Fourth Fade

Fade in

NEWSPAPER ADVERTISEMENT – PRESENT - ADVERTISEMENT

Urgent: – Cook wanted for a small restaurant, varied menu, good salary.

INT - LINU’S RESTAURANT - KITCHEN - PRESENT

Helen is sitting on a chair with her feet on the table, reading a newspaper and eating biscuits. Disturbed, she unceasingly sets in order the earrings in her ears; a young woman comes in through the door with a newspaper in her hand (DD). She curiously looks around the place. As Helen is standing with her back to the door, she doesn’t see the young woman coming in, and, as she turns around, she is startled and falls on the floor.

DD

I’m sorry, lady.... I’ve come because of the ad for a cook.
Helen stands up with DD’s help and ashamed she asks her:

Helen

Do you have any experience?

DD

I do... I came for
the good paid check.

Helen

Do you cook?

DD

No...

Helen

Have you ever worked as a cook?

DD

No, actually not.

Helen

So why did you come here?

DD

I want the job as a cook. It’s a good salary.

Helen

OK, but do you cook?

DD

No...

Helen throws her arms out and the young woman shows her the newspaper.

DD

I came for the job as a cook.

Helen

For the last time; do you cook?

DD

No...

Helen

OK, what do you do?

The young woman looks around the kitchen, takes the broom and sweeps the floor, collecting the little bits of biscuits. She takes the shovel and puts the crumbs into it. Then she throws it in the garbage.

Helen

Is that all you know how to do?

DD

Yes, that’s it...

Helen

All right then, thank you...

DD

All right!

Helen and the young woman stay still, looking at each other, until the young woman walks to the door and goes out. Helen smiles, puts the chair towards the door and sits down. Without understanding very well what had happened, Helen removes the earrings and puts them on the newspaper that is on the table. A man (Arthur) comes in through the door.

Arthur

Hello, I came because of the ad for a cook.

Helen

You cook, right? Really?

Arthur

Yes, I guess so... I cook, yes, at least some things... food, for example, even though I’ve already cooked towels, you know? For cleaning...

Helen

Clever... That’s good, OK! Do something, a salad, for example...

Arthur

Of course... with pleasure...

The man puts the newspaper over the table and rolls up his sleeves. He goes to the sink, takes some vegetables and cuts them with ability with a knife. Helen observes carefully.

Helen

You are skillful with your hands.

Arthur

You are not the first woman who told me that.

Helen

That isn’t what I meant.

Arthur

There is a great difference between what you said and what I heard... But, I know... I’m sorry. In my country the things are never what they seem.

Helen

Why, were you born in neverland?

Arthur

Almost... Brazil, do you know about it?

Helen

No... I mean... a little. The capital is Buenos Aires, right?

Arthur

You came close.

Helen

I was never very good at capitals.

Arthur

That’s fine. I’m not good at your language either... so we’re even.

The man finishes the salad and invites Helen to have a seat. He pushes the newspapers over to the table end. Helen sits down and he serves her the salad; she tastes and likes it.

Arthur

It would be better with the right sauce, but…

Helen

The presentation was perfect. I think we could give it a try if you want.

Arthur

You were not...

Helen (taking a pencil and a paper)

The first woman to tell you this... I know, tell me, what is your social security number?

Arthur

Hey... I don’t have any... social security number.

Helen

That’s OK, my father has two... he can lend you one.
Both fake laugh.

Helen

Passport?

Arthur

I’m sorry...

Helen

Let me see if I’ve understood... You haven’t got neither a passport, nor a social security number? In short, you’re what? Illegal?

Arthur

I guess so. But like marijuana, do you understand?

Helen

That’s a very bad analogy... Your name?

Arthur

It’s Arthur...

Helen

I’m very sorry...

Arthur

That’s all right. I understand. Good luck!

Discouraged the man rolls up the newspaper on the table (he takes Helen’s earrings) and leaves, disconcerted. Helen laments the bad luck and looks for her earrings on the floor, while another man comes in through the door and she hits her head on the table.

Giuliano

How are you? I’m here for the vacancy as a cook... I have big experience.

Cut to

INT - LINU’S RESTAURANT - THE INAUGURATION DAY - KITCHEN - PRESENT

Completely drunk Giuliano is sleeping and snoring, sitting on a chair in the kitchen; Helen is dressed up for the party and tries desperately to wake up the man.

Helen

Wake up, you damned hawker, son of a ...

Giuliano

I just had a little... No, mom, I... go to school...

Helen

I’m not your mother, idiot.

DD arrives through the back door, so that Helen can’t see her, and sees Helen trying to wake Giuliano up. Judie enters the saloon door and without understanding she asks:

Judie

Who is he? The cook?

DD

No... I’m the cook. I take care of the kitchen…

Helen

Oh, no!! You again??

Judie

Do you cook?

DD

No...

Helen

Don’t ask... What am I going to do?

Judie

She doesn’t cook?

Helen and DD

No!

Judie

Well, I didn’t really get it... The guests are on their way. Everybody is drinking as much as they want. The atmosphere is nice... But, everybody is coming to eat, including Stevie, and he’s not alone.

Helen lets go of Giuliano and goes to the door, looks through it and puts her hands over her face. Then she looks at the stove and at DD.

Helen

Don’t you?...

DD

I’m sorry.

Helen

OK, you go back to the party and stall the guests... (to Julie)
And you don’t disturb (to DD)

Helen goes to the stove. She takes an apron, a pan and fills it with water. She takes two onions and throws them into it. Then she turns on the fire and goes to the fridge. She tries to take something from inside and almost falls into it when Arthur enters the door (at the back).

Arthur

Hey, girl...

He looks around and sees DD scratching her head, Helen inside the fridge and Giuliano sleeping. Helen comes out from the fridge with a bird in her hand, hits her head on the door and messes up her hair. She sees Arthur.

Helen
What are you doing here?

Arthur

I came to give back your earrings (giving them to her). But now, to be honest... I think I’ll save your night.

He goes to the stove, looks into the pan, smiles and throws the onions away. He takes the bird from Helen’s hand, puts it on the table, takes her apron off, arranges her hair and says:

Arthur
If you allow me, go and take care of your guests and smile... you have a beautiful smile.

Helen
Don’t you know what I have?

Arthur

Besides pretty eyes? Don’t worry.

Arthur pushes Helen out through the saloon door, puts on the apron, picks up a knife and turns to DD, who is biting her nails.

Arthur

And you, what’s your name?

DD

Everybody calls me DD...

Arthur

Nice meet you DD, take all the pieces of meat there are in the fridge and put them one by one in the microwave, for about 5 minutes... Can you do that?

D.D:

That I can do...

Arthur

Great.

Cut to

INT - LINU’S RESTAURANT - KITCHEN - PRESENT
Arthur prepares many dishes under Julie and Helen’s attentive eyes. DD serves the tables and Arthur lays a tablecloth over Giuliano, who is sleeping under the table.

Cut to

INT - LINU’S RESTAURANT - KITCHEN - PRESENT

Arthur places two prepared plates on the tray and goes to serve them. When she’s just about to go out, Judie brings her back, takes out some money from her bag and whispers in DD’s ear. Helen enters and observes the two of them. Then DD draws all the spittle that she has in her nose and lungs and spits it out over the plates.
Startled, Helen opens her eyes wide and Arthur pours more sauce over the plate. Satisfied, Julie sends DD to the bar.

Judie

It’s Stevie’s order.

Judie takes Helen by the arm and goes back to the bar.

Cut to

INT - LINU’S RESTAURANT - KITCHEN - PRESENT

Arthur pours some coffee in a cup. Then he walks up to Giuliano and puts the coffee close to his nose. He counts five seconds on his watch and Giuliano wakes up and drinks the coffee. DD enters the scene counting the tips that she has received, sitting on a chair. Helen and Judie come into the kitchen.

Arthur

So, how was it?

Helen

It was incredible... Thanks a lot, really! If I could do something...

Judie

And the sleepyhead, has he woken up?

Giuliano

Oh, my God, what happened?

Helen

You’ve been drunk... and, of course, you’ve lost the job!

Giuliano

Oh, my God... I’m sorry... Maria will kill me. I really needed this job. I drank because I was so nervous, my God... What am I going to tell her?... You know, I’ve never drunk before. My God, little Isabel... the operation...

Arthur

Well, do you really want to do something for me?

Helen

Of course... anything!

Arthur

Give him another chance, OK?

Helen

No chance, the job is yours...

Arthur

I need help. Can you do that?

Giuliano

Yes, of course...

Helen

Are you sure?

Arthur

Yeah... Don’t worry.

DD

Hey... and what about me?

Judie

She’s a good girl...

Arthur

She helped a lot. I can teach her the rest... She even spat on your friend’s plate...

Helen

OK, OK, she can stay too...

DD

I liked this place... I earned good money... Just look at this (showing her tips).

Arthur

Very good, it was a difficult evening. We all deserve to rest. I’ll see you tomorrow, at...

Helen

Nine...

Arthur

By the way... what’s your name...

Helen

Helen!

Arthur

It’s a pleasure, Helen!

Arthur calls DD and Giuliano, and the three of them go out through the back door, leaving Helen and Judie alone. Helen goes to the stove. Judie takes two plates and Helen, scraping the bottom of the pans, serves some food. They sit down at the table and talk.

Judie

He’s so... so...

Helen

Masculine, cook, skillful, handsome, interesting...

Judie

I was going to say polite... Gosh, I think I’m in love...

Helen smiles and, when she passes her hand over the table, she finds the pair of earrings that she had lost, under a cloth. She takes them in her hand and stares at them. The camera closes-in on the earrings.

Cut to

INT - HELEN AND JUDIE'S APARTAMENT - HELEN'S BEDROOM - PRESENT

Helen lies down on her bed. She plays with her belly and happily rolls over the bed. Then she stops, looks at her hand and sees the engagement ring. She takes it off her finger, looks sadly, opens the drawer of the bedside table and puts it away.

Fade Out