(Characters: Grace, Alex
Setting: Kitchen, safe house, corner of Gusano and Murcielago, downtown neighborhood.
10:30 a.m.)
Grace: I can’t empha who’s there.
Alex: Nothing the kids.
Grace: Whose.
Alex: The neighbor’s the neighbor’s kids.
Grace: They always that loud.
Alex: They’re visiting they don’t actually.
Grace: They’re visiting.
Alex: Yeah they actually live with their mom.
Grace: Somewhere else.
Alex: Yeah I mean in town somewhere but not.
Grace: Still too hot.
Alex: It’ll cool in a second keep reading just keep.
Grace: Alright here I can’t emphasize enough that having these rules in writing is for our own protection.
Alex: That’s who doing the talking.
Grace: Paco Urbano.
Alex: And then Paula Montanero.
Grace: Montanero responds and I can’t emphasize enough that no one believes that.
Alex: And it’s just the two of them there.
Grace: Yes yes I think let me look they mention Hemmings.
Alex: Hemmings that’s Eric right.
Grace: Yes but it’s just a mention further down he’s not in the room with them.
Alex: Okay what’s next.
Grace: Paco asks Montanero do you I guess as in do you believe it Montanero says not really but that’s not the point.
Alex: Okay yeah.
Grace: You want me to keep going.
Alex: Yes just read it right through.
Grace: Okay here Urbano what is the point in your opinion Montanero it’s a power play between two extern no two extreme and mutually antagonistic factions and you meaning Urbano I guess and you just happen to be the poor bastard who’s been saddled with the impossible.
Alex: This Montanero’s got balls.
Grace: Urbano trusts her.
Alex: Yeah he needs somebody that’s for sure.
Grace: Okay Urbano says are you suggesting that even I don’t really believe it that all this fuck yikes sorry all this fuss that’s it fuss is for purely symbolic purposes Montanero no no but I am suggesting that for every moderate like yourself there’s ten eleven a dozen ravers at the far reaches Urbano who can’t see anything of benefit in toning things down just for a trial period sounds like he’s thinking aloud kind of Montanero they’re not interested in that.
Alex: Sharp that’s sharp.
Grace: Urbano again even if Montanero trust.
Alex: Wait who just said even if.
Grace: Urbano did but then Montanero like interrupts him.
Alex: Oh.
Grace: So Montanero says trust me you could show both sides absolute proof that this would work and you wouldn’t get so much as a twitch Urbano but if this truce this compromise collapses everyone will lose and lose big Montanero we both see that neither of us has any doubts about any of it but what you don’t seem to understand is that they’d all rather lose the whole show all of it than have to give an inch to the other side Urbano goddamnit goddamnit goddamnit.
Alex: Man I second that emotion.
Grace: Finally Urbano asks if there’s anyone who’s still on the still sitting on the fence and Montanero says no one’s left on the fence but you’ve got me and Hemmings and Rios-Nunez and maybe Charpentier Charp yeah Char-pen-tier.
Alex: Anything else.
Grace: No that’s it there’s a note that someone comes into the room but it’s not clear if they mean the recorder’s room or the room where Urbano and Montanero are.
Alex: Well it’s good work.
Grace: What can we do with it do you think.
Alex: I’m not sure it’s pretty damn heartbreaking.
Grace: If you cared you mean.
Alex: Yeah if I cared.