C6 Sandra's scheme's

IN THE POLICE STATION

Carlos is at his desk in front of Tito. The mayor wants to know what's going on in the neighborhood. The conversation already started.

Tito is reacting surprised.

"What? Daylight robbery?"

"Exactly! The boy spent the night here in the cell. But, I checked his background. Nothing. He debuted in the criminal world and paid for it. I don't think he ever tries again."

"God help me not. Today's youth... Why did they say the 1980s were the lost decade? It didn't have half the problems today."

"Young boy, he could be working as a supermarket assistant, or in his father's workshop... But, no, they are unoccupied today... They don't even want to watch television, nowadays they are all restless."

"Do you think it's an isolated case?"

"He said categorically that he was not under the command of any gang. But, I trust not very much."

"It was just what I needed, gangs killing each other in our neighborhood."

"With the necessary tools, we will do a good job."

Tito does not capture the emphasis that Carlos gave in the sentence. Carlos stares at the mayor, dissatisfied with his passing.

FÁBIO’S LIVING ROOM

Fábia Peres watches television, is a series or soap opera, because Fabio is visibly bored.

"Do you know if the light in your house has already returned?"

"Carina was going to call Escelsa. Why?" She turns to him, "don't you want my company anymore?"

Fábio quickly disguises it. "N-no, it's just that I'm worried. You know, this thing about short circuit, ‘cats’, I don't know what/"

"There is no way for me to know if the power returned without me leaving, and I don't want to go. Today the episode is awesome."

Fábio provokes: "We can call Monica.", Fábia pinches Fabio, "Ouch, you crazy!"

"Mention that bitch again, go!"

"Call Carina, then. I'm just mentioning your neighbors."

"I don't have Carina's phone number. And why would I?"

"For these cases."

Fábio gets up, and without fearing Fábia's reaction he goes to the phone and dials Monica's number head-on.

"Who are you calling?"

Fábio doesn't answer, tough guy. Waits to be attended.

"Hello, Monica?"

Monica, in her living room, in front of the computer, showing that electricity has returned and that she has already written a good piece of history.

"Jesus Christ, when it's not her, it's you."

"A good afternoon for you too."

"What do you want?"

"Fábia wants to know if the energy has returned. So she will not miss the soap."

"For her information, it's already back. Hours ago. Now if you'll excuse me, I have a novel to write."

Fábio shamelessly asks: "And you will put me as the hero of your novel/"

The exchange of speeches ends, Fábio is surprised by the sudden silence. He thinks that Monica hung up on him until he noticed Fábia kneeling on the floor, with the telephone cable disconnected.

"The power is back."

"And yours is gone!"

Fábia Peres gets up, lets go of the cable, and again takes her purse and stomps out of Fábio's house. He doesn't even care, takes the remote control and changes channels, finds one that is showing basketball. He jumps on the couch, now with visible interest.

"Tomorrow she'll be back."

POLICE STATION

Carina comes in at the police station. Shy, not used to the coarse environment. She doesn't know who to turn to, so she decides to go to Carlos's desk. When she starts approaching...

...Two policemen appear carrying a detainee who is bleeding from the temple. The detainee struggles, wants to escape, even in handcuffs, and the policemen lead him with roughness and strength. Carina gets more wide-eyed.

"Don't be afraid, young lady! You can come."

Hearing Carlos's voice, Carina, walking slowly, approaches him. The officer gestured for her to sit down.

"How can I help you, miss...?"

"Carina. Carina Sousa."

Carlos is kind, friendly. "I'm going to have to ask you to speak a little louder, dear. And what is your problem?"

Carina is suspicious before speaking. "It happens, Chief, that there was no electricity on our street... OUR STREET, not our neighborhood. And some neighbors deduced that this was the work of a ‘cat’. A neighbor of mine, who is the girl you helped yesterday on the street, later deduced that another neighbor of ours was responsible for that."

"The one who did the ‘cat’?"

"The one who was paid to make the ‘cat’."

Carlos stretches on the back of the chair. Interesting information.

"Do you know the suspect?"

"His name is Ricardo. You know, I live at Carijó Street, nº 32, and Ricardo lives at nº 12."

"Electricity theft does not have the same weight as armed robbery, but it is also not something to go through."

"Monica was writing another book and there was no power right away."

"Was that other published?"

"She still hasn't received an answer."

"Okay, Carina. I'm going to open the system here to formalize your complaint. And we're going to open a routine investigation. Get calm that we’ll keep your name confidential and don't feel guilty if this Ricardo reacts badly to the situation."

Carina replies sweetly: "You know, I don't like to harm people."

"I got it."

Carlos will type again when the monitor blinks, hangs up, goes back, blinks. Carlos knocks again, the screen steadies. Carlos laughs to reassure Carina and she laughs back.

In the background we see Sandra entering, she reacts with surprise. In Sandra's vision, Carina and Carlos are laughing and talking. Sandra smiles, mysteriously.

IN MALTHUS SNACK

Ed enters the snack bar. He passes by and does not notice in the background, at one of the tables, Cássio and Sandra talking. He goes straight to the counter.

"What do you want now, Ed? Something more than a pastry?"

"What I ate this morning was the best cheese pastry in my entire life. And yes, I want one more."

Aurélio looks at his wristwatch. "For kids like you, isn't it almost dinner time?"

"Then why can they?"

Ed points to Cássio and Sandra’s table. The two continue talking.

"Because they are past your age," Aurélio explains to him.

Ed laments: "Complicated."

Aurélio laughs: "And to drink?"

"A cane juice cup!"

Already calmer, Aurélio will prepare the juice. Ed takes the plate with the pastry, some ketchup squirts, and goes to the table in front of Cássio and Sandra. With his back to them, he starts to eat, but his ear connects to their conversation.

Cássio asks: "Are you sure you were not mistaken, honey?"

"Are you calling me blind or a liar?"

"Blind, no, and it's not a question of being a liar. It's a matter of having misunderstood Carina's intention to flirt with Chief Roldão."

Ed reacts with his eyes out of his sockets.

AT THE CASCAIS BAKERY

Jonas is sweeping the bakery after the last customers leave with bags. They will already close. When Jonas finishes sweeping and collecting the garbage with the shovel, the door opens and Monica gets in.

"We are closed, Monica. And you already bought me six loaves."

"And I'm going to have to deal with so many loaves since I live alone. Didn't you ever thought that strange?"

"No. For me, the more the customer buys, the better for me."

Monica remains firm. "How funny. With Annie, she doesn't have to buy anything. However, you demand that she come here, eat for free, just to satisfy your ego, your possession."

Exchange of looks between Jonas and Monica, the circus will catch on fire.

"Is that what you came to do, then? You were going to come and insult me, complain that I fought with Annie, but she asked you not to do it and then you asked for those rolls? Because Annie is a woman's charm, I imagine it was like that."

Monica gets irritated. "Yes, she asked, and I answered it... at that moment. Because I won’t accept what you did with my best friend; and with the aggravation that today she came here and all finished for herself! Annie doesn't understand, but I am here to defend her."

Jonas speaks louder: "I AM here to defend her, I am her boyfriend! You don't know what that is!"

"That's beside the point, I don't want you to treat Annie like a slave. If you and your family resent the Malthus diner, that's your problem. Annie has nothing to do with it!"

"The girlfriend has to support the boyfriend. If she asks me to stop doing something that hurts her, I have to stop."

"First you have to see if this thing really hurts or is just an insecure man's ego. Mr. Malthus is even cute, but he's 42 years old and he doesn't seem like that kind of person."

Strangely, Jonas is more nervous. "This doesn’t mean nothing. And we're closing already! I'm going to lock you in there and you're going to be hungry; because if you eat what we have here, you’ll get bloated!"

Monica slaps Jonas. The dizzy one almost falls. Monica stands up and leaves with dignity.

MALTHUS SNACK BAR - EVENING

Ed overhears more of Cássio and Sandra's crazy conversation, launching intrigues between Carina, Carlos, and Miriam.

Cássio questions: "You know that Miriam likes the chief."

"Yeah, imagine if Miriam hears about this?"

"She doesn't have to know that. I mean, she may even know, but not for that reason that you're showing."

"Okay, let's continue to eat in peace."

Aurélio approaches with the sugarcane juice. He notes Ed meditating on what he heard.

"Is there a problem, Ed?"

"Nothing, Aurélio."

Aurélio turns to Cássio and Sandra: "And you two, hurry up cause I'll be closing soon."

"It’s my bad, Aurélio. The dating is good here."

"Couples date in squares, parks, cinemas... And do you want to date here?"

Both laughs. From Sandra, a little fake. "Good places like that, we have to honor."

Ed rolls his eyes, getting Sandra's falsehood.

EXTERIOR OF RICARDO'S HOUSE - NIGHT

Carlos knocks on Ricardo's door. After a moment, he opens the door and answers it. Light off in the room, but TV on.

"Mr. Ricardo Oliveira? Chief Carlos Roldão."

"I've seen you around. It's from the neighborhood patrol."

Carlos notices a sarcastic tone.

"I'm hitting your house asking you to come to our police station for clarification."

"Can I know what is about?"

"About an anonymous tip, I received it this afternoon. There was no electricity in a certain section of our neighborhood. A certain section in which the existence of a clandestine power connection is being investigated."

Ricardo looks like someone who doesn't understand, false, so as not to give a clue.