Beach scene.
Alzira, age 43, civil servant, attractive even without the plastic surgery, divorced, daughter lives with her dad, Pier 5, Sunday morning, sees, walking in her direction between the umbrellas and the argentines, Rogerio, 22. Her heart beats as if she was 19. She looks for her cigarettes in her big beach bag - lotion, tissues, newspaper, My God, he's almost here! - to disguise her excitement. Rogerio stops between her and the ocean and says, My God:
-Hi Alzira.
She hasn't decided what to do, what face to put on, what to say. Six months and he says Hi. She should tell him to scram. Turn away. Call him an ungrateful bastard. Anything other than the urge to hug his legs and take him back.
-How's it going, Rogerio.
-Good, and you? You alright?
He squats beside her. She intensifies the search for cigarettes. Easy, Alzira. Remember your promise. Never again. Even if he came back on his knees. He puts rests one knee on the sand. Touches her hair with his fingertips.
-You look great.
-I feel great.
-Awesome, great.
-And you?
-Chillin'.
-Do you have cigarettes? I can't find...
-You're smoking again?
It's your fault, asshole. Cigarettes, Valium and despair. My daughter is the only reason I didn't kill myself.
-I have one every now and then.
-Cut it out.
-You didn't walk over here to tell me that, did you?
-You're hurt.
-Why hurt? Cause you walked out on me, out of the blue, no explanation, no phone call, no... It happens everyday.
-I didn't know what to say.
-I waited for two months, then gave your underwear to the doorman.
-Alzira...
That smile. Easy, Alzira. Keep it together. You don't need his compassion. You need nothing from him. If he wants you back, you set the terms. You're doing well, Alzira. He realizes what he lost. Don't say anything. Let him do the talking. He's talking.
-You are really important to me.
-I am?
-I've never met anyone like you.
-Right.
-It's true. With you it was... I don't know. I changed with you. I grew up. It was serious business. Deep...
This is your triumph, Alzira. Enjoy it.
-I think what happened between us was to deep to be destroyed. Do you know what I mean? I was wrong. I shouldn't have taken off like I did.
-It happens.
-Don't be like that, Alzira.
-Like what?
-You're hurt.
-No. It was good while it lasted. Period.
Now he's going to say it's not over. That it doesn't have to be over. He's on his knees. He will beg, Alzira. He says:
-There is someone I want you to meet.
Alzira, Alzira...
-Who?
-She's with me. Can I bring her over?
-Sure.
He gets up and runs to the edge of where the waves are breaking on the sand. It's eleven. Alzira thinks about running. Home. Gettin' out of there. She's dizzy. Looks for her sunglasses in her bag. Finds her cigarettes, but no sunglasses. Rogerio is coming back. He brings a girl with him. Eighteen.
-Alzira, Silvia. Silvia, Alzira.
-Hi, Silvia.
-How are you, ma'am.
-Silvia is my fiance, Alzira.
-Oh. Fiance?
-I wanted you to meet her.
-She's beautiful.
-Alzira is someone who...
He's gonna say you're like a mom to him, Alzira. He touched your hair with his fingertips.
-...I respect very much. Her opinion...
-Well my opinion is that Silvia is very sweet. Congratulations.
-Thanks.
-Thanks, Alzira.
-For what?
-For everything.
-What are you talking about?
After they left, Alzira opens her bag resolutely. First, she has to find her sunglasses. Then a tissue to blow her nose in, that's just how it is.
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