C2 Good and bad neighbors

GRANJA SQUARE - DAY

Cássio is hitting a ball by himself. He trains embassies, kicks into the goal, and celebrates alone. Without him noticing, behind him, Sandra, 18, his girlfriend, approaches. She smiles at Cassio for having fun.

"Good morning, future national champion!"

Cassio turns to her. "Sandra!"

Cássio interrupts the move, approaches, the two kiss briefly. Sandra feels his stench.

"The worst part of it all is the olfactory result."

"Ofal—, what?"

"Oh, dear, if you are not going to solve the hygiene issue, at least solve your studies. We are not going to perpetuate the idea that a soccer player is dumb."

"I'm not a donkey, but what is 'perpetuate'?"

Sandra holds out a laugh. "It's like, letting that legend that I told you perpetuate. Soccer players should have at least the basic education."

"But, we have the basic. It turns out that soccer is played with the ball and not with books."

"Yeah, we have completed high school—"

Cassio raises his hands to the skies: "Thanks to Gooood!"

"But, which college do you plan to attend?"

Cassio immediately put his arms down. "Do I have to go to college to be a soccer player?"

"You have to be smart enough TO KNOW you don't have to. That's why I worry about your future, honey. If your dream of being a soccer player doesn't work out, what do you intend to do?"

Cássio is taken aback by the question, but he does not want to give in. "Nooo, dear Sandra! We are not going to throw negativity into my plans. Of course, I will succeed. Rhodia River will have a famous soccer player to call his own."

"And where will the necessary training come from? Here?"

Sandra and Cássio look around: the general view of the field and the square itself is without a lawn, a rusty beam, without a grandstand, without any attraction for soccer games, just amateur matches like what Cassio is used to.

Cassio understands. "Yes, with this structure it will be impossible. The best players train in the best clubs, with everything pretty equipped. And I barely have boots as the script says."

Cássio turns to Sandra, hopeful. "Well, don't worry! Célio said he's going to work at the Residents' Association. He's going to see this for me!"

Sandra reacts incredulously, freezes.

THE RESIDENTS’ ASSOCIATION

Célio is facing Tito Nunes Aguiar, 50, mustache and chubby, one of the first residents of the district and the current mayor of the neighborhood. Célio receives from Tito several posters on A4 sheets and glue to stick throughout the neighborhood.

"Look, son, you know that our neighborhood and our resident’ association are starting to compare itself with Tangamandápio and Canongas. Therefore, our resources are still limited."

"I understand, Tito."

"So for now, we are going to be satisfied with posters to spread the good news and announcements for our neighbors to find out what's going on."

"I don't want to be rude, mayor, but... The neighborhood is big, will these posters be enough?"

"Stick them on Rhodia Avenue."

Célio is frustrated.

Tito goes on: "Always leave one of these at the Malthus snack bar and Cascais bakery in special. Something tells me that these two stores will be the reference in the neighborhood."

"Seu Aurélio is very good person."

MONICA’S LIVING ROOM

Monica opens the door and enters. She's tired, long morning. She collapses on the sofa, takes off her shoes. Monica's living room is graceful, with simple furniture, but, in good taste, her parents were kind to help. There's nothing flashy or miserable, second-hand. Monica rests for a while until there is a knock at the door.

"Get in!"

The door opens, Carina Souza appears. She is the right-hand neighbor, 21, beautiful with her long, brown, and curly hair. Her presence fills the room with an aura of freshness. Monica likes Carina, she is simple and humble.

"How was it, friend?"

"Oh, friend, it was tough. It looks like I wasn't going to arrive."

"What happened?"

"I was robbed as soon as the bus was arriving. A damned thief took my bag and ran. The luck is that there was a police vehicle that saw and ran away, detaining the abused. Is it possible, girl? Brand new neighborhood and we already have these problems of civilization."

"Yes, Mayor Tito was right to ask the government for a mini police station here in the neighborhood for us."

Monica laughs with respect.

"Oh, dear, it doesn't have to be so formal. It's just Tito; nobody calls him 'mayor'."

"I don't want to be rude to an authority. I think I would want the same thing if it were me."

"Ah, but you WILL HAVE authority in the arts, girl."

Monica points to one of the walls of the room. There is a well-crafted picture, oil painting, mix, and texture worthy of a professional, it looks like Monet. Carina reacts very modestly.

"Oh, stop, Monica, I am not one of those exhibited. You know what they say: don't go too high for the fall to be no longer ugly"

"The point, dear, is that you weren't born for the fall. When my book is published and I earn a few bucks, I'll take a look at your studio. My parents bought it to help you; the next one will be me."

"Thanks/"

The scene is interrupted by HYSTERICAL SCREAMS coming from outside.

"Hey, Monica!!"

Monica rolls her eyes. "Jesus Christ, what does this creature want?"

FRONT OF THE MONICA HOUSE

Around our characters, workers are returning to their homes, mothers are calling their children from the street to come back inside. Monica and Carina take a deep breath, not in the mood to see what Fabia Peres, 20, the classic dumb-blonde, but with a hot body wants. She has her arms crossed, huffing.

"What is it, Fábia?"

"I wanna know what the hell is this garbage here in front of my house!"

Monica looks at the floor: garbage, paper, and magazines are scattered on the sidewalk of her house. Fábia is a neighbor of Monica's left.

Monica is calm, somewhat mocking.

"I'll explain, Fábia. This is not mine. It's yours."

"But, hoooow is it that you throw something like that in my face? Are you calling me a pig, are you?"

"Pig, no; maybe, inattentive? Our garbage truck goes on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. If you put the garbage on Sunday or Saturday, the dogs come and tear everything up; even more so in your case, since you don't have a high basket to stop them."

"No, that can't be! I put that garbage on Saturday! This is his day. Fabinho spoke!"

"Fabinho? Your boyfriend Fábio?"

Monica and Carina look at each other, think about how they are going to tell the news.

"You know, neighbor, I really got it right when I said you were inattentive. Your boyfriend's garbage truck runs on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays because only one truck just can't handle the whole neighborhood, which is huge, and every year more people move here. And he lives farther away from us. Our route is different from his."

Fábia Peres remains to stand, wide-eyed, and incredulous by her stupidity. She wants to curse Monica, but she knows she's wrong. On the other hand, Monica doesn't want to take it easy.

"Not to mention that I don't read this kind of magazine."

Monica kicks and stretches the page of one of the magazines, which opens. Carina reacts ashamed, covers her eyes.

The magazine with the name of Fábia Peres written in pen turns out to be of muscular men in tiny speedos.

"Your boyfriend who ordered you to throw them away, right?"

Fábia tries to compose herself.

"Of course, I ordered in return to throwing away his girlie 'mags'."

Monica laughs.

"Ah, okay, very sure he threw his magazines away!"

"He said he did..."

Monica is impatient.

"Oh, girl, see if you wake up for life and don't bother me. Come on, Carina, I'll pour you some coffee after that indecent sight."

Monica and Carina turn their backs on Fábia Peres and enter. Fábia crouches down, picks up the torn magazines, and goes back inside her house, kicking the air like crazy.

AT MALTHUS SNACK BAR

There's less motion on the site, and less food on the counter and in the showcase. Aurélio is already preparing to close. Annie is once again sitting at the counter, now checking the money to pay for the cake. The cake now only two slices remained.

Aurélio says, "I'm going to have to spend the night making another cake. You know that I am alone in this world, Annie."

"Wow, Seu Aurélio! Did you never get married? I'm sorry if I ask like that out of the blue, but we always see each other here and at the same time we hardly know each other. I just know that you are cool, you have one nice nose and cooks well."

Aurélio laughs but scratches his nose.

"What about my nose?"

"It looks like a French nose."

"Maybe I'm a descendant /", someone enters, "we are closing, young man."

Annie turns to see who it is and is surprised: it's Jonas, 20, the son of the owner of the Cascais bakery. Jonas does not die of love at the Malthus snack bar, like his parents, and they think they will suffer competition. It annoys him even more that Annie is in the snack bar.

"Annie, it looks like you're stuck with glue there!"

"It's not like that, Jonas. I went home, had lunch, watched a movie in the afternoon, and came back. Ah, early in the morning there was a robbery, and it was just with Monica. Jeez, she needed the bag to go to the downt—"

Jonas interrupts her, rude and sulky: "If you know the details, it's because you were here in the morning too. I was right, you live more trapped here than anywhere else!"

Annie remains sweet. "Own, Jonas, don't be like that! Tomorrow I stop by your bakery. Although your father complains that I always eat for free!"

"Oh, daughter, I say it, but it's a joke, okay?" Aurélio interferes by being smart.

"How much was it?" Jonas speaks angrily to Aurélio, points to the plate.

"I cut twelve pieces, one was missing, now two are left... R$ 9.00." Aurélio is embarrassed.

Jonas takes out his wallet and takes out a R$ 10 bill. He puts the money in any way and does not expect to receive change, such a compelling and embarrassing mood.

"Damn it, huh, Annie! Me killing myself in that bakery trying to please you and you almost spending ten bucks here."

Annie turns to Aurélio. "See you, Seu Aurélio"

"See you tomorrow, Annie."

Jonas freaks out with "tomorrow" and pulls Annie out.

SNACK BAR ENTRANCE - NIGHT

Célio still pasting posters, glue one on the wall of the snack bar. Annie and Jonas go out, walk past him and don't read the sign or notice it.

"For sure they fought. Also, the fool lady is visiting the competition..."

Célio moves away. More customers leave the snack bar and do not read the poster, it’s because Célio placed it in a non-strategic position. In the poster, we read: “Meeting of residents this next Saturday to discuss improvements to the Praça da Granja, at 15:00, in the residents' association. Mayor Tito Aguiar”.

The diner is already dark; Aurélio is closing everything and leaving. He does see and read the poster. He giggles and walks away.

"It's ‘assembly’ and not ‘meeting’, Tito..."

POLICE STATION

Carlos, still on duty, enters the cell where the prisoner is being held, waiting for the next procedure. He's nervous, but he tries to be strong. Carlos is experienced; he knows when he is facing small fish.

"Listen here, you declassed: our neighborhood is starting to grow, to take shape and life as the other neighborhoods in this city. And I will not allow people like you to ruin the peace and happiness of good citizens! What you thought about steal a young girl's purse who looked like going to a job interview?"

"That bag was so bulky, I thought it was money!"

Carlos reacts with a mocking smile.

"Well, she explained that she is a writer and was going to the publisher to deliver the writing for publication. That is, an honest and hard-working young woman. Why don't you try something like that?"

The thief thinks this weird.

"What are you talking about?"

Carlos replies firmly: "I'm just saying that I don't think you have any experience or a gang leader. I'd even say that you're not even 20 years old."

"I'm eighteen."

"At least you're not a minor. And then, what will it be like, are you going to talk? Is someone behind you, are they forming a gang in our neighborhood?"

The thief widens, did not expect this. His frightened face becomes uglier...