ACT FOUR, Scene 3:

INT. THE RESTAURANT, NIGHT TIME (LAZARO AND EFRA’S FIGHT IN THE KITCHEN)

(EFRA IS AT THE SANITIZE COMPARTMENT OF THE KITCHEN SINK. LAZARO SUPERVISES SOO-JIN AS SHE WAITS ON GABRIEL AT THE FRONT OF THE HOUSE. IT IS ALMOST CLOSING TIME, SO THE LIGHTS ARE DIM.)

Efra: “Satisfy, my soul… satisfy my soul…”

(EFRA BREAKS A GLASS.)

Efra: Puchica!

(LAZARO ENTERS THE KITCHEN.)

Lázaro: Was that a glass I just heard break?

(EFRA BLUSHES.)

Efra: Yeah. Sorry.

Lázaro: Make sure you clean that compartment thoroughly. And use gloves so that you don’t cut your hands.

(LAZARO EXITS TO THE FRONT OF THE HOUSE.)

(EFRA RETRIEVES A PAIR OF DISPOSABLE KITCHEN GLOVES,
THEN REMOVES THE BROKEN SHARDS. HE FINISHES REMOVING THE REST OF THE DISHES AND THEN DRAINS AND CLEANS THE SINK.)

(LAZARO ENTERS THE KITCHEN)

(LAZARO PUTS ON A SINGLE DISPOSABLE GLOVE, THEN RUBS THE SINK FROM TOP TO BOTTOM. HE PAUSES. HE PULLS OUT HIS GLOVE AND SHOWS HIS INDEX FINGER TO EFRA.)

Lázaro: What is this?

(EFRA’S SHOULDERS SLUMP)

Efra: What?

Lázaro (intensely, but not shouting.): It’s a shard of glass. Do you have any idea the grievous bodily harm you could cause to someone? Not to mention the litigation. You’d bankrupt the restaurant.

Efra: I don’t know what to say for myself.

Lázaro: You little punk!

(LAZARO SHOVES EFRA AND HE FALLS BACK AND HITS HIS HEAD ON THE OVEN. HE WINCES IN PAIN AND TOUCHES THE BACK OF HIS HEAD.)

(THEY GLARE AT EACH OTHER.)

(EFRA GETS UP.)

Efra (calmly): Fuck you.

(EFRA EXITS OUT THE BACK OF THE KITCHEN.)

(LAZARO LETS OUT AN EXASPERATED SIGH.)

Lázaro: Shit.

(SOO-JIN ENTERS THE KITCHEN.)

Soo-jin: What happened?

(WITH A LOOK OF DISAPPOINTMENT ON HIS FACE, LAZARO LOOKS AWAY. SOO-JIN LOOKS AT HIM FOR A MOMENT, THEN EXITS THROUGH THE BACK DOOR TO LOOK FOR EFRA.)

(LAZARO STARTS CLEANING UP THE KITCHEN.)

(SOO-JIN ENTERS THE KITCHEN FROM THE BACK DOOR AND GOES STRAIGHT TO THE FRONT OF THE HOUSE WITHOUT LOOKING AT LAZARO. GABRIEL LOOKS UP AND NOTICES THAT SOO-JIN IS UPSET.)

Gabriel: Is there something wrong, Soo-jin?

(SOO-JIN LOOKS AWAY.)

Soo-jin: No, it’s nothin.

Gabriel: Come here. Take a seat, girl.

(SOO-JIN STIFLES A SIGH, THEN TAKES A SEAT AT GABRIEL’S TABLE.)

Gabriel: What’s wrong? Are you having relationship problems?

(SOO-JIN’S FACE DROPS.)

Soo-jin: No, nothin like that.

Gabriel: Come on, Soo-jin. You can tell me.

Soo-jin: No, it’s fine.

Gabriel: Let me guess. There was an altercation in the kitchen and things got rough.

(SOO-JIN MAKES EYE CONTACT WITH GABRIEL.)

Soo-jin: There’s been a fallin out.

Gabriel: And things got rough. That’s just the nature of the industry, sweetie.

(SOO-JIN LOOKS DOWN.)

Soo-jin: I just can’t understand how Lázaro could do something like what he did.

Gabriel: Well, not all men are as noble as they seem.

Soo-jin: No, not Lázaro. He comes from true nobility.

(GABRIEL LEANS BACK IN HIS CHAIR AND SUCKS HIS TEETH.)

Gabriel: Besides, why would you be with someone like Efra, anyways? He is a man without ambition.

(SOO-JIN GIVES GABRIEL A DIRTY LOOK.)

Soo-jin: A man like Efraín knows how to subdue the heart. Even to the very quality of his soul. I see Efra’s visage in my mind, and to his honor and his valiant parts do I my soul and fortunes consecrate. I therefore beg it not, that to please the palate of thy appetite, nor to comply with heat, though the young affects in me be not yet defunct, to be free and bounteous of your vicissitudes. And heaven defend your soul that you would think that I would deem your bizness with me serious and not scant.

Gabriel: Be that as it may, you should yet privately determine whether you should stay or you should leave him.

(SOO-JIN STARES AT GABRIEL IN DISBELIEF.)

Soo-jin: May the devil and his damned haunt you! Thou hast not half the power to do me harm as thou would think. Thou thinks me gullible, you dolt! As ignorant as dirt! God save me that the deed had not yet been done. I care not for thy sword, thus keep it sheaved. I’ll make thee known though I lose twenty lives. And what did you mean to give me this?

(SOO-JIN TAKES OUT JAE-SAHN’S BANDANA FROM HER PURSE.)

Soo-jin: I was a fool to take it! A likely piece of work that you should find this in your room, and not know who left it there! Leave your tramp’s token for another girl. Here, give it to your hobby-horse.

(SOO-JIN THROWS JAE-SAHN’S BANDANA AT GABRIEL.)

Gabriel: Come now, Soo-jin. Calm down, calm down.

Soo-jin: By heaven, that I should take this as a gift! Now get the fuck out of my restaurant!

(STARTLED, GABRIEL NERVOUSLY STUFFS JAE-SAHN’S
BANDANA INTO HIS SHIRT POCKET AND QUICKLY EXITS THE RESTAURANT.)

(LAZARO ENTERS THE FRONT OF THE HOUSE.)

Lázaro: What the hell was that?

(SOO-JIN BREAKS DOWN.)

[END SCENE]