(Next Morning)
Morena: Good morning uncle. Good morning aunty.
Uncle Roberto: Good morning Morena...
Aunt Maria: Good morning my dear. How was your night?
Morena: It was sumptuous.
Uncle Roberto: Take this for transport. (He gives her $100)
Morena: Thank you sir...
Aunt Maria: And also take this... (gives her $150) Add it to the money Roberto gave you.
Morena: Thank you very much.
Aunt Maria: You're welcome my dear. Take care!
(Morena leaves the house)
Uncle Roberto: Hmm...You've really changed. (smiles) I'm happy about that.
Aunt Maria: Well, Not many people get second chances.....
Uncle Roberto: Alright then. Are Juan and Juanita ready for school?
Aunt Maria: Yes.
Uncle Roberto: Okay good. Because I'll be driving them to school.
Juan & Juanita: (waves at her) Bye mommy!
Aunt Maria: Bye my little angels!
(At Chuks restaurant)
(At the service station)
Pascaline: (excitedly) Morena! Welcome back!
Morena: Thank you!!!
Pascaline: So how is your health now?
Morena: Much better.
(In the kitchen)
Morena: Hey guys!
Nina & Andrew: Morena!
(They rush to hug her)
Nina: We've missed your presence here sooo much!
Andrew: Yeah. Just be wary of that your aunt from now on...
Morena: (smiles)
(Just then, Daniel enters the kitchen)
Daniel: (excitedly) Babe! You're back!
Morena: Yeah...
(He hugs her tightly)
Daniel: I've missed you so much...
Morena: Me too. I've missed you guys.
(Just then, Cecilia hisses at Morena)
Cecilia: (about Morena) I wish you even died on that hospital bed! (hisses)
Nina: I just heard someone hiss.... That person that just hissed is an advocate of Jezebel and will forever be miserable as she walks the face of the earth.
(Cecilia gasps on hearing this)
Nina: Yeah!
Andrew: Look at her, She's just beefing over nothing.
Morena: Please guys, Let's not go into that...
Daniel: Exactly. Just forget her, She's hopeless.
Cecilia: Idiots!
(Cecilia hisses at all of them as she leaves the kitchen)
Nina: (about Cecilia) Frustrated creature.
Morena: So where are the rest?
Andrew: They're not around yet.
Daniel: I'm gonna take everyone out to the movies to celebrate Morena's return!
Nina & Andrew: Yay!
Morena: (blushes)
(Pascaline enters the kitchen)
Pascaline: Morena, Mr Rodriguez wants to see you in his office right away.
Morena: Okay. (To Daniel, Nina & Andrew) We'll talk later.
(In Mr Rodriguez's office)
Morena: Good morning sir.
Mr Rodriguez: Good morning Morena. I heard what happened to you and I really felt bad. I would've come to visit you at the hospital but I couldn't.
Morena: It's alright sir. I totally apprehend.
Mr Rodriguez: You're better now, Isn't it?
Morena: Absolutely.
Mr Rodriguez: That's wonderful to hear.
(Meanwhile)
(Crenshaw Elementary school)
Juan: I'm happy Morena has gotten better. (looks at Juanita) How about you?
Juanita: I'm indifferent.
Juan: Juanita, Why're you still behaving this way?
Juanita: (looks at him in confusion) How else do you expect me to behave? Should I start jumping up and screaming just because Morena's back is now free of burns and blisters?
Juan: No, I mean why do you still hate her? Mom doesn't hate Morena anymore but evidently, You still do....For no apparent reason. Just try and see the good in her, Okay?
Juanita: Okay.
Juan: Promise?
Juanita: (rolls her eyes) I'll do my best!
(At Chuks restaurant)
(A lady enters the restaurant and Cecilia goes to meet her)
Cecilia: Good day Mrs Kingsley.
Mrs Kingsley: Hello Cecilia.
Cecilia: How're you doing today?
(Just then, Morena enters the dining area)
Mrs Kingsley: (ignores Cecilia) Morena!
Morena: (goes to meet her) Good afternoon Mrs Kingsley.
Mrs Kingsley: I heard what happened to you, And I'm really sorry. Hope you're better now?
Morena: Yes ma, I am....
Cecilia: (interrupts her) Mrs Kingsley, Please what would you like to eat?
Mrs Kingsley: Don't worry. Since Morena is back, Let her take my order.
Cecilia: (frustratedly) But ma, I'm the best cook here. I can make anything you want to eat - tacos, noodles, burger, salad, chilli, lamb chops....Just name it!
Mrs Kingsley: (shakes her head) No. I want Morena to take my order instead.
(Cecilia eyes Morena scornfully then hisses at her and goes out of the restaurant)
Nina: (laughs) Where is she going?
Mrs Kingsley: (To Morena) Cecilia has been the one taking my orders and she's been trying. But since you're back, you can continue from where you stopped.
Morena: No problem ma. So may I take your order?
Mrs Kingsley: I'd like a bowl of chilli. And please make it extra spicy.
Morena: No problem ma'am.
(Morena goes into the kitchen and Nina follows her)
Nina: You don't know how happy I am, Cecilia is back to being a nobody now that you've returned.
Morena: That's her problem. (sighs) The strangest thing is happening at home...
Nina: Ooooh, What is it?
Morena: My aunt is suddenly acting nicely towards me, I can't even comprehend....
Nina: Hmmm...You have to be very careful.
Morena: Why'd you say so?
Nina: Once people that usually don't like you start acting nice towards you, You'd better be vigilant!
Morena: You're right, I just have to save up some money so I can rent an apartment and leave that house. I'm sure my uncle will understand.
Nina: Don't worry. I'll assist you in doing so.
Morena: Thanks. (sighs) I don't trust that woman. My instincts tell me she's up to something...
(Meanwhile)
(Cecilia goes to the service station)
Cecilia: Pascaline, Is it true that the CEO promised to increase Morena's salary by 10%?
Pascaline: Yes.
Cecilia: (looks around in confusion) How come?
Pascaline: Well, Because she has hundreds of clients and she's the one making more money for the restaurant. So I'll advise you to buckle up and work harder so that Alicia that was recently employed won't start earning more than you.
Cecilia: What nonsense are you saying? How would Alicia earn more than me?
Pascaline: It's just an advice....
Cecilia: (angrily) Shut up! Why would you even compare me to Alicia? That mad dog?
Pascaline: Sorry.
Cecilia: Sorry for yourself!
(Cecilia hisses at Pascaline and walks out of the service station in frustration)
(That evening)
(At Uncle Roberto's house)
(Aunt Maria braids Juanita's hair)
Juanita: (touches her head) Ouch.
Aunt Maria: Don't worry. I'm almost done.
Juanita: Mom, Can I ask you something?
Aunt Maria: Go ahead darling.
Juanita: Do you now like Morena?
Aunt Maria: Never!
Juanita: But you're suddenly behaving nice towards her.
Aunt Maria: I'm only doing all these so she won't report me to the police after what I did to her.
Juanita: (sighs) Thank God. At a point, I actually believed you were starting to care for her.
Aunt Maria: Over my dead body will I do such! I hate that girl so much. Trust me, I have a perfect plan to get rid of her once and for all!