

And in the middle of this frenzied, delirious, chanting throng of ecstatic racing fans stood the happy couple, in a loving embrace.

* * * *

People didn't know this at the time, but in fact Lucilda never had any intention of leaving her beloved Tango. She just wanted him to straighten himself out, and so she left the house so that he could be alone.

When Lance invited her on a date, of course it was she who picked the Chocobo Raceway to go to. She chose this spot because she knew her husband would be there.

She didn't mind being poor. (Not that they'd even been rich, of course.) She didn't even want Tango to quit gambling. (Though she wouldn't have minded him making smaller bets, it must be admitted.)

She just wanted to help her poor husband, who had lost his job and was distracted by alcohol and gambling. She wanted him to rediscover himself and begin life anew.

And when Tango heard this, he cried tears of joy.

Tears of farewell, as it turned out, to his old self.

And with the money earned at the Great Race, Tango got his business running once again. But that, of course, is another story.

THE GOLDEN PALACE

A CERTAIN MAN'S GAMBLING

The End

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