GORDITO
She fades into the woodwork like yesterday’s news.
ESCAMILLO
No, Gordito, she ain’t fading. She’s masquerading as ordinary, but she looks dangerous to me, and you know how I flirt with a danger high. It brings out the bullfighter-the toreador-in me.
CARMEN lifts her hands to her head, fingers pointed as if to represent horns, and struts sensuously toward ESCAMILLO, who instantly takes the challenge and goes into a bull-fighting pose. CARMEN makes three passes at ESCAMILLO, all of which he sidesteps deftly. Hands on hips, she throws her head back in laughter. Then she lifts her arms to the ceiling and swoops them down, jabbing her fingers into ESCAMILLO’s side. She and ESCAMILLO both laugh.
GORDITO
It’s time to go. We have to see the manager before the concert to iron out last-minute details. And there are a million dollars in these details. He wants to negotiate foreign rights and subsidiaries. We have to be there.
ESCAMILLO
Of course. Of course.
(He takes his cape.)
But I will be back for you. What is your name, angel?
CARMEN
Carmen. Or Carmencita. Your choice.
ESCAMILLO
Carmen. Carmencita. It’s all the same. You are too beautiful for words. My tongue gets excited just saying your name. I will be back for you. To everybody here: you are all invited to my concert this weekend. I’ll send fifty tickets over to
(looks around and sees the sign above the stage)
Lillas’s place.
FRASQUITA
This show is going to be good, right?
ESCAMILLO
The fire department is sending over a special truck, it’s going to be so hot.
FRASQUITA
Is it going to be on television? Because when concerts are on television, they’re usually pretty good.
ESCAMILLO
This won’t be good because of television, baby.
(turning to Carmen)
This is going to be good because of Carmen. Everything I think up I’m going to be asking myself what Carmencita’s going to be thinking about it, and then I’m going to make it even better. I’m good whenever I’m awake, but when I got somebody to inspire me, I’m knee-deep in fantastic!
CARMEN
You got game, and you’re running it!
ESCAMILLO
Your game is deeper, baby, but Escamillo’s steadily climbing on up. I think we just might reach the top together!
CARMEN
I’ll be there.
ESCAMILLO
All you need to bring is your heart and your dancing shoes. Leave the rest to Escamillo.
ESCAMILLO and his entourage leave.
MERCEDES
Carmen, he was digging on you something crazy. No tengas pena just because you’re in love.
FRASQUITA
He can take me to Hollywood anytime he wants to, but I’m not doing nothing nasty in front of a camera.
ZUNIGA
(after ESCAMILLO’s people leave)
That Escamillo’s all glitter. Nothing more. No substance. You can dress up street, but you can’t take away the stink. Let’s get out of here.
ZUNIGA and SHEA leave.
MERCEDES
He’s going to go look for somebody else to hate.
CARMEN
He probably hates himself.
The excitement of ESCAMILLO lingers for a while in the air, then slowly dies down as DANCAIRO and RAIMONDO enter. DANCAIRO is thin and nervous and has a teardrop tattoo under his left eye. RAIMONDO is short and heavy, with the nervous habit of hunching his shoulders as he speaks.
RAIMONDO
(to MERCEDES)
We got it going. Major-league stuff all the way.
DANCAIRO
We can score every credit card number in the city of Pittsburgh for three hours. That’s a hundred and fifty-nine thousand names.
RAIMONDO
And they’re rich in Pittsburgh.
DANCAIRO
In three hours, we can make a fortune.
RAIMONDO
And since it’s all electronic, there’s no evidence.
DANCAIRO
No fingerprints. No DNA. Just get in and boom, boom, boom! It’ll take them three hours to figure out what’s happening and another three hours to shut the system down, and we’ll be done by then.
RAIMONDO
We’ve got the log-in code. All we need is two smart kids who can hack into one lousy computer to get the master password. Then we’re in and gone without even a gun drawn. Thank God for technology.
DANCAIRO
(to CARMEN)
And we also need the charms of some beautiful women to keep a certain computer security chief-how do you say?-occupied!
MERCEDES
How much is in it for us?
FRASQUITA
We don’t work for nothing!
RAIMONDO
Fifty thousand-twenty-five thousand apiece-if the score is small.
DANCAIRO
I would tell you how much you would get if it is completely successful, but I can’t count that high.
FRASQUITA
You got us!
RAIMONDO
Carmen?
MERCEDES
She’s too much in love. With a cop!
RAIMONDO
No, I’m serious. Carmen, are you with us?
CARMEN
I’ve got stuff on my mind, Raimondo. Maybe some other time.
RAIMONDO
What some other time? This is once in a lifetime, sweet cheeks!
MERCEDES
Lighten up, Raimondo. She’s got a life, too.
FRASQUITA
(spots JOSÉ at the door)
And here he is.
JOSÉ enters. DANCAIRO and RAIMONDO back away quickly, DANCAIRO shielding his face with his hand. They both exit out of the rear door but not before RAIMONDO glances toward CARMEN and shakes his head in disbelief.
JOSÉ
Carmen, I’ve been looking everywhere for you. I thought you were going to be home.
CARMEN
Too hot in there. I got home last night and a mouse was sitting in the refrigerator!
JOSÉ
A mouse? Oh, that’s a joke. Right. At first I couldn’t remember the name of this place. But then I did. You’ve been on my mind all day.
(looks around)
Can we go somewhere?
CARMEN
José, I want you to meet my friends. This is Frasquita.
FRASQUITA
Hey, guy.
CARMEN
And this is Mercedes. They’re my homegirls.
MERCEDES
What’s happening?
JOSÉ
Hello.
FRASQUITA and MERCEDES retreat to a table, and JOSÉ kisses CARMEN’s hand tenderly.
JOSÉ
Nice friends.
CARMEN
The kind that look out for you. You know what I mean?
JOSÉ
Yes, I do. I like loyalty in my friends.