S01E08, Scene 08

16:55, The Fool bar

The final preparations are being made in The Fool Bar: Nathan makes up the table for Blanche and her friends, Douwe is busy preparing cocktails without alcohol and Amir puts up a few more decorations. Salvador sits at the bar, sipping his fourth cocktail, reading the messages Francesco just sent.

[MESSAGE FROM FRANCESCO]: Sal, I’m sorry if I upset you, but as I said before, I wouldn’t want you to have sex because you feel pressured. It’s okay if you want to wait. You’re not the only one.

[MESSAGE FROM FRANCESCO]: If you’re angry you’d say so, right?

[MESSAGE FROM FRANCESCO]: Please, don’t leave me on read. I see you’ve read this. Please, just respond with a yes or a no, I’m worried. I don’t want to hurt you.

[MESSAGE FROM FRANCESCO]: I’ll deliver the food for Blanche’s party at five. Then we can talk.

Reading this message, Salvador hops off the bar stool and walks in the direction of the kitchen.

AMIR: Hey Sal, some help would be nice.

He swings with a decorative branch as to grab Salvadors attention. Salvador shakes his head.

SALVADOR: I have to hide.

DOUWE: What? Are the Germans coming?

NATHAN: No, but I do see a certain Italian coming this way.

He points to the empty terrace of The Fool Bar. Francesco, Ilinca and Cesar all have the promised boxes of spaghetti in their hands and walk up to the main entrance.

SALVADOR: I’m not here. If Francesco asks where I am, say I’m, eh –

He desperately looks around for inspiration.

SALVADOR: Say I went home to get my pills.

He practically runs in to the kitchen, his knees shaking from the alcohol.

DOUWE: Yes, it’s probably better if Frank doesn’t see him like that.

Nathan walks to the door to open it for the Gabbani’s crew. As he instructs them to put the boxes on the bar, Francesco looks around.

FRANCESCO: Where’s Sal?

AMIR: You just missed him. He went home to get his medication.

Francesco frowns.

FRANCESCO: I literally packed his bag this morning. With his pills.

DOUWE: (teasing) Awh, so cute. They now pack each other’s bags.

FRANCESCO: (dead-serious) I’ve been packing his bag every day for the last two years and the one thing I never forget is his medication.

DOUWE: You’re not as young as you used to be, Frankie. I’m sure Salvador won’t be mad you for forgetting his pills.

Francesco walks towards the kitchen.

AMIR: Hey, that’s for employees only!

Francesco looks over his shoulder and shoots him a warning glance.

FRANCESCO: If you won’t tell me where he is, I’ll look for myself.

DOUWE: I just said he’s at home!

Not listening, Francesco opens the door. Inside, there’s no one to be seen. Francesco walks further to the dressing room and the storage room. Still, there’s not a trace of Salvador.

FRANCESCO: Sal?

No respond. Francesco searches every corner of the storage room.

FRANCESCO: Sal, please. I just want to talk. Please don’t be mad.

Silence. Francesco walks back to the kitchen in the frail hope he has appeared out of nowhere, but only Douwe waits for him at the door.

DOUWE: I could report you to the cops for trespassing.

Francesco rolls his eyes and walks past him. Following him, Douwe closes the door. When their voices become more and more distant and it’s safe to say Francesco is gone, Salvador finally dares to get out of the cupboard he hid in, pulling a face as he wipes the dust off his pants and shirt.