In a break room at Gemelli Hospital:
Nurse Brambrilla: How I hate the media!
Nurse Ricci: Things have been pazza around here since the Pope became a patient!
Nurse Brambrilla: I have been offered bribes to tell what I know about the treatment of the Pope.
Nurse Ricci: I was offered a Fiat 500 if I would sit for an interview.
Nurse Brambrilla: I was offered a diamond ring. And lose my job? No grazie.
Nurse Ricci: What could we tell them? He is a typical patient: sometimes nice, and sometimes crabby, especially when he is pain.
Nurse Brambilla: At least he didn’t chase me around the room like that elderly Cardinal did two years ago. Perhaps chase is not the right word since the Cardinal was using a walker.
Nurse Ricci: When the Pope was feverish he kept saying the word, “Gringo! Gringo!”
Nurse Brambilla: Better than him saying, “Gringa! Gringa!” I guess.
Nurse Ricci: He spends a lot of time praying.
Nurse Brambilla: I guess being Pope that is a job requirement.
Nurse Ricci: If he were to die a new Pope would have to be elected. Do you remember when Pope Benedict was elected?
Nurse Brambilla: Barely, I was pretty young, although I remember that my parents were talking about it.
Nurse Ricci: It brings the attention of the world to Rome, although my boyfriend says it is all superstition.
Nurse Brambilla: I believe it.
Nurse Ricci: You?
Nurse Brambilla: Yes, I know that I don’t live as if I believe it. But when my Nonna was a little girl she saw Padre Pio perform a miracle. She often spoke of it and Nonna never said a lie in her life. So I believe.
Nurse Ricci: Wow!
Nurse Brambilla: Time to go back to work or no miracle will save us from unemployment!
