Starring:
Mo McKynzie as Marisol Montgomery
Yodeet Nymberg as Nina
Carl Granieri as Giovanni
Akanimo Effang as The Host
Director & Sound Designer: Nathan Gabriel
Writer, Creator, & Producer: Jade Madison Scott
Script Supervisor: Virginia Wilson
Theme Composer: Sterlyn Termine
Show Art: Julia Patrick
Introduction
HOST
WGC Productions presents Small Victories.
MARISOL
Hey, it’s Marisol, as if anyone else does this part. So, for this go around you should look out for strong language and mentions of drug abuse. So, a typical Wednesday for little old me. God, just play my music, man.
(Small Victories theme fades in.)
INT. Nina's Kitchen/Dining Room- Morning
Marisol is cooking. The sizzle of a hot skillet is heard, as well as the occasional clang of a spoon against a metal pan.
NINA
Marisol?
MARISOL
Hey, beautiful.
NINA
You made breakfast?
MARISOL
Sure did. Got some potatoes, seasoned just how you like them, and got some tofu in there and some chickpeas. You know, you don’t got too much in your fridge. I had to get creative.
NINA
Yeah, since you left I’ve mostly been eating out.
MARISOL
Right.
NINA
You didn’t have to do all this.
MARISOL
I want to do all this. Besides, you’ve got class in a little bit anyway. I’m right, right? You still teach 9ams on Wednesdays?
NINA
Yeah—
MARISOL
Then you gotta eat. Go on, sit down. It’s almost done.
NINA
Okay.
(Nina walks to, and sits at, their dining room table.)
MARISOL
Great.
NINA
You seem like you’re in a good mood.
MARISOL
Yeah. Yesterday, after you went to sleep, Mickey—
NINA
Oh, Mickey! How are he and Donna doing?
MARISOL
I mean, they’re good. They’re fine. But a few weeks ago I had him ask around to see if anyone was looking to hire a kick ass chef and he came through as always. Which is great ’cause I really need the money.
(Marisol plates their breakfast and joins Nina at the table.)
MARISOL (CONT'D)
Yeah. So, after you leave, I’m gonna leave and see if I can actually get a job. Here you go.
(Marisol places both plates on the table.)
NINA
Thanks.
MARISOL
Welcome.
NINA
You’ll do fine.
MARISOL
Don’t think I’ve burned too many bridges to get hired again?
NINA
Maybe, but all they have to do is look at the material. This smells delicious.
MARISOL
I know. Cheers.
(They eat their food. A quiet and peaceful moment.)
NINA
How’d you sleep?
MARISOL
Fine. The couch is nice, you know? It’s like back when I was a kid and me and Sam would make pillow forts in our room, except it’s not like that at all.
(Nina laughs)
MARISOL (CONT'D)
But it’s fine.
NINA
That’s good.
MARISOL
Yeah. You?
NINA
I was thinking.
MARISOL
Instead of sleeping?
NINA
No, what? I mean, I slept fine, but I was thinking about yesterday.
MARISOL
What exactly about yesterday? I mean, a lot happened.
NINA
Yeah. Marisol, so, like, you clearly went through some pretty heavy shit the night you left—
MARISOL
Nina, come on—
NINA
No, I mean, you did, and I’ve been thinking that maybe you should really look into getting real professional help.
MARISOL
Look—
NINA
Just for a couple months or something—
MARISOL
Come on. Look at me. Twenty-two days clean. That’s such a huge fucking deal. I’m doing it. I’m doing it. I’ve got this. Nina, I’ve got this.
NINA
Yeah, but for how long?
(Pause. Marisol laughs).
MARISOL
As long as I want, baby, damn. As long as I want. You know one of these days we’re gonna have to talk about your problems so I don’t feel like such an emotional burden.
NINA
I don’t have problems. I’m perfect.
MARISOL
Then what does that make me?
NINA
Lovable.
MARISOL
Hmmm.
(Transition Music)
INT. Chico's Front Of House- Late Morning
The restaurant isn’t open yet. The street traffic can be heard through the thick windows that muffle it.
GIOVANNI
So, Mickey said you’re one of the most promising chefs he’s ever seen. High praise from him.
MARISOL
Yeah, he’s seen me grow a lot. He was the first person who took a chance on me back when I was still just a 17-year-old porter who asked way too many questions.
GIOVANNI
Huh.
(Giovanni flips Marisol’s resume.)
GIOVANNI (CONT'D)
You’ve got quite a bit of experience. Tell me about that?
MARISOL
Tell you about…
GIOVANNI
If you’re such a good chef, why have you worked at two, three...six restaurants in the past three years?
MARISOL
Oh, that.
GIOVANNI
Yes, that.
MARISOL
That’s nothing—
GIOVANNI
I’d like to hear it anyway. Call me curious.
MARISOL
Right. Well, my brother died and I didn’t take it well.
GIOVANNI
Ahh. I’m sorry.
MARISOL
Well, you know.
GIOVANNI
Mhmm. And now?
MARISOL
I’m great.
GIOVANNI
You’re great?
MARISOL
Broke but great.
GIOVANNI
Uh-huh.
MARISOL
Yep.
GIOVANNI
Okay, what kind of springtime meal would you prepare for me?
MARISOL
For you or for the restaurant?
GIOVANNI
What’s the difference?
MARISOL
Well, Chico’s is a fancy Italian joint. Lots of diplomats. Lots of business people. They would probably want something that looks and feels expensive to make them feel special. You, Giovanni, you’re a chef, you’re not really gonna be impressed with a lamb shank and fresh mint jelly, you’d want something nice, something that reminds you of the early years, maybe something a little simple.
GIOVANNI
A lamb shank with mint jelly? Is that what you’d serve at the restaurant then?
MARISOL
That wouldn’t be very Italian would it? No, I’d go with a...I’d go with a veal scaloppini with an artichoke and pea confit. Paired with a nice Zinfandel or a Shiraz. With a Rhubarb tiramisu for dessert. They’d love it.
GIOVANNI
Hmm….and for me?
MARISOL
For you? For you….you’d like a nice Ratatouille. Warm and inviting. Rich and simple. Paired with aged Argentinian Shiraz? You’d like that just fine.
(Beat)
MARISOL (CONT'D)
Well?
GIOVANNI
Okay.
MARISOL
Just okay? Am I right? Would you like that?
GIOVANNI
Depends on who cooks it.
MARISOL
That’s great then. Since I’d be cooking it you’d love it.
GIOVANNI
Huh.
(Beat)
MARISOL
So, do you have another question or—
GIOVANNI
No, I think we’re done here.
MARISOL
Already? You only asked two questions.
GIOVANNI
Yes. I know everything I want to know.
(Giovanni scoots his chair back and stands. Marisol does the same.)
MARISOL
Do you know when you’ll be getting back—
GIOVANNI
No. I have quite a few other people lined up for the relief cook position. It could be a matter of days. It could be a matter of weeks. Don’t call us. We’ll call you.
MARISOL
Oh.
(Giovanni walks to the back kitchen without looking back.)
MARISOL
But how are my chances?
GIOVANNI
What do you think?
MARISOL
I….you...um, do you have a bathroom I could use?
GIOVANNI
Down the hall to the left. You can let yourself out when you’re done.
(Giovanni leaves through the kitchen’s swinging double doors.)
MARISOL
Thanks.
(Marisol begins walking to the bathroom. Her heart is speeding. Internal)
MARISOL
Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit. You stupid motherfucker! Stupid. Stupid, son of a bitch. I fucked it up. I fucked it up. I know I fucked it up. Veal scaloppini?! That’s so fucking stupid. I should have asked how many courses he wanted. I fucking forgot to ask how many courses he wanted. He probably thinks I’m an idiot. And that bullshit—
Int. Chico's Bathroom
Marisol enters the bathroom.
MARISOL
That bullshit about the “oh, I’ll make a different meal for you,” I was showing off. He probably thinks I was showing off, and he’s old and white and he probably thinks I’m too uppity to be in his kitchen. Oh, fuck.
(Marisol’s breathing grows irregular.)
MARISOL (CONT'D)
You guys don’t understand. I need this job. I need this fucking job. I gotta pay Aaron back. I gotta make sure that I don’t keep being a drain on Nina. She’s gonna leave me. If I don’t get my shit together she’s gonna leave me, and then it’ll be me and Ollie and then Ollie will leave me and then I won’t have anyone and then I’ll be homeless and I’ll freeze to death on the street. I’ll fucking—
(Marisol turns on the faucet and splashes her face.)
MARISOL (CONT'D)
Goddamnit.
(Marisol takes a deep breath.)
MARISOL (CONT'D)
Fuck.
(She takes another deep breath.)
MARISOL (CONT'D)
I never felt like this when I was high. You know how hard it is to be anxious when you’re high? It’s so hard.
(She huffs in a futile attempt to regulate her breathing.)
MARISOL (CONT'D)
You think they have cameras in this bathroom? Like if I did a line, you think they’d know or….I don’t have the fucking job anyway, why would they even care?
(She gives a short primal scream, while still trying to be quiet. Her text notification dings.)
MARISOL (CONT'D)
Christ.
NINA
How’d it go?
(Text notification dings)
NINA (CONT'D)
Class is so boring.
(Text notification dings)
NINA (CONT'D)
After I was thinking we’d get Chinese. Maybe we can walk around after. Feed the pigeons?
MARISOL
(Internal)
Chinese? Walk? Pigeons. Pigeons. I’d like that. I’d like….yo, what the fuck am I gonna do with this coke?
(Small Victories Theme Fades In)
Closing
HOST
You have just listened to Small Victories. Starring Morgen McKynzie as Marisol
MORGEN
As long as I want, baby. Damn.As long as I want.
HOST
Yodeet Nymberg as Nina
NINA
I don't have problems. I'm perfect.
HOST
Carl Granieri as Giovanni
CARL
What do you think?
HOST
Composer, Sterlyn Termine. Script Supervisor, Virginia Wilson. Director and Sound Designer, Nathan Gabriel. Writer, Creator and Producer, Jade Madison Scott. And Akanimo Effang as The Host. Small Victories is supported by listeners like you. You can support us by subscribing to our Patreon and purchasing our merchandise from our store. Links to both can be found at www.wgcproductions.com. Please follow us @withgoodco on Instagram and Twitter to stay up-to-date.