First Season Synopsis

• The Mafia visits the restaurant exacting protection and Giuliano’s wife saves the situation because she is another Mafioso’s’ niece.
• Rat attack in the restaurant and Stevie’s mother’s arrival mess up the place. She (Stevie’s mother) does not know about her son’s sexual preference yet.
• Helen experiences the freedom of being a single and Arthur is denounced to the Immigration.
• During a reception Arthur falls sick and Helen, together with D.D., Judie and Giuliano try to manage the occasion.
• Giles’ ghost haunts the restaurant to say that he loves Rose.
• Helen gets to know a doctor and Arthur becomes very jealous.
• D.D. inherits a dog, that she insists on taking to the restaurant.
• Arthur gets news from Brazil and gets tempted to quit the restaurant.
• On his birthday party, Stevie openly “comes out of the closet”, kissing his boyfriend in public. Thanks to Judie his mother is present.
• “Three-Fingers-Eddie” appears and explains this story, while wooing Judie.
• An idiot assaults the restaurant and makes Helen a hostage.
• Judie yields to Eddie’s charms and Arthur makes a romantic dinner for Helen, who, without knowing, takes the doctor as a companion.
• Giuliano, Arthur and Judie make a surprise birthday party for D.D.. She gets so excited that she ends up is the hospital where the doctor works. He asks Helen to marry him.
• Arthur gets drunk and Judie discovers that he is in love with Helen.
• Eddie receives an offer of a job and has to leave the city. He invites Judie to go with him.
• Arthur decides to go back to Brazil. Judie tells Helen, who goes after him to the airport thinking that the problem is the immigration. She offers him to marry her, but he refuses and gets on the airplane.
• In Arthur’s absence, Helen perceives that she was in love with him all the time. She gets hurt and decides to accept the doctor’s proposal.
• Judie goes to Brazil after Arthur and finds him in his own restaurant with his kids. He hears from Judie that Helen is going to marry but that she loves him.
• Judie returns without Arthur and tells Helen that she did not find him. D.D. and Giuliano decide to sabotage the marriage.
• Helen decides to marry. After talking to a friend, Arthur decides to return and to try to get things right with Helen.
• When arriving at the church, after all kind of confusion created by D.D. and Giuliano, Helen sees Arthur and cancels the marriage.
• Arthur returns to the restaurant. However, as he is Helen’s employee he feels degraded and loses the courage to try to conquer her. Disappointed, Helen seeks the doctor again.
• While D.D. and Giuliano try to make the doctor disappear, the ghost of Giles returns to make Helen and Arthur get closer, making them perceive that they love each other.

JUST FINE PILOT

JUST FINE:
PILOT: Art time – 21 min.
Total time – 30 min.
Editing:
First fade
-
1:30 Min.
Break
-
3:00 Min.
Second fade
-
6:00 Min
Break
-
3:00 Min.
Third fade
-
6:00 Min.
Break
-
3:00 Min.
Fourth fade
-
6:00 Min
Fifth fade + Credits
-
1:30 Min.

First Fade

Fade In

INTERNAL – HELEN AND JUDIE’S APARTMENT – KITCHEN – PRESENT

In the foreground the camera shows Helen sitting on a bench watching the TV that is on the balcony of the kitchen. She cuts something on this balcony with a knife (but it’s not possible to see what, because the TV blocks the vision).

Helen is watching a morning soap-opera, a moving scene (only the sound) and tears trickle down her cheeks. In the background Judie enters the door. Inattentive and reading a newspaper, she walks to the refrigerator. Embarrassed Helen wipes her tears and Judie opens the refrigerator, takes a milk carton and drinks (directly from the carton). Then she dries her lips on her shirt-sleeve and suddenly realizes that she is not alone. She looks up and sees Helen, who is unable to hold back her tears.

Moved, Juditree comes up to Helen and embraces her. Then she sees what Helen is cutting and looking at Helen again she steps back and, surprised, strikes her on the head with the newspaper. Then she leaves the scene by the kitchen-door.
Helen throws her arms out and shows the knife in one hand and an onion in the other.

Helen

What?

Fade Out

Second Fade

Fade In

INTERNAL – HELEN AND JUDIE’S APARTMENT – HELEN’S BEDROOM - PRESENT

Helen is sitting on her bed folding some clothes. She stops, looks around, and then looks at the wedding ring on her finger; she tries to take it off, but the ring is stuck; she tries once again (falls on the floor) and doesn’t get up. Sitting on the floor she perceives a box, (a shoebox); picks it up, opens it, looks inside and starts smiling.

Cut for

INTERNAL – HELEN AND JUDIE’S APARTMENT – LIVING-ROOM - PAST

Judie is sitting on a pile of boxes (two) observing the dry leaves of a plant in her hands. Helen enters the scene by opening the street door with difficulty, carrying a heavy box. Then she closes the door with her foot, lets go of the box and sits down on the sofa, exhausted.

Judie

My God, little one, you must be thirsty? (speaking to the plant).

Helen

Thirsty, tired, offended and full of hatred for the world...

Judie looks at the plant and then jumps up from the boxes. Looking to the camera she walks to the sofa and sits down.

Helen

You know, after five years, all my life fit in two bags and ten boxes...

Judie

Eight, dear... eight boxes.

Helen

Te... I’ve even got a swollen vein on my neck to prove it...

Judie

No, no... I’ve counted, look... One, two... (till eight).

Helen

Have you counted those two that you squashed with your butt?

Judie looks at the boxes and smiles.

Judie

Gosh, how crazy; but tell me, how are you?

Helen

More relieved, better... I don’t know, I still haven’t stopped to think about it. But, anyway, thanks for letting me stay here. It was all so unexpected...

Judie

No problem... But, tell me; did you catch the two of them red-handed?

Helen

Yeah...

Judie

Doing it, was it?....

Helen

Yeah...

Judie

Naked, both of them, doing it, in the bed? ...

Helen

Yes, don’t you get it?

Judie stops, thinking. She puts the plant on the sofa table, then shakes her head and gets up.

Judie

No, actually not... He never really deluded me. Remember Dewey’s party, he made you change your shoes... “This doesn’t match your dress”... Remember?

Judie walks up behind Helen and massages her back.

Helen

That’s ridiculous.

Judie

You think so? So tell me... what does he do for a living?

Helen

He hosts a sports program. Why?

Judie

All right... Besides, how many times did he go to a basketball game? By the way, what was his favorite program?

Helen

Opera...

Judie

And especially?

Helen

Madame Butterfly. I’ve lost count of how many times... Oh, my God...

Helen covers her face with her hands and stamps on the floor with her feet. Judie jumps over

the sofa and sits down beside her.

Judie

OK, more subtle... How many times did you see Stevie scratching his... (making gestures over her crotch)?

Helen

Never!

Judie

Do you remember the last time you saw Stevie belching in public or picking his nose?

Helen

Oh Gosh... no, heavens... the guy is English!

Judie

Mick Jagger too, but he does all that... His hands are everywhere...

Helen

Oh, my God... He always did peed sitting down... and stuck his pinky out when he drank his coffee...

Judie

I arrest my case.

They look at each other and Helen huddles on the sofa.

Helen

Wow... just look at what has become of my life: I’ve been betrayed by a complete stranger, who I’ve lived with for five years and who decides to “come out of the closet” at the age of 45... Gosh, how pathetic this is...

Judie

Not as pathetic as a 45-year-old guy living in the closet... That’s too much, even for an Englishman!

Helen

You know, you’re right... it is really very dry!

Helen picks up the plant from the sofa table, gets on her feet and goes to the kitchen. Judie puts her feet on the table and the intercom rings. She stands up and goes to answer it.

Intercom talk

Judie

Hello? Who’s there?

Stevie (off screen)

Hi, it’s me. I need to talk to Helen...

Judie

Just a minute, please.

Stevie (off screen)

“onkie donkie”

Judie

“onkie donkie”, please. What is this guy, a panda?

Stevie (off screen)

I can hear you...

Judie sticks her tongue out and releases the button. When she turns around, Helen comes out from the kitchen with the plant and a pitcher full of water in her hands.

Helen

Who was it?

Judie

You won’t believe it, but... he is down stairs!

Helen

Who, Mick Jagger?

Judie

Very funny... Stevie!

Helen goes to the window and puts the plant on the sill. She puts her head out and looks down, then at Judie and then through the window again...

Helen

Stevie... My Stevie?

Helen puts her head out again and this time she spills out all the water from the pot through the window, without wetting the plant. She wipes a drop from the window with her finger. Then she enters and smiles satisfied.

Helen

You can tell him to come up!

Judie (smiling)

You missed the plant!

Helen

But I hit the Kiwi!

Helen takes the plant again and goes to the kitchen. Judie presses the button.

Judie

You can come up...

Judie opens the door and throws herself on the sofa.

Stevie enters the scene through the door, all wet and trying to dry himself with a handkerchief (with his pinky outstretched).

Judie

Hi Stevie... Is it raining outside?

Stevie

Very funny... Where is she?

Helen comes out of the kitchen with a plant in one hand and the pot full of water in the other, pretending that she hasn’t seen Stevie. She goes to the window and calmly waters the plant.

Stevie

Did you do this?

Helen (stops and turns to Stevie):

No...

Judie starts laughing and, still laughing, she points at the bedroom and goes towards it. She opens the door, enters and closes it. She laughs loudly.

Stevie

This was very mature of you!

Helen

Just like it was very mature of you to bring a boy into my bed!... What do you want?

Stevie

To talk to you!

Helen walks to the sofa and sits down. Stevie covers the sofa with the handkerchief and then sits on it by her side. Then she jumps up from the sofa and sits down on the other one.

Stevie:

Do I make you sick?

Helen

More than during the hair transplant, but now... I’m trying to keep myself from strangling you... you... bastard...

Stevie

Look, I... I didn’t come here to fight with you. In fact, I feel very bad about what happened. I won’t apologize for what I did, it simply happened...

Helen

Right, like your hemorrhoids... which I thought was because of all the time you spend sitting... But now it’s clear; it’s because of all the time you spend... lying down!

Stevie

I am who I am...

Judie (off screen)

Queer!

Pause

Stevie

It took me a long time to discover who I am... and our relationship wasn’t the same anymore. You weren’t any longer what I needed...

Helen

Oh yeah, I didn’t have the right equipment!

Stevie

I won’t apologize for what I am...

Helen

You don’t have to apologize, nor even explain to me, but I want to see you speaking like this in public, to your fans... all the men...

Stevie

In public?

Helen

Yeah, in public... Why? Do you think that nobody will know?

Stevie

I... Helen, please, you know I’m a public person. That would affect my image, my credibility!

Helen

Oh yeah, the only reward you would get now is “The Queen of the Sportscast”...

Stevie

You wouldn’t do that, would you?

Helen

Do I have to answer that now?

Stevie

I don’t want you to be my enemy... I like you.

Helen

Nice way of showing that... How old was he? Eighteen?

Stevie

I don’t want it all to end like this... Let me do something for you... anything... please.

Helen

All right... jump from the window.

Stevie

No, seriously... please.

Helen

OK... that’s cool, so... simply die! How about that?

Stevie

I don’t expect you to understand, or even to forgive me. I don’t even know if I forgive myself. I only know that I couldn’t stand repressing my feelings anymore.

Helen

You have nothing to fear from me. Your image is safe... The only thing that hurt was to face that I’ve lost five years of my life, you know?

Stevie

You’ll be fine... I’ll give you alimony... some money, what do you think?

Helen

I don’t want your money... I don’t want anything from you!

They stop speaking and look at each other. Then he takes a checkbook out of his pocket, writes a check, takes it out, folds it, and puts it on the sofa table.

Helen

I won’t allow you to humiliate me even more!

Stevie

Here. This is exactly the amount of money you had when you came to live with me. At that time you had a dream...

Helen

You used to say it was madness...

Stevie

Who am I to speak about madness, at this point of my life? And if we are, we are...

Judie (off screen)

For God’s sake, keep the money, idiot!

Helen

Do you know that you are a piece of shit?

Stevie

I know, and this piece of shit is going to do the best thing it can do for you now...

Helen

Commit suicide... No, no, better; tell your mother...

Stevie

No... I’ll walk out of your life.

Stevie stands up and walks to the door. He opens it, about to leave, but then stops, turns around and says:

Stevie

I know this will cut the magic of the moment, but, by any chance, did you take, not on purpose of course... a shoebox, with my baseball cards? You see... my daddy gave it to me, before he died...

Helen

Cards, no... no... your daddy... he was a good man.

Stevie

Oh yeah, wasn’t he?

Helen

He was a great guy... What did he die from?

Stevie

Cancer...

Helen

Where?

Stevie

Of the prostate... It was foolishness... He always refused to get check-ups...

Helen

You won’t have problem with that, will you? Actually, you might even like it...
Stevie looks down, turns to the door and goes out, slamming the door. When hearing the noise Judie leaves the bedroom and walks to the sofa, sits down and sees the check.

Helen

“Keep the money, idiot?”

Judie

I was watching “The Million Dollar Show”...

Helen

I see...

Judie

He has more hair.

Helen

Implants...

Judie

Do you have the photos?

Helen

They should be somewhere in this mess. Why?

Judie

Internet, public humiliation.

Helen

Hmm... I liked that, Saturday night...
Judie takes the check and shows it to Helen.

Judie

What will you do with this?

Helen

Make a dream come true...

Cut to

GRAPHIC ANIMATION – A NEWSPAPER – ENCIRCLED ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT – for sale: ITALIAN RESTAURANT...

Cut to

INT - ITALIAN RESTAURANT - KITCHEN - PRESENT

Helen and Judie are sitting at a table talking to an Italian. The man gestures, proudly showing the place, when a group of armed men arrive. A thug pushes the two women out the door.

Cut to

GRAPHIC ANIMATION – A NEWSPAPER – ENCIRCLED ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT – (off screen, you can hear shots and sounds of fighting)

For sale: beautiful Chinese restaurant with huge clientele...

Cut to

INT. – CHINESE RESTAURANT – KITCHEN – PRESENT.

Helen and Judie are talking to a Chinese man, who offers them a cookie. Judie eats it, impressed, when suddenly a cook appears with a sack in his hand. He drops it and several cats run out of it. The two women run out the door.

Cut to

GRAPHIC ANIMATION – A NEWSPAPER – ENCIRCLED ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT –(off screen, you hear cats mewing and a voice calling them)

french restaurant for sale, elegant...

Cut to

INT. – FRENCH RESTAURANT – KITCHEN – PRESENT.

Helen and Judie are amazed by the cleanliness of the restaurant. A man proudly shows them the shining pots and pans. Helen gets enthusiastic and Judie opens a door and some rats run out and toward the two women. They run out of the place.

Cut to

EXT. – FRENCH RESTAURANT – SIDEWALK IN FRONT – PRESENT.

The camera shows Judie and Helen running from an enormous number of rats and the camera closes on one of them. (Off screen, you hear them screaming)

Fade out

Third Fade

Fade in

EXT. – LINU´S RESTAURANT – SIDEWALK IN FRONT – PRESENT.

Judie looks at her heels and sees blisters on her feet. She shows Helen and takes her shoes off walking, with difficulty. Helen looks at the number of the restaurant and confers with the newspaper, signaling to Judie.

Helen

This is the place...

Judie

Thank God, my feet are killing me... and, for God’s sake, I won’t leave this place without eating anything, even if they cook guts of black vultures in African monkey skulls, got it?

Helen

This is the last one, and don’t even mention being hungry. At this very moment I would even

eat that cat biscuit, at the Chinese... remember?

Judie makes a disgusted face and passes her hands over the tongue trying to clean it. Helen opens the door of the restaurant and Judie enters the place walking with great difficulty. Helen comes in and closes the door.

Cut to

INT. – LINU’S RESTAURANT – SALOON – PRESENT

In an open take the camera shows the interior of the restaurant, a simple place, modest, clean. A man (Jean Pierre) is sitting behind the counter, in front of the cashier, doing crosswords in a folded newspaper; a lady (Rose) with an apron, sets the tables and cleans the saloon.
Helen and Judie attentively observe the place, when the lady walks towards them and invites them to sit down.

Jean Pierre (in a loud voice)

No, Giles, you idiot... You’re wrong again, admit it... You just know how to toast pancakes and grill steaks.

Embarrassed, the lady gives Helen and Judie the menus.

Rose

Guys, please, behave yourselves... We have clients... Welcome to Linu’s!

Giles (off screen)

In 30 years I haven’t burnt one single pancake. And if I’m only good for grilling steaks, why do you still ask me? Try at least once to finish the crossword yourself... and, by the way, storage bin in three letters, no, it’s, Fox... stupid Cajun.

Startled, Helen, Judie and Rose are quiet listening to the shouting from the man in the kitchen.

Rose

I’m sorry about the guys. You see, we haven’t had many clients lately. You know how it is...

Judie

You bet!

Rose

It’s an epoch of fast food. Well, make yourself at home.

Judie

We came here because my friend is interested in...

Helen

A good meal, and two soft drinks, please!

Rose

Diet?

Judie

Why? Am I very fat?... Oh no, gosh, I told you... This skirt is terrible!

Rose (smiling)

I’ll be right back.

The lady withdraws.

Helen

“Skirt”... terrible, oh no, gosh...

Jean Pierre (in a loud voice)

Cajun... If you were really smart, you wouldn’t be single until today, watching videotapes of pornographic movies at night... Well, you’ll see the garlic smell from your hands... or because they are very quick, take your choice.

Giles (off screen)

Are you calling me a thief? Is that it? With some luck I steal your wife. And garlic frightens vampires, even though... it can’t be very efficient, since you come back every day... It doesn’t matter how much garlic I use...

The camera changes the taking plane showing Helen and Judie talking in the foreground and Rose in the background, taking the newspaper from Jean Pierre, showing the two guests and sending him to the kitchen. While serving the beverage, Jean Pierre takes out the hearing aid from his ear.

Judie

Why didn’t you say that you’re interested in buying the place?

Helen

And spoil the argument over the crossword?... Absolutely not!!

Judie

You’re the one who knows... This place seems nice, don’t you think?

Helen

Modest, cozy... It’s without question a beautiful place and by the smell from the kitchen it’s Cajun food.

Giles (off screen)

It’s box, you old silly... box.

Jean Pierre (off screen)

What? Noxx... the strong ... what the hell is Noxx?

Judie

Cajun is animated...

Helen

New Orleans... carnival, binge, Stevie wearing skirt the whole day... Oh, my God...
Jean Pierre comes out from the kitchen as if he were pushed. Rose takes the drinks to Helen and Judie’s table. You can hear pans falling on the floor. Smiling, Jean Pierre goes back to the cashier.

Giles (off screen)

You only come back to my kitchen after putting in the hearing aid, you old deaf...

Jean Pierre (putting the hearing aid – in a loud voice)

What?

Rose comes up to the table and serves the drinks.

Rose

I hope they don’t bother you. Age has made them more unbearable... Although, thinking about it, they’ve always been like this.

Helen

No... it’s funny. It reminds me of my uncles... in Kansas.

Judie

OK, great... Hello? Hungry?

Helen

Oh yes, OK... It’s a beautiful place you have here...

Rose

Yes, we’re very proud of it. It has been like this for the last 35 years.

Helen

Have you been here for 35 years?

Giles (off screen)

Has she begun the story?

Jean Pierre (loudly)

Not yet... but she will.

Rose

Oh, yes... I, my husband and his brother...

Jean Pierre (in a loud voice)

Here we go...

Giles (off screen)

I’ve already turned down the fire.

Rose

Well, Jean Pierre and Giles came here looking for a job and my father hired them. They were escaping from their mother and the police of Louisiana, I think... Well, I fell in love with Jean Pierre...

Jean Pierre (in a loud voice)

Giles, the inevitable, five letters.

Giles (off screen)

S.N.T.A.M.

Jean Pierre (in a loud voice)

What is that, man?

Giles (off screen)

She, not, tell, about, mammy, but maybe that’s what already should have happened to you...

Jean Pierre (in a loud voice)

What, have you been drinking again...

Giles (off screen)

Yes, I have... in order to stand your stupidity. The word is death... death, fool.

Jean Pierre (in a loud voice)

Daddy. What does it have to do with this? She only spoke about mammy.

Helen

Do they argue all day?

Rose

Yes, every day for 35 years. Can you imagine that? I need a vacation... in a very distant place. It seems like yesterday... their coming in through that door. It was love and hate at first sight.

Jean Pierre
I’ve always been the most handsome...

Giles (off screen)
And I the most intelligent. She married you out of pity. You just didn’t realize how many times she turned you down...

Helen

And they are both very modest.

Rose

And impertinent, but together we transformed this place to what it is today; it’s not much, I know... but, for us, it’s extraordinary. We’ve had a good life here...

Jean Pierre steps out from behind the counter and throws away the newspaper. Then he walks up to Rose and hugs her, leading her for a dance (without music).

Jean Pierre

It’s time for my sweet Rose to know the city of light, in your lover’s arms...

Rose

Free from your brother...

Giles comes out from the kitchen holding two plates with fillets in his hands. He walks to Helen and Judie’s table, making way for the couple that is dancing around the saloon, and serves them the meal.

Giles

If I had known how beautiful our guests were, I wouldn’t have argued with my stupid brother... Enjoy your meal.

The camera closes-in on Helen and Judie eating in the foreground. In the background it shows Jean Pierre and Giles, who take turns in dancing with Rose.

Helen

You know what, Judie? I’ve found the place... this will be my restaurant!

Cut for

INT.- LINU’S RESTAURANT – SALOON – PRESENT.

Helen and Judie enjoy a good meal and when they finish, they invite Jean Pierre, Rose and Giles to join them at the table. They open one, two, three bottles of wine. Giles and Jean Pierre dance and sing songs from Louisiana and an air of diversion takes hold of the dinner. It ends with Helen and Rose shaking hands on the selling of the restaurant.

Cut for

INT. - HELEN AND JUDIE’S APARTMENT - LIVING ROOM - PRESENT

Helen and Judie enter the door dancing. Judie falls on the sofa and Helen takes her shoes off by flinging them to the bedroom with her feet. Spinning round she walks to the sofa, sits down and opens the button of her trousers, looking at her heels.

Helen

Do you know if blisters on the feet are contagious?

Judie

Gosh, how I ate... and drank...

Helen

It’s a beautiful place, isn’t it?

Judie

It’s a fantastic place... my God, the world is spinning round...

Helen

In your head... It was very kind of Giles to stay...

Judie

What could he do? Follow his brother on the honey moon? I don’t think so.

Helen

You’re right... and after all that place is his life.

Judie

You will do very well there... You can bet on it.

Helen

If I can get rid of old Giles’ hands...

Judie

You too? I’ve never seen an oldie moving so fast. There is still some ice-cream in the freezer.
They look at each other, stand up and run to the kitchen.

Cut for

INT - LINU’S RESTAURANT - KITCHEN - PRESENT

Helen arrives and sees Giles setting the new pans and wares in order. Impatient, he doesn’t see her.

Giles

I’ve never seen so much modern and useless rubbish...

Helen

It’s to facilitate your life.

Giles
Forgive an old Frenchman being lost in his own kitchen... You see, it’s been long time since we didn’t open on a Monday.

Helen

Don’t worry, it’s only until the papers are ready. Soon we’ll open the doors again. You’ll see.

Giles sits down at the table, takes a newspaper and starts doing a crossword.

Giles

I hope that someone enters... (this time Giles disguisedly puts his hand on his left arm).

Helen

Is everything all right, Giles?

Giles

Yes, it is. Those idiots should be on the ship now...

Helen

Does that bother you?

Giles

I forgot to tell Rose some things...

Helen

Like what?

Giles

You wouldn’t understand... You’re very young.

Helen

You didn’t tell me that you loved her... Is it that?

Giles looks at Helen. Judie enters the door with a cardboard box. She throws it on the table startling Giles.

Judie

It was difficult to get here... There are a lot of things arriving out there, and here are the invitations.

Giles

I better take a look at the merchandises.

Giles leaves the scene. Judie realizes the sad climate.

Helen

Giles loves Rose, poor fellow...

Judie

Really... complicated, isn’t it?

Helen

Very (pause)... let me see the invitations.

Judie opens the box and Helen takes up an invitation.

Helen

Let me see... Heavens, they got very beautiful...

Judie

Did you like it? Do you know who made them?

Helen

No...

Judie

Three-Finger-Eddie... remember?

Helen

My God, Eddie...

Judie

The Three-Finger.... he himself. He really put his back into it, didn’t he? There is still hope, I think...

Helen

Did you overcome the problem?

Judie

It’s hard... After all it’s only three fingers...

Helen

You’re a very bad person, you know....

The deliverers and Giles carry with difficulty a big box through the kitchen. Judie takes the invitations and leaves the scene.

Giles

My God... what is in here?

Deliverer

Let me see (looking at the board) I think this is the new stove... Where do I put it?

Giles

What?

Giles feels a strong pain in his breast and falls on the floor. Everybody looks at him lying outstretched on the floor, and surprised Helen puts her hand over her face...

Cut for

INT. - HELEN AND JUDIE’S APARTMENT - LIVING ROOM - PRESENT

Helen and Judie enter the door, dressed in black. Helen, discouraged, walks to the sofa and Judie takes her shoes off and sits down on the other sofa.

Helen

This is ridiculous. How is it possible that he dies days before the reopening?...

Judie
You just had to buy a new stove, hadn’t you?

Helen looks down and throws out her arms.

Judie

Death is unforeseeable... The hard thing is that you didn’t tell me before I sent the invitations. That, if something, is bad luck...

Helen

Did you send the invitations?

Judie

Yes, I did... All of them.

Helen

Aaaaaahhhh... I wanna die...

Helen leans her head against the sofa and kicks about.

Judie

Well, this was a hectic week, wasn’t it? One separation and one burial... what a thing!

Helen

The only thing missing is you going out with Eddie...

The telephone rings and Helen answers it.

Helen

Hello... (pause) She’s here... just a moment; Judie, it’s for you.

Judie

Who is it?

Helen

Eddie!

Judie

I’ll take it in my room.

Judie leaves the scene and Helen puts the phone on the hook.

Helen

Oh, my God... what am I gonna do now???

Fade Out

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

Fifth Fade

Fade In

INT - HELEN AND JUDIE'S APARTMENT - LIVING ROOM - PRESENT

Helen is talking on the phone, in pajamas and with her feet on the sofa table and the shoebox on her lap (second fade). She takes the cards from the box and observes them, selecting.

Helen

Was it good? (pause)... Yes, thanks, it was very good (pause)... Is it true, did he like it? (pause)... No, I’ve already told you, I haven’t taken your cards (pause)... Gosh, 250 dollars for a Cobb 56... is it?

Helen chooses among the cards and finds one, takes a pair of scissors and cuts the card in half.

Cut to:

Conclusion Credits

Helen (Off screen Intercut)

How much for Demaggio? (pause)... Woooow, that much?.............

Fade Out (Final credits)