Carmen: Papi…

Papi: You know, that’s the difference.  Me?  I try to let the girls know up front, this ain’t a long ride.  This is just for tonight and that’s it.

Carmen walks up to Papi.

Carmen: So does Shane.  But people fall in love with her anyway, because she has that effect.  I know.  In the end, I broke my own heart.  And I really don’t wanna talk about it right now.

Papi: Back in the day, man we used to talk about everything.

Carmen: Yeah…that was back then.

Carmen closes her eyes and clears her throat.

Carmen: I’m sorry.  Look…if you’re back and you want us to be buds like we used to be a long time ago?  I’m fine with that.  But drop all this stuff with Shane…and please, don’t be trying to add my friends to your little list of hits.

Papi: Shit, you don’t mean friends.  You just mean that chef girl.

Carmen: No, I especially mean, "that chef girl," and her name is Lara.

Carmen’s cellphone rings.  She answers it.

Carmen: Hello?

Papi looks on.

Carmen: Okay, I’m coming right over.  …………………  Yeah, I’m getting everything loaded in now.  I’ll be there in a few.

Carmen hangs up.

Carmen: I gotta go.  Can you help me get the rest of this stuff in?

Papi: Yeah, sure.  I’m just sayin’ you need to get laid, girl.

Carmen rolls her eyes.

Bette and Shane hold vigil over Lara, who is still shaking as she sits on the floor, her back against the couch and her hands clutching a bottle of water.  She drinks to keep herself from dehydrating.

Shane: She’s not gonna talk until Carmen gets here.

Bette: Why Carmen?

Shane: That’s who she talks to.

Bette: Lara?  Lara, honey you can talk with either of us as well.  Anytime you need to.

Lara drinks some of the water.

Shane: Must’ve been a pretty bad nightmare.

Bette: I know the feeling.

Carmen has sped off into the night, headed for home while Papi looks on.  She pulls out her cellphone and punches in a number.  She immediately gets the voicemail message.

Papi: ‘Ey, I know you’re sleepin’ right now so I just wanted to leave you a little message.  I know you just got back and shit, but I gotta good feelin’.  I’m hangin’ with an old friend of mine again and she’s awesome. So when we party again, I gotta introduce ya to her.  I know, I know you don’t like hearing me say shit like that, but trust me on this one.  I think this one’s the real deal.

The front door opens and Carmen enters.  She sees Bette and Shane both holding Lara, who’s been fighting back tears the entire time.  Carmen drops to her knees in front of Lara and places her hands on Lara’s knees.

Carmen: What happened?

Lara goes to speak, but instead can only discard the now empty bottle and reach out with her hands and legs, inviting her comfort.  Carmen slides closer to her, with Bette and Shane still there and they embrace.  Lara finally lets go and they’re all there for her.

"Keep the faith"