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CECILIA.- Creeps!
FRANCISCA.- SIMULTANEOUSLY WITH PREVIOUS LINE. Thank God it's back on!
CECILIA.- Who was it?
FRANCISCA.- What happened?
CECILIA.- One of these pigs pinched me when I bend down to pick up my lighter.
FERNANDO.- A him or a her? There are have been cases.
FRANCISCA.- That's all we need, Sissies!
RAMON.- COUGHS. Don't generalize.
CECILIA.- Put your hand in front of your mouth when you cough. You're disgusting!
RAMON.- UPSET. If you had your behind pinched it's because of the way you're dressed.
CECILIA.- I dress any way I please.
RAMON.- Then don't complain.
CECILIA.- Was it you?
RAMON.- I'd prefer not to answer.
CECILIA.- Cowards! All men are cowards!
FERNANDO.- And if it turned out to be a woman? I insist, there are cases.
ALMA.- I pass. HUGS FERNANDO. I only like men. GOES TO THE CART, TAKES OUT A BIG RED PEPPER, HOLDS IT UP, KISSES IT, LAUGHS.
VIRGINIA.- INDIGNANT, SNATCHES THE PEPPER AND PUTS IT BACK IN THE CART. Don’t touch my things.
ALMA.- Sorry, didn't know it was yours. SHE AND FERNANDO LAUGH.
VIRGINIA.- You brutes!
MIGUEL.- What did they say?
VIRGINIA.- Nothing.
ANOTHER PAUSE. VIRGINIA PULLS THE CART TOWARDS HER, EXAMINES IT, PUSHES IT BACK IN ITS PLACE.
MIGUEL.- Didn't they say we were gonna burn?
FRANCISCA.- Fortunately, it was a false alarm.
FERNANDO.- It would've been like being in Hell. That way we would atone for our sins. In nominee patter et fili et...
FRANCISCA.- Don't make fun of sacred things!
FERNANDO.- Brooother! Everything bothers you people. We're just trying to make this business of waiting around a little more pleasant.
FRANCISCA.- You don't even live in this building.
FERNANDO.- But my chick does.
ALMA.- I live in 712.
FRANCISCA.- With your parents?
ALMA.- No, 'course not, with him. My parents are in vacations.
FRANCISCA.- With him?
VIRGINIA.- I don't suppose you're married.
ALMA.- No, I'm his...TO FERNANDO. What did the Unemployment Officer say I was, you know, when we registered?
FERNANDO.- My concubine.
ALMA.- That's it, concubine. Doesn't that sound neat? Like something out of " The thousend and One Nights"•
AMPARO.-AFTER A SHORT PAUSE. Can't anyone do anything?
RAMON.- Like what?
AMPARO.- Like open. My baby...
FRANCISCA.- If anything happens to him, you'll be guilty.
AMPARO.- TO FRANCISCA. Guilty of what?
FRANCISCA.- I don't know why they have children if they can't take care of them.
RAMON.- We've already spent more than fifteen minutes locked up in here. I need fresh air. COUGHS AND SPITS INTO A HANDKERCHIEF.
VIRGINIA.- I do too. The doctor said I should always be in places with good ventilation because of my heart condition.
FERNANDO.- Now we've had it. One's got emphysema, the other a heart attack. Anybody else got a disease?
ALMA.-WRITHING. I'm fine.
VIRGINIA.- I haven't a heart attack, but I could get one.
CECILIA.- You only get them if you strain a lot.
VIRGINIA.- And lack of oxygen and nervous tension.
ALMA.- LAUGHS. Well then, you should just stay quietly at home.
FRANCISCA.- It's all right for you to laugh now because you're young. But youth comes to an end. Health is something you only borrow.
FERNANDO.- Why don't you buy it from whoever lent it to you, then you'll be all set.
VIRGINIA.- If you're healthy enough to be poking fun at the rest of us, opening that trapdoor up there should be quite a simple thing for you to do.
FERNANDO.- Me? And why should I do it? I don't need air.
VIRGINIA.- I knew you couldn't do it. That's what all young people are like: all talk, no action.
FRANCISCA.- You're right, there’re just barking dogs.
ALMA.- TO FERNANDO. Show them you can do it.
FERNANDO BARKS. THEY BOTH LAUGH.
RAMON.-TO FERNANDO. You'd be doing us all a favor.
FERNANDO.- How can I open it? I have nothing to open it with.
RAMON.- Those trapdoors can just be pushed aside.
MIGUEL.- CLIMBING UP ON FERNANDO. Let me do it. I can do it.
VIRGINIA.- PULLING HIM TOWARD HER. You be still.
FERNANDO.- STRETCHING UPWARDS. I can't reach. If you want me to open it you've to help me.