1998

In the reign of Royal Hill, the sun shines in a cloudless sky, on another beautiful morning in the Rhodia River neighborhood. It’s a housing district for working-class families but non-slum, well-presentable, mostly quiet, and decent residents. We have the main square called Praça da Granja, the church, tree-lined and paved streets, houses with minimal fences or walls, buses traveling, and finally, the main avenue. This one is busier, with small and varied shops, and people traveling on the sidewalk. We have a facade of Cascais Bakery, Cor-de-Rosa Stationery Store, and Malthus Snack Bar.

Near the snack bar, Monica Silva, 19, light-brown, serious, and responsible, dressed socially in a woolen coat, is walking hurriedly to the local.

AT THE MALTHUS SNACK BAR

Monica enters and takes a look. The cafeteria is in normal activity. It’s a rectangular enclosure, with plastic tables, and a marble counter for cash and orders. Monica smiles, she likes the place. Aurélio Malthus, 42, is the owner of the business. Aurélio is cleaning the counter with a flannel. There’s ambient music.

Monica goes anxiously to the owner, "Good morning, Seu Aurélio! Have we news?"

Aurélio smiles at the customer, "Today we have coxinha without catupiry. I always thought people liked the sauce."

Monica grimaces, she hates catupiry, "Of course not, it makes my mouth taste weird. I'll take two."

"They were fried just yesterday. Health inspectors are watching around if we are serving old savories."

Aurélio takes the savories.

Monica replies, "But you would never do that to us, your loyal customers. At least I think I deserve the good and the best."

Aurélio laughs, "Your friend has arrived, and is making my day."

Monica looks at the tables with more attention. She sees Annie Lime, 19, a brunette and loving person, sitting at a corner table, devouring pastries with zero civility and a cane juice cup. Monica takes the coxinha and goes towards her. The two meet and Monica sits. Annie reacts surprised.

"Monica! You really came, it was taking too long. Do you want to starve me?"

Monica laughs, "You will never die of hunger while at the Malthus Snack Bar. I don't know how he manages to keep the stock."

"You talk like I'm a heartless starving man."

"That you are not."

"Hungry?"

"Heartless."

Monica laughs louder. In the background, Aurélio holds a giggle.

Annie speaks back, "Oh, you're annoying! So, what are you going to do today?"

Monica takes a thick brown envelope from her purse. The reason for the thickness is the sheets of paper taped on the computer. Monica hands the contents over to Annie. She wipes her hands on napkins, takes the envelope, and looks at it. She leafs through it.

"It's your first book." She stresses the title, "'Love came later'. And why hasn't it arrived now?"

Monica explains, "It came later because the couple will take a while before they fall in love."

Annie turns interested, "Um... I understand... And then, do you think you can do it?"

"Oh, my dear, if I don't think I can do it, who will think it for me?"

"You're right, my friend. Positive thinking."

Monica looks at the wristwatch, "In addition, the hour is passing. Taking the bus here isn't easy. The neighborhood is growing, and new residents are coming, so this bus schedule will have to be extended"

Annie is hopefully, "So, you go on, Monica! Good luck, girl!"

"Thanks!"

Monica gets up and goes back to the counter, "How much is it really, Seu Aurélio?"

Aurélio answered her kindly, "Pay me when you become the first famous writer at Rhodia River!"

Monica gets touched, "Oh, Seu Aurélio... Thank you very much for your support. See you. I promise I will pay!"

Monica hurriedly leaves. Aurélio remains with a smile. Other customers are approaching and he answers them.

AT THE BUS STOP

Monica standing still, she is waiting for driving. The wind shakes her hairdo cut at shoulder height. But with the wind, comes dust and bad smell, they are the issues of urbanization. Other passengers react with displeasure. Monica checks if the bad smell has not passed to her clothing.

From another angle, we see Célio das Graças, 19, and Cássio Lama, 19, both best friends, they chat animatedly. Célio is very tidy while Cássio remembers hip-hop or grunge style from the beginning of the decade. Célio sees Monica and greets her.

"Hello, Monica! Going to town?"

Monica shakes her purse, "I'm going to deliver my book."

Cássio scoffs, "Oh, come on, those sketches of love stories? Blergh! You're not taking it to the National Library, are you? It’s still far from Cecilia Meirelles."

Monica answers him worthily, "For your information, you first have to take the book to a publisher, and that's where I'm going. Second, you have to wait if the publisher is going to like my book. Third, he has to see if my book is going to sell. Then I can think about having a copy of my best-seller at the National Library."

Cássio gets vexed. Célio and the passengers are admired with the knowledge of Monica.

"Wow!!" Célio says to Cássio "Go on, that's what you get when you mess with who knows the subject!"

Cássio disguises, "Hey, maybe Sandra wants to read it when it comes out."

"You better make your best to buy one copy for her as a Valentine's Day gift!"

Monica looks away behind them, "Boys, I'm loving talking, but here comes the bus."

"Bye, Mo—"

As soon as Célio starts to speak, a thief appears out of nowhere and pulls Monica's purse, since she was distracted by the bus coming. Monica feels the pull and reacts with revolt.

"Hey! My purse!"

"What a bastard!" Célio says.

"Catch the thief!" Cássio yells.

Monica gets undecided. She wanna catch the thief, but her bus is approaching. Without the book, the bus is useless. She reacts in revolt...