Folds

INT. RESTAURANT, SERVER STATION

We start with a static shot focused on a long stainless steel counter, a neat stack of white linens atop the surface adjacent to four large, empty bins.

Behind the station we see the path that the staff use to get around this section of the restaurant; chefs, support staff, and servers all pass behind this station.

ANA (30s), Colombian immigrant, with long black hair tied into a tight ponytail, enters the frame and puts on her apron.

She looks around, taking in her environment, and with an extended deep breath, begins folding the linens, each one done with the utmost concentration. Ana is completely absorbed in the task at hand.

To herself she begins to hum the melody of a lullaby, her pace in rhythm with her song, completely lost in her own world.

The MANAGER (late 20s), with a pompous attitude and a tacky suit, interrupts her.

MANAGER

Ana, you got two on twenty-three.

ANA

O.K. I’ll be there in a second.

She places her latest fold in a bin before leaving.

CUT TO:

INT. RESTAURANT, MAIN DINING ROOM

A MAN AND WOMAN (mid 30s) on a date are sitting at a table with a dimly lit lantern in the center.

Ana approaches the table bringing with her a bottle of water and interrupting the guests’ conversations who haven’t noticed she’s standing there.

ANA

Hi, my name is Ana. I’m going to be helping you tonight.

They don’t even bother looking up. Ana notices they aren’t paying attention to her but remains unphased.

ANA

Sorry for interrupting. You guys been here before?

WOMAN

What was that?

ANA

Have you guys been here before?

WOMAN

Yeah, like a million times.

MAN

Kinda surprised you don’t even recognize us.

ANA

(sympathetic)

I'm sorry about that. Any allergies I should be aware of?

WOMAN

No, but I have question. Is the chicken organic? Is it a California chicken? Do you know the farm that raised them? Are they “happy” chickens?

Ana stares at her with eyes saying, “Why?”

CUT TO:

INT. RESTAURANT, MAIN DINING ROOM - LATER

Ana is at a new table of two GUESTS in the middle of taking an order.

GUEST 1

So I want the double cheeseburger but can you take out the pickles, the onions, the sauce, no wait I want the sauce on the side. Oh, and get take off the cheese. I also want a salad instead of fries.

Ana stares at them dumbfounded.

ANA

So you want just the meat and bun?

GUEST 1

No bun. Make it lettuce-wrapped.

CUT TO:

INT. RESTAURANT, MAIN DINING ROOM - STILL LATER

Ana approaches yet another table of two, looking slightly more disheveled than before.

ANA

Hi, guys, my name is--

GUEST 2

Can we get two vodka-martinis, up with a twist, shaken not stirred. Thanks.

Ana takes a breath, dejected, but not yet defeated.

CUT TO:

INT. RESTAURANT, MAIN DINING ROOM - STILL LATER

Ana is hailed down by another GUEST at a table as she’s walking.

GUEST 3

Can we get some salt and pepper?

Ana comes back with the salt and pepper in hand, placing it on the table.

GUEST 3

Thank you. Oh, and can we also get some ketchup?

Ana gives them a fake smile and nods.

CUT TO:

INT. RESTAURANT, MAIN DINING ROOM - STILL LATER

Ana is speaking with another GUEST, handing them their drink. She stands there and watches them take a long, obnoxious sip. The guest makes a face and hands it back to Ana.

GUEST 4

This drink tasted funny. I don’t think they used mezcal to make this.

Ana takes the slightly less-than-half-full cocktail from them.

GUEST 4

Can I get a new one?

She looks at the drink and back at the guest.

CUT TO:

INT. RESTAURANT, MAIN DINING ROOM - STILL LATER

Ana is walking with a heavy stack of plates in both hands when a GUEST stops her from their table.

GUEST 5: Excuse me?

ANA

Yes?

GUEST 5

We’re ready to order now.

Ana looks at the plates then back to the guest wondering if they both can see what's in her hands.

CUT TO:

INT. RESTAURANT, MAIN DINING ROOM - STILL LATER

Ana is walking with a dish in each hand as her manager stops her.

MANAGER

Ana, you need to touch your tables quicker.

ANA

How? I’m greeting them in less than two minutes already.

MANAGER

I need you to make it thirty seconds. Drink order should be in no less than two minutes. You know this.

Ana releases what she wants to say with a heavy sigh and walks on.

CUT TO:

INT. RESTAURANT, MAIN DINING ROOM - STILL LATER

With a full tray of drinks in hand, Ana is stopped by a frantic CO-WORKER (20s).

CO-WORKER

Hey, are you busy right now?

ANA

Yeah, a little.

CUT TO:

INT. RESTAURANT, SERVER STATION

Ana stands at the stainless steel counter; her face overcome with fatigue and hair a tied-up mess. She stares at the clock in front of her.

A close up shot of the clock. “9:45.”

She looks back at the linens, and begins to fold, resuming her lullaby when her co-worker interrupt her.

CO-WORKER

Hey, I dropped check at twenty-six and thirty said they needed you.

ANA

I’ll be there in a second.

Ana folds one last linen before leaving.

CUT TO:

INT. RESTAURANT, MAIN DINING ROOM

Ana is standing at a table of two new LADIES (mid 20s). She looks down at them with tired, dejected eyes.

LADY 1

Can I please get the burrito but without the lentils? I have an allergy.

ANA

Aw, I’m sorry, that sucks! I love lentils.

LADY 1

I know, me too! I was so bummed when I couldn’t have them anymore.

ANA

O.K. Let me make a note of the allergy. Could you please spell “lentil” for me?

LADY 2

(scoffing)

You love lentils and you don’t even know how to spell it?

A beat as Ana looks at this woman, asking herself if she should be offended or not.

IN ANA’S FANTASY:

ANA

Oh, I’m sorry, miss. I’m not from this country, and when I was taking my overpriced English class at a second-rate online school, I’m sorry no one decided to put lentil on the goddamn vocab list! I hope to God that the citizenship test doesn’t have a spelling section on it and if it does, I hope lentil isn’t one of the words, but if it does and it is, then I would gladly fail if that means I’m not counted among you stupid, entitled fucking assholes!

Ana picks up a glass of water and throws the whole cup at the rude lady before climbing over the table to grab her as her friend screams in horror. Before Ana reaches her, we are:

BACK TO REALITY: Ana, holding the glass of water, looks at the rude lady with contempt and a nasty smile.

ANA

English is my second language.

She sets the glass down as we:

CUT TO:

INT. RESTAURANT, SERVER STATION

Ana’s physical appearance is now in complete disarray; her ponytail is nearly undone, her shirt and apron are stained and her face is heavy with weariness.

A close up shot of the clock. “11:15.”

She’s about to start folding when the manager interrupts her.

MANAGER

Hey, do you have any more tables?

ANA

No, I’m done.

MANAGER

Alright, run your checkout, and after you finish your folds, you can go.

The manager walks away, leaving Ana alone at the station. She takes a long look at the stack of linens on the counter and at the four large bins next to them. With a deep breath of relief, she begins both the folds and the lullaby.

QUICK CUTS:

-Close up of Ana’s hands moving rhythmically as she folds.

-Close up of Ana’s eyes watching intently.

-Close up of the last linen being folded.

ANA sets up the last fold in the bin, takes her apron off and walks away leaving frame. We see the bins full, the counter empty.

A close up of the clock reading 12:15.

CUT TO:

INT. RESTAURANT, MAIN DINING ROOM

We see the now empty MDR with only a PORTER cleaning up in between the tables.

CUT TO:

EXT. BACK ALLEY OUTSIDE RESTAURANT - NIGHT

Ana comes out the backdoor wearing a zip-up hoodie, carrying a tote bag, and looking beyond exhausted.

She is walking to her car when her phone starts buzzing in her tote bag.

She pulls it out, and immediately, her face lights up with the first genuine smile we’ve seen all night.

She answers the phone.

ANA

(in Spanish; subtitled)

Hi my love, what are you doing up so late? It’s two in the morning over there.

We hear the voice of a little girl, ANTONIA (8), Ana’s daughter on the other side.

ANTONIA

(in Spanish; subtitle)

Mom, Grandma said I could wait up for you until you got off from work. I just wanted to say hi and show you what they gave me at school.

ANA

(in Spanish; subtitle)

Baby, you know you can’t be up this late. But yes, please show me.

ANTONIA

(in Spanish; subtitle)

I got a medal of excellence because I’ve been getting wonderful grades.

ANA

(in Spanish; subtitle)

My love, congratulations! I’m so proud of you. Your grandma told me that you are doing so well at school. That’s why I sent you something. Did your grandma give it to you already?

ANTONIA

(in Spanish; subtitle)

Yes, Mami! I loved it, thank you. But I miss you. When are you coming home?

ANA

(in Spanish; subtitle)

Soon baby...

We see Ana sitting down on the curbside as she begins humming the same lullaby to her daughter that she’s been singing to herself the whole night as the camera pans out.

FADE TO BLACK.

BLACK SCREEN: SUPER: “Folds are the one thing that gives me peace. -Bryan, Server, Hollywood.”