The DeCafé
The DeCafé
It's two o'clock in the morning and the place is pretty much deserted. There's the odd night owl replenishing a depleted caffeine level in order to get through an all-nighter, and there's Carly Cliff sitting alone in the corner, peering through the steam from her mocha-java across the room at Table Six -- the only table worth eavesdropping in on. And then there's the twosome she's looking at, steeped in shadows in more ways than one, so hunched over their empty cups that they seem almost like caricatures of conspirators. Carly watches unobtrusively, wishing she could hear what only we can...
Rad Cliff sits opposite Thor, a fearsome Viking if ever there were one.
From the pristine leather Coach backpack slung over one shoulder, Rad pulls a thick manilla envelope and pushes it across the table to the huge blond man whose crystal blue eyes conjure up strains of Grieg's piano concerto and images of Nordic saboteurs cross-country skiing toward the fascist targets of their missions against the Nazi occupation.THOR You got my ten grand?RAD You think I'd be here if I didn't?THOR You're late.
Rad chews his lower lip anxiously as Thor opens the envelope and rifles through the wad of bills inside.RAD Better late than never.
Thor gets up, tucks the envelope into his magnificently intricate Nordic sweater, where it is swallowed up by the sheer bulk of the man, and heads out.THOR You know, it's normally Cosa Norske policy to charge a couple "C"s for an extra day's interest, but I'm going to let you slide.RAD Cuz you like me, right?THOR Because I'm never going to do business with you again. The books are closed, kid.RAD Are you saying you won't make book for me anymore?! With the Championship series coming up?! That's not fair.THOR Like Grandma Sonia always said, "Fair, schmair." Your business just ain't worth the aggravation.RAD What are you talking about?THOR I got a call from Detective Goswell at the suggestion of her close personal friend, your aunt, the mayor. Just a friendly chat peppered with choice phrases like "racketeering charges" and "RICO violations." That's what I'm talking about.RAD Shit. I settle up and still have enough left over to bet on the Sonics and you won't even take it?! Why can't my damn family just leave me alone?THOR Yeah, I know what you mean. My mother's always on my case about wearing something to protect my knuckles.RAD Exactly!THOR Good. Then we understand each other.
Wait a minute! I thought we'd found some common ground here! But he's talking to the big man's back. Thor makes his way out of the coffee house, leaving Rad at the table, dejected despite having managed to pay off his enormous debt. Carly rushes over.RAD
Are you okay?CARLY
She stands abruptly and storms out. He calls after her...CARLY Where's you get the other seventy-five hundred?RAD I got lucky in a poker game.CARLY Poker?! When are you going to learn?RAD Learn what? I won, didn't I?CARLY You call ten thousand dollars down the drain winning? We could have used that money for the sound system.RAD All of a sudden you're a big civic booster? The sound system is the college's problem. Insurance'll cover it.CARLY Yeah, but not by opening night.RAD My heart bleeds.CARLY Look, maybe you don't care, but it's important to me.RAD Why? Because of Dylan?CARLY (FURIOUS) Next time you need money, don't bother asking.
... but once again, he's talking to a back. Lacking a better idea, Rad grabs his cup and heads across the DeCafé for a free refill.RAD Hey! I'm sorry, okay? I'm just a little frazzled right now.