C16 Disastrous double date

CASSIO'S LIVING ROOM - NIGHT

Sandra and Cássio discuss the result of the plan. The talk already started.

Sandra gets upset with the outcome: "What do you mean, he hasn't?"

Cássio explains while shrugging: "That's right, dear. He said he threw it away. Just like Fábia Peres. It was a mutual agreement." He is deluded, "This is true love!"

Sandra stands, walks in circles. "True love my ass! That Fábio Dance never was a decent guy. I don't know what Monica saw in him."

"Although I am more myself, I have to admit that ugly, ugly, he is not."

"I'm talking about the person within, dear. He and Fábia Peres deserve each other. Do you know how it all started? I caught her in the newsstand buying those abject romance books!"

"Like what does Monica write?"

Sandra responds vehemently: "No! At least Monica wouldn't have the courage, hers is a more classic book. I'm crazy to read. Those of Fábia Peres are those who have more men without a shirt than the plot, content, context, verisimilitude..."

Cassio is getting lost. "Got it, got it..."

"So she said that if Fábio keeps his collection, she has the right to have hers."

"But, Fábio vehemently guaranteed that he threw it away. Imagine how he will react if he knows?"

Sandra reacts with an idea, snaps her fingers, malevolently. "What if we opened his eyes?"

Cássio furrows his eyebrows. "What? Deliver the girlfriend's head?"

"Cássio, we were thinking that Fábio Dance was the villain, when in fact the villain was Fábia Peres herself."

"What do you suggest we do?"

"Let's turn this story around and do it justice! After all, she is breaking the agreement!"

Cassio sits on the couch. Meditation face, hand on chin.

Flashback of Célio on the street warning Cassio:

“So I only tell you one thing, Cássio: when you start getting into trouble because of these favors from people who were not even our friends as children, don't count on me! You are already an adult and you know what you do.”

End of flashback. The donkey takes the advice literally. "What do I have to say to Fábio?"

Sandra smiles with satisfaction.

STREETS

Rosa is walking home, once again she runs into Luis's gang. She pretends do not to care and walks without even looking at them. In fact, where they are, behind the streetlight and close to the wall of a house, you can't even see them properly. When she is passing by, we hear Luis's voice.

"Everything went well. You can warn Ricardo. Well, I think I can warn myself, right?"

The tone changes, it looks like someone did "no".

"Ah, y-you tell him... Okay..."

Rosa continues walking, finding this conversation very weird.

"These young people today seem to speak in code. I must be really old, so nobody believes in my age. Old mind, the same body."

Rosa keeps walking.

DE LUCA PIZZERIA

The meeting of the two couples follows. The pizza has arrived and everyone eats it. Let's go to Fábio and Fábia Peres first.

"Honey, I am really happy with our relationship."

"You never spoke with such enthusiasm, dear!" says Fábia, "Can I at least think about engagement?"

Fábio takes a bite.

"Oh... To reach this step, it is necessary to continue in complicity and companionship."

"I did not understand."

Fábio doesn't even hide his contempt. "Why I am not surprised... I meant that trust is something fundamental. At this point, we cannot doubt each other. No paranoia."

The words start to hit Fábia Peres. She puts on a yellowy smile, looking at an empty dish, drinking from an empty glass. Fábio goes on with a shark smile.

"Do you want more, dear? You're looking at your plate."

Fábia Peres reacts nervously. "Yes, you can put more..."

Fábio turns the pizza box over but leaves Fábia alone to choose the piece. Embarrassed, she takes one more.

Let's go to Carlos's table. It is important to stress two things: a bottle of Italian wine and Miriam's Baré, but the opposite is happening: it is Miriam who is drinking all the wine, while Carlos drinks the soda. Miriam's speech is already changed.

"Thank you very much for the invitation, Carlos. I am loooooving it..."

"Yeah, I see."

"You know, I always wanted to go out with you, like that, something more formal."

"Really? And for what reason didn't we? We are a friend and neighbor; you speak as if it were something difficult."

Miriam without noticing goes speaking due to the wine. "But, it is difficult. It is difficult when other women are falling over you. I have to think about how to circumvent the competition. Oh, I'm starting to talk like Jonas..."

Carlos is lost, "Competition? Scared? What are you talking about, Miriam?"

Miriam drinks more like George Mcfly, "Argh! This cachaça is good! Now, Carlos, don't be blind! Or will I believe that you are a legitimate gentleman and never noticed that Carina and Monica, especially Carina, are in love with you?"

Carlos frowns. He brings the bottle of wine closer for Miriam to drink more. He knows very well, alcohol pulls out our inner thoughts. Miriam pours more.

“Thank you! But, I will tell you, Carlos: these two are not so with anything. Monica has Célio on her feet and Carina... "

Miriam starts to laugh with contempt, almost spills the wine.

"What about Carina?" Carlos asks seriously.

"She doesn't suit you. She sounds too good. She's going to be the typical policeman's wife who will be targeted by the villain. And she can't take the pressure, very weak and fresh."

"And can you handle it?"

Miriam laughs drunkenly. "Oh, Carlos, you don't know me well..."

She turns another gulp as Doctor Brown in "Back to the Future III". Carlos just analyzing...

MALTHUS SNACK BAR

Saturday. Aurélio is working normally. Fewer people because it is a weekend, but Aurélio only stays until noon. Célio is sitting at the counter, snacks beside him, but he is attentively reading Monica's novel. Aurélio notices the cover, her name, and the title.

"'Love came later'... Is it Monica's book?"

Célio follows the gaze on the pages. "Yes. And it's very good, by the way. Not short, but apart from the water-sugar tone; she has technique, context, well-structured dialogues, characters built with realism... She really paid attention to Portuguese classes. Cássio and I used to mess in the back of the classroom."

"In other words, isn't it just another one of those silly books by muscular, wealthy men and not-so-innocent girls like Carina and Annie?"

Célio looks up at him. "Amazingly, Seu Aurélio... The physical description of the male main character... seems to fit me..."

Aurélio smiles, "What do you mean?"

"Nothing cliché, as we mentioned. He's a normal guy, handsome, of course; but, none of that cheap 'sex appeal' just to sell; a normal person that we identify with."

"So Monica is going to pop!"

"No, Seu Aurélio. Probably that’s why she was not approved”.

Aurélio gets shocked. "Was she nearly mugged that day for nothing?"

"Life is cruel, but I encouraged her so that she doesn't give up."

"You do very well, Célio."

Ricardo comes in. Aurélio gets on alert.

"According to the warning outside that it is already fading with the rain at dawn," Ricardo talks with mockery, "today we will have a meeting of the residents in the afternoon. What is the matter with this mayor?"

Célio answers with dignity: "Mr. Tito is a good man who wants progress for our neighborhood."

"What will you want, sir?" Aurélio asks him coldly.

Ricardo gets closer to the counter. "I want to know if the oil has been changed."

"This week."

"I only believe it when I try this roll."

Célio revolts, "Can't you ask for a savory like all ordinary people?"

Aurélio goes to the heater to get the savory, looks at Célio as if to say “never mind!”

Ricardo at least doesn't want to make it easy. "Who are you, kid?"

"Célio das Graças, but some call me Cé".

"I'm going to call you Célio because you're no longer kid for that nickname. Ricardo Oliveira."

Aurélio approaches. "Here it is."

Ricardo tries the snack as if Aurélio was in a contest or competition. He responds petulantly, demanding. "You can swallow it. Catchup?"

Aurélio frowns and hands over the bottle. Célio is also uncomfortable.

CÁSSIO’S LIVING ROOM

Cássio and Luis are each on a sofa, talking about what Luis is going to do.

"Man, how cool! Cassette player seller at the Sunday market, it will grow!"

"The way they talk about this fair... How big is it?"

Cassio ponders. "There's a vegetable and fruit stand, one for meat, one for fish, one for Carina sells her painting, and one for trinkets. Oh, and one for pastry and cane juice!"

Luis worries. "But, just that? It's too little! That's why Tito was so excited about my registration."

"Luis, think you came to add: More options, more customers being attracted to that fair. I'm here wondering if I can't find something like this while Célio doesn't set up the field for me to train."

"You say 'Célio' as if the action came from him."

"Between you and me, partner: without belittling Seu Tito, but I think that if one day we can recover that field, it will be with the touch of my best friend Célio. I have faith that he is capable."

Luis nods.

RESIDENTS’ ASSOCIATION

Carlos, standing, and showing that he didn't even drink, is in front of Tito, at his messy desk, attentive to the typewriter, typing with the sound of the keys.

"So I find myself archaic with my Windows 3.0, and behold, I find the mayor dealing with a typewriter!"

Tito is intent. "I'm enjoying it until the last moment, my fellow. Did you say...?"

"That a lot of people are curious about what exactly is going to be dealt with in the Assembly. Improvements for the square? That's a good subject."

"Yes, that's why I'm making my speech clear. We'll make it, Roldão. Our neighborhood may be far from the rest of our beloved city, but it won't be marginalized."

"I hope so. And how I hope that when we get results with the square..."

Tito turns impatient. "Yes, yes, I do not forget the police station. My young man, Monica, and his friends are already providing this. I think that when I have more funds, I will hire everyone."

Carlos is interested. "What do you mean, what are they doing?"

"Headed by that lovely girl, Carina Sousa, they are organizing a 'merchant' to move our neighbors to collaborate with the police station."

Carlos smiles, remembers Miriam's conversation yesterday at the pizzeria, "Carina?"

"Yes. If I were twenty years younger I would have asked her to marry me. Lucky for the man who has her as his wife, she is just like in the book of Solomon."

"Yeah, but are there more people?"

"There are Célio, Cássio, Monica and Rosa. Sandra occasionally participates, but with her, I feel that she wants to ORDER more than participate. Poor Cássio, I need to talk to him about it."

"Are you saying that there are young people who have barely left high school and are concerned about their general well-being? Is that coming out of their pocket?"

Tito responds cheerfully. "Not exactly, they already got the sponsorship! Aurélio Malthus, from the cafeteria, will pay for the printing of the posters."

"Why am I not surprised...?" Carlos feels it funny.

CASCAIS BAKERY

Carina, Annie, and Jonas have reunited again. Carina is not so confident, she’s afraid.

"Oh, guys, are you sure this will work? What if Carlos gets hurt?"

Jonas reassures her: "You are not going to make him believe anything else, Carina."

"Exactly," Annie encourages.

Carina remains concerned. "So the plan is going to be... I approach the officer... in front of Miriam, to make her jealous?"

Annie responds resolutely: "And expose that snippy to ridicule!"

Exchanging gazes: Annie convinced, Carina still processing the plan.