C22 Surprises

MIRIAM’S BEDROOM - DAY

Miriam is sleeping like a saint, even though it was late. She turns from side to side, smiles, she is dreaming. She begins to embrace herself, dreaming that she is embracing someone.

"Oh, Carlos, hug me... Oh, Carlos, what huge arms you have... Oh..."

Miriam wakes up, opens her eyes, and...

... Scream! She comes face to face with Monica.

"I'm not who you expected, am I?" Monica asks jokingly.

Miriam gets up, "Definitely not. I was dreaming of something much better."

"And it is this dream we need to talk about. Girl, you are so distracted that you left your door unlocked. What if a thief appears?"

Miriam, dreamily, leans against the headboard. "Nothing is going to happen to me while Carlos is in the neighborhood."

"If you continue in this Glen Close style, he will move to Várzea do Nego, dear."

Miriam scratches her eyes. "Monica, what's so important for you to take my morning breath?"

"Dear, yesterday Carlos was going to Carina's house."

Miriam has two heart attacks, bounces on the bed, makes her get up. "But, it can't! I have to stop, talk to/"

Monica is attentive to the name Miriam was going to say. "Talk to..."

Miriam dodges it: "Talk to Carina, but I was going to curse a bad word. I need to control myself, right?"

"Of course you need to control yourself, dear!"

"I'm doing everything wrong, right?"

"It's scaring Carlos. You know, he likes you, wants to get to know you better, but you're scaring him. And you’re attracting too much attention to Carina. The more you talk about her, the more he'll be interested."

"He can't be that dumb."

"Girl, you need to know men more. They are more interested in actions than words. It doesn't matter what you say about Carina, but what she does, what she is like. And if in Carlos's eyes, Carina is the opposite of what you say, bye! You lose."

Miriam was dazzled by the knowledge of Monica. "My friend, you really know things."

Monica reacts modestly. "You need to know a little about them for me to write a good book."

Miriam becomes friendlier. "I want to buy it when it comes out."

"Wheeeen it is, dear."

"Oh, yes, you deserve it."

"Thanks..."

Monica and Miriam embrace. In the background, we see Sandra, almost entering, suddenly stopped. She has wide eyes and then a look of revolt because Monica is hugging her "friend".

GRANJA SQUARE

Luis is listening intently to Ricardo, he still doesn't dare to see him as an equal, and Ricardo doesn't even give that chance.

"Luis, if you are interested in earning some more money /"

"We are here for this!"

Ricardo makes that icy face again and Luis swallows.

"As I said, you can perform at other fairs that take place on other days. Like, for example, tomorrow there is a fair in Jardim Carolina. Every Wednesday night there is a fair in Parque Débora. This one is fixed, right, just like the ones here. If you can get space..."

"I do my best, sir. I have an interest, and if this service is going to pay my bills, I'm in!"

Ricardo smiles: "You are a little anxious, but I was your age."

"Anxious is not enough!"

"Calm down, everything will be fine. Tomorrow's is OK, but the one in Parque Débora you will have to ask for a permit from the Association there."

Luis reacts modestly. "What can I do now with the sales of the tapes..."

Ricardo once again opens the dresser drawer and gives Luis money.

"And this is like a bus ticket."

"Mr. Oliveira, I don't know how to thank you."

"Just doing your part, boy."

Luis smiles in complicity, and Ricardo at least this time reciprocates.

COR-DE-ROSA STATIONERY STORE

Aurélio enters. Rosa is at her post, the store is still empty.

"Good morning, Aurélio. Haven't you opened the cafeteria yet?"

"I had no customers, so I posted the 'I'll be right back' notice."

Aurélio sees Monica's book among Rosa's things. She realizes.

"It's a really good book. I need to congratulate her."

"Yes, and in my eagerness to protect her, I came up against a problem. To fill in the ISBN document, I need Monica's data. And I don't have all of them."

"Oh, Aurélio, what a pity..."

Aurélio suddenly smiles: "But... this would be valid for the national territory. The registration that applies to Royal Hill is much easier! It doesn't ask for a lot of data. It asks for more data from the book, and this I was able to provide. That's why I'm going to pay the fee!"

Rosa reacts with relief, "Ah, Aurélio, what good news! At least here in Royal Hill, she is protected."

"Yeah, but I better open the game for her and remind her of the national register. If they try to sell out of here, they would profit in the same way."

Rosa roots: "Will be all right."

"Huh, changing the subject: do you know anything about the apartments they are renting up there?"

"The ones in this building? If it is, then the word would be little room. Now it is fashionable to speak the name in English."

Aurélio tells the name: "Kitchenette."

"Yes, it is not for the family of a husband, wife, and five children, no; at most, newlyweds. There is only room for a bedroom, a room that serves as a living room and as a kitchen at the same time, and a bathroom. I don't think you can even set a dining table and on the sofa, the person eats and watches TV in bed."

"For TV until I agree; to eat, it is already complicated. Then at night, I am visited by cockroaches..."

Rosa has chills. "Are you looking?"

"A young man who is a friend of my boys has just moved in. They must have met at school. Wellington is his name. He was very nice at the cafeteria to ask me. Cássio offered shelter until he got a job."

"The owner of these rooms left the phone with me to pass on to future tenants. I'll give it to you."

Rosa takes out a notebook, looks for numbers in her diary, finds it, takes out a pen, and writes the number. She tears off the piece of paper and hands it to Aurélio. Aurélio keeps it in his pocket.

"Thank you very much, Rosa. Maybe in the future, I can help this person too."

"That's right. Monica will be happy with your surprise."

Aurélio agrees with the head.

CASCAIS BAKERY

Carina and Annie discuss Saturday's plan. Carina is most fearful and concerned about; the other is firm and calm.

Annie informs: "Monica said that today she was going to talk to Miriam."

"I feel so bad, Annie..." Carina is crestfallen.

"Don't be sorry, girl, otherwise I'm going too... Chief Roldão needed to know what's going on."

"What if he stops talking to Miriam, or fights with her, because of us? Then she'll hate us."

"Stop doing that, don't attract those negative thoughts because then it happens!"

"And I also hope I haven't been too bold to ask Roldão to be our poster boy."

"The officer is a gentleman... And here for us, it is not at all ugly."

Carina smiles: "Yes, I understand Miriam. I just wanted her to be more decent and centered mind."

Jonas leaves coffees at their table with a distant look.

"Did something happen, Jonas?" Annie asks.

"Annie, I need to do something. If my dad shows up, tell him I'll be right back."

"Okay. I'm going to go on talking to Carina here."

Jonas gives her a loving smile and then takes off his apron and leaves.

"Anyway, friend... Now that he knows this story of the commercial campaign, he will want to go to the end. Célio was going to Jacaréipe to see another printing company."

Carina says in gratitude: "I hardly believe that we are being financed by Seu Aurélio..."

There is a noise of the door opening and closing, but the girls don't notice.

"Seu Aurélio is a good person and he goes far with this kindness. He helps us because he feels very alone. I talked to him yesterday at the pizzeria."

Carina nods, "Yeah, really good person. That's why we shouldn't abuse it. You have to research the best price and the best graphics so as not to weigh in his pocket."

"I can help, too, Carina."

The two girls are startled. Ricardo approaches with his face showing genuine interest. "I can help, seriously."

But Carina reacts fearfully, her face showing horror.

MALTHUS SNACK BAR

Aurélio is watching the television on the wall. When he hears the door open and close, he turns around thinking it is a client, but it turns out to be Jonas frowning, threatening, and stomping hard.

"Jonas, my friend, what is this face?"

Jonas yells: "I'm not your friend, moron!"

"But, what happened to you? Is there a problem with me?"

Jonas approaches, he is more desperate than anger. "Do you want to please tell me...? What do you want with my girlfriend... with Annie?"

Aurélio reacts taken by surprise with this questioning, he shakes his head...