Scene 4: The Street

(ABUELA CLAUDIA is on her stoop, feeding pigeons USNAVI enters from the bodega)

[USNAVI]
Oye, you missed another doctor's appointment.

[ABUELA CLAUDIA]
Mijo, would you take medical advice from a man named Dr. Gross?

[USNAVI]
As long as you're taking your medicine.
(She doesn't respond.)
Abuela...Pero, Abuela eso no importa...

[ABUELA CLAUDIA]
It makes my heart work better, but in return it gives me headaches. Imagínate, with what those pills cost, I could get myself a good face lift.
(Demonstrating nips and tucks on her face.)
Sácalo de aqui, mételo pacá
Sacalo de aqui mételo pacá. Pacá, pacá...

(SONNY comes out of the bodega with a soda in his hand)

[SONNY]
Who hooked it up? Ice cold Country Club Cola Champagne! Ahhhhh.

[USNAVI]
Put that on your tab. You owe me five thousand, three hundred--

[ABUELA CLAUDIA]
Usnavi, I think he's trying to tell you, he fixed the Frigidaire.

[SONNY]
So let's talk about that raise. Free sodas or I walk.

[USNAVI]
Half price. Diet. Cola Champagne. that's my final offer.
(Exits.)

[SONNY]
Ain't no Dominicans be drinking no diet soda!

[VANESSA]
(From across the street.)
Be thankful, at least someone around here is getting a raise!

[SONNY]
I'm starting a union. Underage cousins of bodega workers unite!
(Exits into the bodega)

(Lights shift to the salon. VANESSA is outside on her phone. DANIELA comes out of the salon.)

[DANIELA]
Excuse me, this isn't social hours.

[VANESSA]
Sorry, it's Con Edison. I gave my mom half my check to pay the bills...

[DANIELA]
Y que pasó? She drank it away?
Vanessa, when are you going to get out of that toxic environment?

[VANESSA]
(Into the phone.)
Hi ma'am? I get my check on Monday, I can pay then. Yes, I'll hold.
(To DANIELA.)
Daniela, I know I still owe you from last time...

[DANIELA]
Carla, what's my rule?

[CARLA]
(To VANESSA.)
She'll do anything for you but she won't support your mother's malfunction...

[DANIELA]
(Correcting her.)
Dysfunction.

[VANESSA]
My lights are going to be out all week.

[CARLA]
What would Jesus do?

[DANIELA]
Do I look like Jesus to you?

[VANESSA]
(Into the phone.)
Yes, I'm still here. No, don't transfer me!

MUSIC 3B: THIS ISN'T SOCIAL HOURS!

[VANESSA]
Hello? Hello?

[DANIELA]
(Takes the phone)
Comay, it's time to clear out the negative energy!
So take five and get me some packing tape.

[VANESSA]
Anything else? While I'm at it?

[DANIELA]
A Pepsi.

MUSIC 4: IT WON'T BE LONG NOW
(Exiting, to CARLA)
Tough love, chacha.
(DANIELA and CARLA exit into the salon.)

[VANESSA]
The elevated train by my window
Doesn’t faze me anymore
The rattling screams don’t disrupt my dreams
It’s a lullaby, in its way
The elevated train drives everyone insane
But I don’t mind, oh no
When I bring back boys they can’t tolerate the noise
And that’s okay, 'cause I never let them stay
And one day, I’m hoppin’ that elevated train and I’m riding away!
It won’t be long now!

(MEN whistle at VANESSA on the sidewalk.)

The boys around the way holler at me when I’m walking down the street
Their machismo pride doesn’t break my stride—
It’s a compliment, so they say
The boys around the way holler at me every day but I don’t mind, oh no
If I’m in the mood, it will not be with some dude
Who is whistling 'cause he has nothing to say
Or who’s honking at me from his Chevrolet!
And one day… I’m hoppin’ in a limousine and I’m driving away!
It won’t be long now!

(VANESSA approaches USNAVI outside the bodega.)

Ay, Usnavi, help! SOS!

[USNAVI]
Good morning, Vanessa!
If it isn’t the loveliest girl in the place...

[VANESSA]
You’ve got some schmutz on your face

[USNAVI]
Another late nigh, eh? Whoever you were with, he's got nothing on these biceps. I bench press six gallons of milk and two cases of Goya beans.

[VANESSA]
It was my mom. They shut off our power. Again.

[USNAVI]
Coffee, whole milk. Very sweet. Little bit of cinnamon.

[VANESSA]
Mm. Just like my abuela used to do.

[USNAVI]
That's what all the ladies say. I remind them of their grandma.

[SONNY]
Good morning!

[SONNY/USNAVI]
Good morning!

(VANESSA kisses SONNY on the cheek. She grabs SONNY to dance.)

[USNAVI]
Vanessa!

[SONNY]
Vanessa!

[USNAVI/SONNY]
Vanessa!

[DANIELA, spoken]
VANESSSSSAAAAAA! I’m thirsty, coño!

[VANESSA, spoken]
Can I get a Pepsi and some packing tape?

[SONNY, spoken]
Uh, my cousin over there with his tongue hanging out, has been meaning to ask you…

[VANESSA, spoken]
Yes?

[SONNY, spoken]
What a lady such as yourself might be doing tonight?

[VANESSA, spoken]
Does your cousin dance?

[SONNY, spoken]
Like a drunk Chita Rivera.​

[VANESSA, spoken]
Okay… After Nina’s dinner, we can hit a few clubs and check out the fireworks…

(USNAVI awkwardly hands her a bag. She exits.)

[USNAVI]
Oh snap! Who’s that?
Don’t touch me, I’m too hot! Yes!
Qué pasó? Here I go!
So dope! Y tu lo sabes!
No pare

[SONNY/USNAVI]
Sigue sigue!

[USNAVI]
Did you see me?

[SONNY/USNAVI]
Freaky freakit!

[USNAVI]
What a way to begin the weekend
Sonny, anything you want is free, man!
And my dearly beloved Dominican Republic
I haven’t forgotten

[SONNY/USNAVI]
You!

[USNAVI]
Gonna see this honey, make a little money
And one day I’ll hop Jet

[SONNY/USNAVI]
Blue!

[USNAVI]
But until that fateful day, I’m grateful
I got a destination
I’m runnin’ to make it home
And home’s what Vanessa’s runnin’ away from!
I’m runnin’ to make it home
And home’s what Vanessa’s runnin’ away from…

(USNAVI is at the bodega door, VANESSA at the salon door. She sings to him.)

[VANESSA]
The neighborhood salon is the place I am working for the moment
As I cut their hair, ladies talk and share—
Every day, who’s doin' who and why...
The neighborhood salon doesn’t pay me what I wanna be making but I don’t mind
As I sweep the curb I can hear those turbo engines blazing a trail through the sky
I look up and think about the years gone by
But one day—I’m walkin’ to JFK and I’m gonna fly!
It won’t be long now!
Any day...