[ D-1: One Day before the Incident ]
Natalie is at work, worrying whether she should tell Cairo or not. Zoe asks her what’s bothering her. Natalie says that it’s nothing. Zoe declares that she’s disappointed. They used to share everything. Well, that was before she caught you out with her ex. This girl, Zoe, says that it’s because of Kelvin, right, and then declares that girls' friendships are shallow indeed. The only one with the shallow friendship is yours, Zoe. You’re the one who snuck around behind her back to try to land her ex. A guy who broke her heart. Even if she’s moved on, he’s still off limits.
Natalie replies that it's nothing like that. Zoe declares that it was all for her sake. Natalie replies that she knows. In a tone that implies her saying, “Sure it was.” Zoe protests that Natalie isn’t believing her. Zoe is serious. Natalie should ask Kelvin Oppa herself. Kelvin steps forward. Oh, this girl is a total weasel. She and Kelvin are perfect for each other. Kelvin is holding a bouquet behind his back. Zoe declares that they should go have a talk. Natalie asks Zoe what she’s thinking. Zoe declares that Kelvin hurt her so badly that she might date just anyone. Zoe doesn’t want Natalie to get hurt…
Natalie can’t believe Zoe’s nerves. ‘Just anyone?’ Zoe names them: Cairo or Rocco… or Kelvin Oppa. Kelvin somberly tells Natalie that she can just tell him now, of her sincerity, her true feelings. And here’s where she should just say that she doesn’t like him. Instead… Natalie asks him why she should do that. Kelvin wasn’t expecting that. He was expecting her to be still pining for him and to jump at the chance to declare her love for him again.
Kelvin blinks a few times and then gets down on one knee, extending for the bouquet. He declares that she should because he’s now sincere. Natalie smiles bitterly and says that she’ll tell Kelvin. One of the three wasn’t for her. It’s him! He really wasn’t expecting that. Zoe suppresses a smile. She is really manipulative. She knew that was going to happen, but she's just trying to get in good with Kelvin. Kelvin protests that Natalie should stop playing hard-to-get. She tells him to stop. Should she repeat herself? Angrily, he tells her not to tell him. It’s okay for her not to tell him.
Natalie looks up and sees Mom walking through the department store. Kelvin stands up and says that words are important. But from now on, he’ll show her with actions! She quickly drags him over to shove him in one of the changing rooms. He thinks she’s taken him back, so he starts hugging her, but she shoves him inside and shuts the door. Then she hurries out to welcome Mom, although she acts like she didn’t realize that it was Mom. Mom immediately apologizes, since Natalie must be busy. Mom says that she came to buy some meat and fruit for the memorial table. Does Natalie have some time? Natalie doesn’t know what to do, but then she spots Kelvin coming out from the back. She immediately agrees and pulls Mom away.
Mom shops while Natalie pushes the cart. Natalie feels bad for Mom. Mom asks if Natalie has peeled chestnuts before. Natalie responds that she’s done the roasted ones. Mom asks if Natalie’s family has such rituals. Natalie replies that they don’t. She saw it done when she was young, but the men peeled the chestnuts. Mom declares that in her family, only the women work in the kitchen. So Mom takes on the men’s work, too. Interesting. Natalie declares that when things are tough, people should help each other. There's no need to distinguish between men and women.
Mom replies that it’s not difficult. Rather it's a joy. If she takes on more work and tries harder, her loved ones will have a comfortable time and enjoy good food. Unless everyone just takes it for granted and no one is thankful. Mom declares that it's a special right and joy that only women get to have. Why share that with men? Because men should pitch in and share the load, too. Mom puts a huge bag of chestnuts in the cart. Natalie looks at Mom a bit sadly. Then she spots Kelvin, following them. She can’t help but make a face as she glares in his direction.
Mom can’t help but notice and she looks where Natalie is looking. She sees Kelvin and decides to go talk to him. Natalie tries to distract her by asking about the meat for the meal. Kelvin, of course, ducks down to hide when he sees Mom coming his way. Cairo would have come up with some plausible reason why he was there instead of just hiding. Mom arrives to find one of the supermarket attendants holding the flowers but no Kelvin. Natalie innocently asks if there’s anything wrong. Mom says that she thought she saw someone she knew. Mom walks back to the cart and Natalie sighs in relief, with just a little murder in her eyes.
Natalie lugs all the bags out to the car for Mom. Aunt ‘struggles’ carrying the eggs. After all, she almost couldn’t sip her frDadchio, having to do that work. Mom says that she’d like to have tea with Natalie, but there’s a lot to prepare for tomorrow: marinate the meat, make the syrup for the rice drink, make the beef broth. Natalie says that it must be really hard for Mom. Mom mentions how she’s going to have to stay up all night and peel the chestnuts, too; there won’t be enough time tomorrow. Natalie offers to help. Even as Mom says that she couldn’t possibly ask Natalie to do that, she pulls the bag of chestnuts out of the trunk and dumps them in Natalie’s arms. Mom asks if Natalie can come early the next day. Natalie agrees to. Aunt says that she looks forward to tomorrow and then asks Natalie to take care of her trash. Even though Natalie’s arms are full. Nice.
When Natalie gets back to work, her manager scolds her for leaving work unexpectedly. Natalie apologizes and then asks for tomorrow off. Heh. Manager cuts her off and tells her that she would like some advance notice if Natalie decides to quit because of her upcoming wedding plans. Zoe puts her hands over her mouth like it was an accident that Manager knows, like it just slipped out of her mouth. Yeah, right. I am liking this girl less and less. Manager says that she heard that Natalie’s future mother-in-law came by. Zoe smiles and says that Kelvin Oppa told her. I am really tired of her calling Kelvin ‘Oppa,’ too. Zoe asks if she’s the doctor's mom.
Manager says that when Natalie becomes the wife of a doctor, she’s going to stop by the store often, right? Natalie tries to protest that it’s not like that. Manager says that Natalie is already out looking at wedding gifts. She wants to see what Natalie is hiding behind her back. Then Manager wonders why Natalie bought chestnuts for a wedding gift. Manager declares that they all should work late today. Yay. Natalie glares over at Zoe, who rubs her hands together and says that she’s sorry.
It’s late when Natalie leaves the store. She sits for a moment and looks at the chestnuts.
Cairo is sitting in bed, reading. He hears the keypad for his front door. Heh. He gets out of bed to see who it is. It’s Natalie, who declares that he hasn’t changed his pass code. Cairo asks why she couldn’t ring the doorbell. She replies that he wouldn't have opened the door. He tries to sound mad as he asks why she’s there. She tells him that he should be grateful she’s checking up on him. He could have fallen and cracked his skull open in the bathroom. Then what would he have done?
Cairo repeats his question: why is she there? She makes a face at him and plops the chestnuts on the kitchen counter. He asks what this is. She says that Mom came by to buy groceries, so this is his homework. He sighs. Natalie proposes that they do it together (with a smile, no less). Cairo looks at her and asks if she told Mom that she’d do it? Natalie fell into her trap. Can't she see it's already started? She sighs and tells him she doesn't know. Then she hands him a knife to start peeling. He tells her to do it. She’s indignant as she responds that it’s for *his* Grandpa.
Cairo asks Natalie why she interfered to begin with? Natalie starts rubbing the knives together and gets some crazy eyes going as she asks if she should just fess up, that everything was an act. There’s a dog whine sound effect and the next thing we see is them peeling the chestnuts.
Natalie looks at Cairo’s latest chestnut and tells him to do a better job! He replies that he’s never done this before. She tells him that he should be ashamed. He chomps a chestnut as his answer, to spite her. Natalie tells him that he’s been spoiled for the past 30 years. Cairo looks at her and says that he just can't understand. She’s supposed to be making a scene. Why is she putting so much work into this? Natalie says that she just felt sorry for her, the more she got to know about things. Cairo can’t believe she’s talking about Mom.
Natalie says that Mom works hard for Cairo’s family, but his family doesn’t acknowledge it. Cairo replies that she says that because she hasn't lived with Mom. Natalie says that he wouldn't in spite of living with her. Natalie looks at him peeling the chestnuts and decides she’s going to mention what she saw. So that he’ll stop being so hard on Mom. She tries to prepare him by telling that she has something to say that will probably hurt him. He impatiently asks what it is, like she’s being overly dramatic over nothing. Natalie says that he should know before it is too late.
Cairo stops peeling and looks at Natalie. She tells him that if it's difficult, he can talk with her about it. She’s been through a similar situation, so she can understand. She’s been stuck in the middle of her parents' fights a lot. He asks her what she’s trying to say. She tells him not to be shocked. Gently, she tells him that Dad another–
Cairo cuts her off before she can finish, telling her to shut up. She’s surprised by his reaction. Harshly he tells her, “What do you even know?” Whoa. So he knew. Ooph! Natalie replies that she saw him. He throws down his knife and tells her to mind her own business. She realizes that he already knew. He blinks and his nose flares but he just glares at her. He gets up and walks away. She asks him why he hasn’t done anything about it? He can't just sweep it under the rug! Natalie declares that Dad should stop before Mom finds out.
Natalie says that if it’s too awkward for him to do it, she’ll meet with Dad and– Again, Cairo cuts her off, spinning around to face her. He harshly asks who she thinks she is. She asks what he means. He quickly crosses to stand in front of her and tells her not to butt into their family affairs. He kicks the bowl of chestnuts, sending them all over the floor. Does she think she’s family because she’s peeling the chestnuts? She replies that she’s trying to think of him. He tells her he never asked for that. They’re not going to be tangled in this mess anymore after tomorrow. Did she forget?!
Natalie’s angry now, angry at his rejection when she’s only trying to be his friend. She tells Cairo, “okay,” and sarcastically apologizes for forgetting her place and interfering with his great family's affairs! She grabs her purse and leaves. Cairo looks at the chestnuts on the ground and kicks them. He looks like he feels like crap for how he just treated her. As she stomps down the hall, she mutters to herself that Cairo is a stupid bastard. And she worried for him! That stupid jerk! She punches the elevator button and says that he’s a stupid jerk for keeping that bottled up inside. She sighs and sadly walks into the elevator. Once she’s inside, she tells herself to forget it. She doesn't want a relationship with him either. She’s going to create the ugliest scene that will cleanly end everything tomorrow!
[ D-Day ]
Next morning, Mom gets Natalie up early. Mom picks out her clothes for her. A barely awake Natalie declared that she picked out her outfit last night. Mom wants to see it. Natalie says that she’s wearing it right now. So it’s nice and wrinkly. Natalie sits up and reveals her clothes. They’re really casual and include an apron. Mom sinks to the floor dramatically, traumatized that Natalie’s planning on wearing that. Cow sound effect, complete with bell.
Natalie hops out of bed and leaves for Cairo’s house. Mom runs after her, asking how she can go looking like she just got out of bed? Dad is watering the lawn. Natalie retorts that she’s going to be making pancakes all day. Comfortable clothes are best. Mom protests that she’s going to be meeting the family. Natalie hisses at Mom to stop. She says that it’s a cow-like wife concept! Natalie leaves, with Mom giving her a “Fighting!” Dad comes up and asks Mom what her deal is. Mom just glares at him and goes back inside.
Cairo’s house. Natalie is pleasantly smiling as Mom looks at her outfit. Natalie notices that it’s really quiet. Mom says that the guests come in the evening. Natalie asks about Grandma and Aunt. Mom replies that they’re getting a massage. They head into the kitchen, where there’s a ton of work to be done. Really? And Mom’s the only one who’s going to do it. Wow. Natalie can’t believe it either. Mom says that she’s glad Natalie's there. Because of the extra pair of hands, her heart is a lot more comfortable.
Mom asks about the chestnuts. Natalie says that Cairo is bringing them. Mom’s surprised. Natalie smiles and says that they peeled them together. Mom can’t believe that Natalie made a doctor peel nuts? Natalie replies that she worked over time until late yesterday, too. Mom points out how Cairo is a surgeon and it would be bad if Cairo hurt his hands. Which I totally understand, although I totally think that Cairo should help out, too. Natalie apologetically says that she didn't think that far. Then she adds that he really sucked at it! She can’t believe he knows how to cut chins with how badly he did it. She laughs but Mom does not.
Mom says that it’s all her fault. She asked for too big a favour. Wow, she is really good at guilt trips. Natalie responds that it’s not like that. Mom lays on the guilt further, saying that she used to do it all alone. It's easier that way. Natalie should just go sit down and rest. Natalie immediately declares that she can help Mom and takes over what Mom is doing.
Grandma and Aunt are getting their massages. Aunt wonders if Natalie really came. Grandma thinks she did. Aunt is sure that Natalie’s going to create a huge mess. Grandma declares that that is what Mom wants. Aunt proposes they go home so they won’t miss out on all the fun. Wow, they enjoy seeing Mom be miserable. Poor Mom. Even if she is really manipulative. She wouldn’t have to be that way if she felt more supported. Grandma doesn’t want to; it won’t be *that* fun. Grandma reminds Aunt that Natalie’s quite good at flipping pancakes. So they enjoy their massages.
Natalie’s stuck outside, in the sun, working on the food. She has a rag around her neck to help with the heat. And she’s cooking over a griddle, which is nice and hot. The ‘Chariots of Fire’ music plays. Natalie is sweating as she works. As I would be. Her hair is dripping, there’s so much sweat. She fans herself and then asks herself why she’s working so hard? She pulls out her phone and calls Cairo.
Cairo is at Bon Café. She asks him where he is. He orders his customary grapefruit drink but changes it to be grape lemonade – sounds good). With lots of ice. She can’t believe him. She’s busting her butt for his family, sweating like crazy, and he’s relaxing, drinking grape lemonade with lots of ice? Then, desperately, she asks if it’s refreshing. He tells her to just burn all the food or crush it into porridge. Natalie can’t see how she can joke around with food. She whines, asking why he isn’t coming! He says he still has some surgeries. She puts down her utensils.
Indignant, she says that she got chewed out and then took the day off. Married life is unbelievably unfair, eh? He asks her why she cares, since they’re not getting married for real. She yells into the phone that if it were a real marriage then she would rather not do it! He hisses at her and tells her to keep it down. She groans and whines that he needs to just hurry up. And not to forget to bring the chestnuts. Rocco brings his drink, so Cairo hangs up.
Cairo goes to leave, only to have Kelvin step in front of him, a glare on his face. He tells Cairo not to hurt Natalie. That’s rich, coming from him. Cairo takes a drink and says, “okay.” He tries to go, but Kelvin grabs him and asks if he’s not feeling guilty? Kelvin protests that he was with her first. If Cairo’s a friend, he should move over! Cairo asks what he can do, since Mom loves Natalie. Cairo adds, to Kelvin’s horror, that Natalie is over at his house, cooking for the memorial ceremony right now. Rocco overhears, too. Kelvin can’t believe it. Cairo doesn’t like people; he wants to stay single. He asks if Cairo’s really going to marry her? Cairo answers by smoothing down Kelvin’s shirt and fixing his neck scarf. He slaps Kelvin on the shoulder and walks off. Kelvin yells after Cairo that he needs to pay up!
Natalie is finally done cooking. She starts doing a crazy dance that includes the splits and looking through her legs. Unfortunately, right as she’s looking through her legs, Grandma and Aunt arrive, with the Aunts (three of them). So, Natalie is in effect mooning them. A horrified Natalie quickly stands up and awkwardly smiles at them. She bows deeply and greets them. Aunt2 asks if Natalie’s the maid. Aunt says that she’s Cairo’s girlfriend. Aunt3 can’t believe it. Aunt4 actually seems pleasantly surprised that Cairo has a girlfriend. Grandma tells them to go inside; they’re talking there. The aunts head inside. Grandma hurries over to Natalie and sympathizes with Natalie about it being hard. Natalie replies that she can breathe now that the aunts have come. Grandma awkwardly smiles.
Inside, the Aunts and Grandma are laughing over Natalie's face from earlier. They’re chewing down on the food that Natalie's prepared. Natalie is scrubbing dishes in the kitchen while Mom works. Natalie mutters that it’s not fair. They’re just sitting there eating the pancakes. Aunt yells into Mom to bring them some rice punch please! Mom says that they don’t just eat the pancakes. Heh. She gets the rice punch. Natalie hears the Aunts order Mom to reheat the cold pancakes and complain about what’s there. They want to know when dinner is; they’re starving. Natalie declares that the ugly scene is out there. How can she top that?
Natalie’s phone rings. It’s Rocco. She whispers hello. Her whole side of the conversation will be in whispers, with her hand covering the phone. He says that he’s found a really secluded place. Natalie apologises and says that she’ll call him later. He is a stinker. He knows what she’s doing and he’s calling to give her a hard time. Rocco tells her that she’s too much. She just left the other day. She replies that she’s a bit busy. He asks where she is and she lies about being at work. Aunt pokes her in and tells Natalie they want some fruit. She brightly agrees, calling Aunt ‘Aunt’ and then quickly changing that to ‘Ma’am.’ This gets Aunt’s attention. Aunt wants to know who she’s talking to. Aunt decides to eavesdrop.
Natalie tells Rocco that she won't be done until late that night. Rocco says that he’ll wait up. He tells her to come by Bon Café. Cairo arrives, in a very nice dark suit, and sees Aunt eavesdropping while Natalie is on the phone. He loudly calls Natalie’s name, which startles her and she drops her phone in the sink, ruining it. Cairo isn’t happy. He greets Aunt and she tries to act like nothing was going on. Natalie pulls out her phone and it’s dead. Cairo heads into the kitchen to cluck at her for not being careful. She’s traumatized because her phone is dead.
Cairo’s not sympathetic. He tells Natalie that she’s used that dumb phone enough. She responds, almost yelling, that to someone like him who only uses people, it may be just something he discards after using it once. He starts motioning at her to keep it down. She’s almost crying as she declares that to her it's a precious thing. He doesn’t like her being so emotional and tells her that she’s making such a big deal. She asks if he brought the chestnuts. He did. Cairo tells her to get a grip and remember what she’s supposed to be doing. Why is she working so hard? Natalie sighs and says that she doesn't know either.
Evening. The Memorial Service. The men make their respectful bows as the women watch. Natalie stands behind everyone, exhausted and hurting when she stands. She looks at Dad and remembers what he’s done.
Dinner. Natalie can hardly eat, she’s so tired. Cairo nudges her and tells her to get her ugly face on. Dad tells Natalie to eat a lot. She worked hard making the pancakes, right? She tells him thank you. Cairo pipes up that Natalie's not feeling well because of cooking all day. He tells Dad to give her something to drink. The conversation at the table falls silent with surprise at Cairo’s suggestion.
Dad pours Natalie a drink. She looks at Cairo and he gives her a look. She grimaces, but chugs the drink. She asks for another, getting everyone’s attention. Cairo smiles like he’s not sure what she’s doing. A third drink. Cairo smiles uncomfortably. Mom is looking at Natalie, not believing her behaviour. Dad comments that Natalie must have had a very hard time.
Loudly Natalie declares that she *did* have a hard time. She looks down at the aunts and asks them if they don’t feel guilty. Cairo takes a bite of food. Awkward looks around the table. She looks over at Cairo and declares that the high and mighty third generation son didn’t bother to show up until it was near dinner time. He quietly reminds her that he peeled the chestnuts. Aunt asks him why he did that. Like he shouldn’t have been helping.
Natalie turns to Aunt and asks how she could go for a relaxing massage when someone else deserves one. She looks over at Mom as she says that last part. Aunt protests that it’s to purify themselves for the ritual. As she looks over at the aunts, Natalie responds that all they do is chit-chat! Aunts can’t believe they’re being called out like that. It had been a long time. They just had a conversation. Mom’s just looking at her food.
Natalie declares that she and Mom aren’t related to Grandpa at all and they are the ones who worked their butts off. Grandma tries to get Natalie’s attention, to get her to stop. Natalie turns to Grandma and declares that Grandma feigned ignorance, that she didn’t know anything. Natalie thought she was a good person, but she’s disappointed! Grandma is appropriately chastised. Aunt sputters about Natalie's audacity. Dad declares that they understand what she’s trying to say.
Natalie yells at Dad that he’s the worst! Mom is sacrificing herself for everyone! But what did he do? Grandma closes her eyes. Uncomfortable glances around the table. Cairo looks at Dad. Dad replies that he was out-of-town. Natalie says that it doesn’t matter about him being out-of-town or writing characters. After he dumped everything on his wife, what did he do outside the house? Grandma blinks a few times. The aunts can’t believe her words. Cairo looks at Mom, who is simply staring ahead. Like she always does.
Dad says that he doesn’t get what she’s trying to say. She says that because she’s been through it, she knows what it’s like. If there’s a dent in a parents’ relationship, the child’s heart gets really big scars. Aunts want to know what Natalie’s saying. Cairo’s face says that this is exactly how he feels, but won’t admit. Dad shifts awkwardly. Natalie declares that she saw everything. That gets Mom’s attention. She and Dad look at Natalie. Grandma looks concerned. Cairo looks at her surprised. Mom tells Natalie to stop and come and see her for a moment. Natalie gets up from the table.
Aunt2 asks Dad if he and Mom are having problems. Grandma and Aunt look uncomfortable. Cairo looks at Dad, to see what he says. Dad asks what Aunt2 means by problems. There never was a problem. He takes another swig of drink and then gets up from the table. Grandma looks at Aunt and silently tells her to stay quiet. Aunts ask if Cairo knows anything. Cairo says that Natalie was talking about her parents. Their relationship isn’t very good. He gets up and leaves the table, too. Grandma looks like she hates what’s going on.
Mom tells Natalie that she knows that Natalie is rude, but this is too much. Natalie replies that it’s because she pities Mom so much. She was trying to help Mom. Mom chuckles slightly and asks if she looks like someone who needs sympathy? Natalie sympathetically says that it’s because Mom doesn’t know. Mom replies that she’s not a fool. She knows everything that goes on in this family. Wow, Mom knows. Wow. Natalie tells Mom that she doesn’t know.
Cairo arrives in time to hear Natalie tell Mom that if she does know, she’s a fool if you put up with it and to see Mom slap Natalie hard across the face. Cairo is shocked. Coldly, Mom tells Natalie to shut up. Whatever she knows, she shouldn’t let it slip out of her mouth. Natalie looks at Mom, stunned. She can’t believe that Mom knows. Cairo looks at Mom. Mom tells Natalie that just because she made some pancakes, does she really think she can interfere in their house's matters so recklessly? Natalie blinks, hurt.
Cairo remembers how he basically told Natalie the same hurtful thing. Natalie nods and says that she misunderstood big time. She thought, because of how Mom had worked her so hard like family, that she had become part of the family. That one stings Cairo. Natalie says she gets it. Someone like her only has duties and no rights. Right? Natalie nods again and asks how she could live like Mom. Natalie’s eyes are starting to glisten. No matter how many pancakes she made or dishes she washed, she couldn't live hiding the truth. She can't fake sincerity when she doesn’t mean it!
Natalie storms out of the kitchen and sees Cairo. She stops and looks at him, hurt. He doesn’t really do anything but look back. Natalie goes back to the living room. Mom just stands in the kitchen.
Aunt2 declares that Natalie gave a bad first impression. Really? She slaved all day and you’re being critical. Wow. Aunt2 declares that Natalie seemed unstable. As Natalie reenters the living room, Aunt 3 declares that if the parents are unstable, the kids will be too. Natalie hears her. Grandma is just sitting there with a frown on her face.
Aunt3 asks what Natalie’s parents do. Aunt disparagingly declares that they sell liquor. Cairo arrives to see Natalie standing there listening and his aunts muttering about how that explained Natalie's behaviour. Natalie is mortified. Aunt4 declares that Cairo only received love from an affectionate family. How could Natalie be fine when all her parents did was fight? Aunt3 agrees that you need to receive love to give love. Cairo looks over at Natalie and feels bad for what they’re saying about her parents. Especially since he is so messed up. He can’t believe how hypocritical his aunts are being. Natalie’s trying not to cry as the aunts cluck that you have to get love to give it. They declare Natalie trouble.
Natalie turns to look at Cairo. He can’t meet her eyes. She asks him if he told them about her parents. She’s made a fist now. Was she not enough that he had to bring in her parents to be bashed about? He’s really uncomfortable. He starts to try to say something, but she stops him, asking that he even had to use someone else's scars? She yells at him, calling him an awful bastard and then starts hitting him. Which brings up back to the beginning of the show.
Natalie is beating Cairo while the Aunts are trying to stop her. Cairo’s trying to run. Natalie picks up food off the memorial table and starts beating Cairo with it. Grandma is just sitting at the table, cringing. Natalie screams that she worked so hard today for him. Cairo can only cover his head as she beats him. Grandma starts to cry.
Cairo falls into the memorial table. Grandma is shocked as Grandpa’s picture falls to the floor. Mom indignantly demands to know what is going on. Cairo looks at Natalie. She looks less furious now. Grandma sobs. Natalie steps toward Cairo and drops her ‘weapon.’ She asks him if he’s satisfied. He looks away, awkwardly. Natalie announces that she’s done all that she was assigned to do so she'll be leaving now. She goes.
The Aunts can’t believe Natalie’s behavior. Disrespecting Grandpa like that. Cairo sighs like he can’t believe it just happened like that. He runs after Natalie, telling her that he’ll drive her home. He grabs her wrist to stop her. She just needs to wait there and he’ll get the car. She wrenches her arm free and tells him that they were going to end it and she ended it for him. What more does he want from her? She walks away, with him saying her name but not running after her. He can only watch her go.
Cairo goes back inside. The Aunts are yelling at Mom for accepting Natalie. Mom’s just taking it, like usual. Cairo yells at them to please stop it! He declares that he’s only going to marry Natalie. If they oppose it, he’ll stay single forever. That's that. Mom starts to say something but a look from Cairo stops her.
Cairo starts cleaning up the memorial table. Which no one else bothered to do. Aunt tells Cairo that he’s not acting normally. Does he need to go back to the ER? Aunts can’t believe Natalie ruined Grandpa’s memorial! Aunt2 tells Grandma to say something! Grandma can only think of what Natalie said to her at the dinner table, about how disappointed she was over Grandma’s behavior. Grandma sadly laughs, which Cairo notices. Grandma declares that Grandpa turned over the table whenever he was the slightest bit upset anyway. She tells Grandpa that it serves him right. She chuckles again and Mom sighs.
Natalie’s in the taxi. She takes down her hair and takes off her apron. She looks at her phone and remembers that it’s broken. Then she remembers that Rocco said he would wait for her. She arrives at Bon Café but it’s closed. She sadly walks down the steps, but then Rocco opens the door and calls her name. He smiles when she sees him. She can’t believe that he waited for her, especially since he couldn’t reach her. He tells her that he said he would wait. Emotional, she smiles at him gratefully.
Aunt is telling Mom about the conversation she overheard. Aunt thinks she’s hiding something. Mom pulls out her phone and calls Kelvin’s mother (K.MOM). She asks who Kelvin is seeing these days. K.MOM is driving in her car. She mentions that there was a stalker but K.MOM doesn’t remember the girl’s name. It was some ugly name, though. (Small note on that one: Natalie means Rose.) Mom asks if K.MOM would remember her if K.MOM saw the girl. K.MOM declares that you could never forget that mug. Mom suggests that they have brunch early at Kelvin’s café to discuss it. That’s a plan.
Rocco is busy cooking like a pro while Natalie drinks some more. Yuck, she's drinking cooking wine. She asks Rocco what he’d do if Kelvin catches him. Rocco’s sure Kelvin won't. He gives her the pasta and as she starts to eat, he asks if it was tough at Cairo's? She asks him how he knew. Rocco asks her if she’s that desperate to get married. She chugs some more wine and says that she didn't go to get married. She went to create an ugly scene. But it became sincere. Natalie says that her sincerity was ugly.
Rocco asks if Natalie’s feeling for Cairo have become sincere. She smiles and says that it’s not like that between them. Rocco likes that answer. Natalie says, that actually, she’s actually really, really, really, really, really, really worry about Cairo. She passes out and Rocco keeps her from burying her face in her food. She head lands on the table with a thank. She’s out. He smiles and looks at her. He pushes some hair away from her face and tells her that he’s worried about her more. Aw.
Cairo is sitting in bed, awake. I guess solitude isn’t so comforting tonight. He can’t stop thinking about what’s happened that evening. Natalie yelling that she can't hide her sincere feelings like Mom! The slap. He rolls over, but doesn’t fall asleep.
Next morning, Mom catches that taxi to meet K.MOM. Aunt calls Cairo and tells him. She wants double her usual fee for that information. Natalie and Rocco are still at Bon Café, asleep. Aw, he gave her the couch and slept on the hard chairs. Mom and K.MOM are heading for the café. Cairo tries calling Natalie but remembers that her cell is dead. He starts to head for the café with more speed. And the door for the café beeps with someone opening it.
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