expenses up front. Expenses plus. Right.
Nine o’clock, I know. I’m on my way. Just
stopping for coffee. Great. Fantastic. Ciao.
As she converses on the phone, she walks toward the booth where the others sit. She picks up an empty coffee cup and holds it up, gesturing to GUY NOIR to fill it. He picks up the coffee carafe, stands, pours her a cup.
YOLANDA
She just started six months ago and now
she’s the manager of something.
GUY NOIR
What does she do?
YOLANDA
No idea. Something in religious software.
RHONDA
It’s big. It’s moving like monkeys.
LOLA clicks off the cell phone. She sets the briefcase down on the table, opens it, as GUY NOIR surreptitiously peers inside, and riffles through papers.
LOLA (TO YOLANDA)
I looked at your pension stuff. It’s a horror
show. Ever hear of mutual funds? Honestly,
you would’ve done better if you’d stuck it in
a shoebox and put it under your bed.
YOLANDA
Well, that’s why I asked for your help—
LOLA pulls out a sheet of paper and hands it to YOLANDA.
YOLANDA
What’s this?
She looks at it.
YOLANDA
Power of attorney?
LOLA hands her a pen.
LOLA
I’ve got to get your assets working for you.
YOLANDA looks around the table for—what? Advice? Sympathy? She isn’t sure.
YOLANDA
Well, I don’t know . . .
LOLA
And you just plunked down six thousand
me first?
YOLANDA
Sorry.
She signs the form and hands it back.
YOLANDA
Can I keep the bus?
She smiles a wan smile for the benefit of the folks around the table, a smile of humorous resignation as DONNA steps in with four heaping platters of breakfast and sets them in turn in front of YOLANDA, RHONDA, GUY NOIR, and GK. The camera pulls back as LOLA leaves. DUSTY and LEFTY are perched on the booth opposite, drinking coffee.
LOLA (O.C.)
I’ll talk to you later.
The four tuck in their napkins and set in to eat. The camera looks beyond them to the door as the DANGEROUS WOMAN climbs the steps to Mickey’s vestibule and stands for a moment at the door, looking in.
RHONDA (O.C.)
That was a terrific eulogy you gave at Old
Man Soderberg’s memorial service.
GK (O.C.)
Thanks.
GUY NOIR (O.C.)
Too bad the old coot couldn’t have been there
to hear it.
YOLANDA (O.C.)
Yes. And to have missed it by just a few
days . . .
They laugh as the DANGEROUS WOMAN opens the door and steps into the diner. She stands, looking at them, smiling. One by one, they look up to see her. They look at each other, wondering which one she has come for. She steps forward.
THE END
Cast and Characters
as themselves:
TOM KEITH, Sound-Effects Man
JEARLYN STEELE
ROBIN AND LINDA WILLIAMS
PRUDENCE JOHNSON
with featured musicians: