MORENA
Episode 17
(Next Day)
(At Rodriguez house)
Rodriguez: Good morning sunshine.
Cecilia: (blus-hes) Good morning sir
Rodriguez: Nahhh, Since we’re not at work, You can call me Rodriguez.
Cecilia: Okay.
Rodriguez: You’re leaving alre-ady?
Cecilia: Yes sir.
Rodriguez: Okay then. (He gives her $1000) Take this.
Cecilia: Wow! $1000?!
Rodriguez: Yeah.
Cecilia: Thank you.
Rodriguez: No, Thank you. You really made my right. Promise you’ll come back.
Cecilia: (smiles) I will.
(Cecilia attempts to leave but Rodriguez draws her back)
Rodriguez: Do me a favor, Don’t let anyone, I repeat, ANYONE know about this.
Cecilia: Ohhh, That’s not a problem…
(At Crenshaw Elementary School)
Mrs Carlotta: Good morning Mr Roberto.
Mr Roberto: Good morning Mrs Carlotta. I got your letter, You wanted to see me?
Mrs Carlotta: As a matter of fact, I do. plea-se have a seat.
(Uncle Roberto sits down)
Mrs Carlotta: It’s about your daughter, Juanita. Lately, She’s become so rude to me and uses foul languages on her schoolmates. I don’t know where she’s been picking up these bad behaviors from.
Uncle Roberto: I’m really sorry ma. I’m sure its from the TV programmes she usually watches.
Mrs Carlotta: plea-se monitor the kind of programs she watches and who she imitates. Because I know Juanita, She’s usually very nice and polite.
Uncle Roberto: I’ll talk to her about it.
Mrs Carlotta: Thank you for your time, Sir.
Uncle Roberto: You’re welcome.
(He leaves the school premises)
Juanita: Has Dad left the school?
Juan: Yeah.
Juanita: I wonder what our tattletale of a teacher told him.
Juan: Juanita!
Juanita: (suprised) What is it?
Juan: This is exactly why Dad got called to the school in the first place.
Juanita: But I was just expressing my opinion. Besides Mom says its always good to say how you feel rather than bottling it up inside.
Juan: I know that but still, You should watch what you say.
(He leaves her)
Juanita: Whatever…
*************************
(Uncle Roberto’s house)
(Nina calls Morena)
Morena: Hey Nina. I’ve missed you!
Nina: (over the phone) I’ve missed you more, Morena. Everywhere is so desolate without you. We have fewer clients than before.
Morena: Don’t worry, I’ll be returning soon. Just few days remaining.
Nina: Yeah…
Morena: So, Is there any new thing at the restaurant?
Nina: Not really…Ohhh, That reminds me. Mr Rodriguez employed a new cook to substitute for you and Cecilia. Her name is Alicia.
Morena: Hmm, That’s good.
Nina: How is that good? The girl is a crazy person, She’s a terrible cook, She speaks vernacular, She wears tattoos and piercings, She gr-abs a knife at any slightest provocation and many other things….I even heard she just got out of jail.
Morena: Woah, That isn’t good.
Nina: Yeah. Anyways, Let’s not go into that. I hope your aunt doesn’t bother you anymore?
Morena: Well, She still does. Although, My Uncle’s back so her troubles might reduce….
(Just then, Aunt Maria calls Morena)
Aunt Maria: MORENA!!!
Morena: Or not. (To Nina) I’ll call you back.
Nina: Alright no problem.
(Aunt Maria barges into her room)
Aunt Maria: Who were you talking to over the phone?
Morena: A friend of mine.
Aunt Maria: You were talking to a friend? Is that why you haven’t cleaned the toilet?
Morena: But Aunt, I cleaned the toilets yesterday night and this morning.
Aunt Maria: Oh really? Come with me!
(Aunt Maria drags her to the toilet and shows her the mess)
Aunt Maria: You’ve cleaned it right?
Morena: I know I cleaned it, Someone must’ve messed it up.
Aunt Maria: Do you think I care? (hands her a toilet brush) Here…
Morena: (she collects it)
Aunt Maria: You’d better be done before my husband gets back. Idiot!
(She leaves the toilet)
Morena: (sighs) It’s like this woman s-en-ses my happiness and always wants to ruin it, God help me…
(At Diego’s house)
Isabella: Diego, I’m really sorry…I promise to change and learn how to cook.
Diego: Its not even about the fact that you can’t cook, Its about the fact that you’ve been lying and deceiving me all these while. You took me for granted!
Isabella: (crying) I’m really sorry…
Diego: (sighs) I can’t stay mad at you forever… Do you promise to mend your ways?
Isabella: Yes. I promise.
(Diego hvgs Isabella and they make up)
*************************
(That evening)
(Diego calls Morena)
Diego: Hey Morena.
Morena: Diego! Hi, I was about calling you….How’re things going now?
Diego: Much better. I spoke to Isabella and she promised to change.
Morena: That’s good news. You see, Two wrongs never make a right.
Diego: True though. So, How’s work?
Morena: It’s alright.
Diego: Are you at work now?
Morena: No.
Diego: Is your shift over?
Morena: (sighs) No, I got suspended.
Diego: You got suspended? Why?
Morena: I broke one of the restaurant’s rules. I fought with a colleague of mine.
Diego: You shouldn’t have. You might’ve even gotten fired.
Morena: I tried to ignore her but the girl provoked me to a point where I felt like tearing her ap@rt.
Diego: So when will it be over?
Morena: Very soon. It’s a week suspension.
Diego: Okay. Just make sure you’ll be of better conduct this time.
Morena: Yeah, I will.
(Meanwhile)
(Uncle Roberto returns home)
Aunt Maria: Honey, Welcome back…
Uncle Roberto: Don’t t©uçh me!
Aunt Maria: (confused) What did I do?
Uncle Roberto: You’re asking me that? Maria! What’s wrong with you? Just one week that I was away and Juanita’s attitude is alre-ady changing.
Aunt Maria: I’m confused. How do you mean?
Uncle Roberto: Her clas-s teacher complained about her recent behavior that she’s now rude and uncouth to her and her fellow students and said she’s been picking it up from somewhere…
Aunt Maria: But honey, It wasn’t my fault!
Uncle Roberto: Keep Quiet! Don’t tell me that! What do you mean “It wasn’t your fault”? Aren’t you supposed to be watching over the kids?
Aunt Maria: Honey plea-se don’t be angry with me. Ok, Let me go make you dinner….
Uncle Roberto: Don’t waste your time cooking because I wouldn’t eat it! Morena!
Morena: (she enters the living room) Welcome home uncle.
Uncle Roberto: Thank you. Make me broth with chopped beef, That’s what I’ll be having for dinner.
Morena: Alright sir.
(Uncle Roberto goes to the dining room as Morena goes into the kitchen and Aunt Maria watches her with raged-filled eyes)
.
MORENA
Episode 18
(Later that night)
(Uncle Roberto’s house)
Aunt Maria: Honey, I’m really sorry. It breaks my heart to see you angry with me.
Uncle Roberto: Why won’t I be angry when you’ve neglected your motherly duties? You neglected to monitor Juanita, Who knows where she’s been picking up bad behaviors from….
Aunt Maria: I’m sorry. I promise I’ll watch her closely from now on.
Uncle Roberto: You promise?
Aunt Maria: Yes darling. I promise.
(Meanwhile)
(Daniel calls Morena)
Daniel: Hey Morena, How’ve you been?
Morena: I’ve been alright, Daniel.
Daniel: Are you gonna be free tomorrow? Tomorrow’s my day off and I wanna take you out.
Morena: Wow, Sure!
Daniel: Alright, I’ll call you tomorrow, when I’m close to your house.
Morena: Do me a favor, Don’t come close to the house because of my aunt. Just wait at the gazebo, I’ll meet you there.
Daniel: Alright, No problem.
Morena: Thank you!!!
(Daniel drops the call)
Morena: I can’t believe I’m gonna go out with Daniel tomorrow, Wait a second… I’ll nee-d to ask Uncle Roberto if he’ll be okay with that.
(Morena goes to Uncle Roberto’s room and knocks on the door)
Uncle Roberto: Come in!
(She enters the room)
Uncle Roberto: Morena, Is there a problem?
Morena: Uncle, Is it okay if I go to see a friend tomorrow?
Uncle Roberto: Ohh, That’s not a problem. Just make sure you stay safe and keep your mobile phone on at all times in case I try to call you.
Morena: No problem uncle. Thank you so much!!!
(Next Morning)
Uncle Roberto: Honey, What’re we eating for breakfast?
Aunt Maria: Spicy lamb chops.
Uncle Roberto: Sounds nice. Morena, Why don’t you go as-sist your aunt in the kitchen.
Morena: Ok sir
Aunt Maria: No, it’s fine….
Uncle Roberto: I insist! Besides, You always say the house works are usually exhausting, It’ll be wise to let Morena as-sist you.
Aunt Maria: Ok honey.
(In the kitchen)
Aunt Maria: So Morena, Who’s this “friend” you’re going out to see?
Morena: He’s my colleague.
Aunt Maria: Ohhh, So it’s a “He”?
Morena: Yeah.
Aunt Maria: Ok no problem.
(Later)
(While Morena washes the dishes, Juan and Juanita enter the kitchen)
Juan: Thank you, Morena.
Morena: You’re welcome. How was your food?
Juan: I really enjoyed it. It was h0t and spicy.
Morena: Juanita, How was the food?
Juanita: (drops her plate in the sink) Garbage.
(Juanita hisses and walks out of the kitchen)
Morena: (confused) What just happened?
Juan: I’ll go talk to her.
***************************
(In Juan & Juanita’s room)
Juan: Juanita, Why did you hiss at Morena and call the food “Garbage”?
Juanita: Don’t you see? Morena is trying to blind us with her fake kindness so she can succeed in stealing Dad’s affection…I won’t let that happen!
Juan: What do you mean by “Stealing Dad’s affection”?
Has Daddy st©pped loving you ever since Morena c@m£?
Juanita: It’s only a matter of time…
Juan: You don’t know what you’re saying. Besides that can never happen, Morena is a good person.
Juanita: Why do you always defend her?!
Juan: Because you’re no longer seeing the good inside her. Morena’s your family and this hate you’re dishing out to her is way overboard!
(Meanwhile)
(In Morena’s room, She prepares for her d@t£ with Daniel. Just then, Rafael calls her)
Rafael: Hey babe…
Morena: Babe?
Rafael: Sorry. Hey Morena, How’re you doing?
Morena: I’m good.
Rafael: I’ve really missed you. Are you gonna be free later today? I want to take you out on a d@t£.
Morena: I’m really sorry Rafael but I’ve got plans with Daniel today.
Rafael: Ohhh, We could try that some other time?
Morena: Maybe.
Rafael: Alright, Bye.
(Morena attempts to go out)
Aunt Maria: Hold up! Where do you think you’re going?
(Morena looks at her in bewilderment)
Uncle Roberto: Maria, What’s the problem?
Aunt Maria: There’s no way she’s stepping out of this house. Do you know that she’s going out to see a man? Her b©yfri£nd?!
Morena: But aunt, He’s not my b©yfri£nd.
Uncle Roberto: Even if he was her b©yfri£nd, Morena knows what’s right and wrong. (To Morena) You can go.
Morena: Thank you sir.
(Morena leaves the house as her Aunt watches her furiously)
(Morena goes to meet Daniel at the gazebo)
Daniel: Hey Morena, I was… (looks at her) Woah, You look stunningly beautiful.
Morena: (smiles) Thanks.
Daniel: (keeps on looking at her) Wow….
Morena: Alright, Let’s go before you start drooling…
(Morena enters the car and Daniel drives off)
Morena: So where’re we going?
Daniel: To the movies. We’re gonna watch the latest movie – The Dark Feys.
Morena: Oooohhh, Horror?
Daniel: Kinda. Although it’s mixed with action and adventure.
Morena: Wow, I’m gonna enjoy this!
(At the movies)
Security Guard: Tickets plea-se.
(Morena & Daniel show him their tickets)
Security Guard: Go in.
****************************
(That evening)
Morena: Wow, This is one of the movies I can never forget! It was so intriguing.
Daniel: Right?
Morena: I really like the twist at the end, Mallory was the real villain and not his brother.
Daniel: Wow, You were really engrossed in the movie.
Morena: Yeah, It was amazing. Besides, I’ve never gone to the movies before. Today’s the first time.
Daniel: How come?
Morena: That’s a story for another day.
Daniel: Well, I’m glad you enjoyed yourself.
Morena: (smiles) Me too. Thank you so much….
(Morena and Daniel smile and stare at each other for a moment Then they move closer to each other, Daniel slowly pu-lls back her hair and k!sses her and she returns the k!ssthis time)
(Meanwhile)
(Cecilia visits Mr Rodriguez)
Cecilia: Hey baby.
Mr Rodriguez: Wow, Are you here for more….You know what I’m talking about?
Cecilia: Kind of. Rodriguez, plea-se I nee-d to ask you for something.
Mr Rodriguez: Go on…
Cecilia: I nee-d about $5,000. It’s for an important cause.
Mr Rodriguez: Hmm… I’ll see what I can do.
Cecilia: Awwnn thank you baby. You’re so generous, I can’t believe I’ve been wasting my time with Daniel when you’ve been here all these while.
Mr Rodriguez: (smiles) Yeah. So, How about what you promised…
Cecilia: Ohhh, That’s not a problem.
(Cecilia begins to take off her clothes while she k!sses Mr Rodriguez)
(Later on)
(Daniel drops off Morena at the house)
Morena: Thank you so much, Daniel. You really made my day.
Daniel: (smiles) Well, That’s me….
Morena: (pe-cks his cheeks) Goodnight.
Daniel: (blus-hes) Goodnight.
(Daniel enters into his car and drives off and Morena waves at him. When he’s no longer in sight, Morena goes into the house. Meanwhile, Aunt Maria watches her from the window)
To be CONTINUED