The Restaurateur
ALAN NAFZGER
Pecan Street Press – The Restaurateur
Lubbock ● Austin ● Fort Worth – The Restaurateur
The Restaurateur is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
Amazon edition
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Copyright © 2016 Alan Nafzger
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 9781071208083
A restaurateur…
A restaurateur (/ˌrɛstərəˈtɜːr/ REST-ər-ə-TUR; French: [ʁɛstɔʁatœʁ]) is a person who opens and runs restaurants professionally. Although over time the term has come to describe any person who owns a restaurant, traditionally it refers to a highly skilled professional who is proficient in all aspects of the restaurant business.
The French word restaurateur comes from the Late Latin term restaurator (“restorer”) and from the Latin term restaurare.[1][2][3] The word restaurateur is simply French for a person who owns or runs a restaurant.[4] The feminine form of the French noun is restauratrice.[5]
A less common variant spelling restauranteur is formed from the “more familiar” term restaurant[6] with the French suffix -eur borrowed from restaurateur. It is considered a misspelling by some.[4][6] The Oxford English Dictionary gives examples of this variant (described as “originally American”) going back to 1837.[7] H. L. Mencken said that in using this form he was using an American, not a French, word.[8]
THE restaurateur
Written by Alan Nafzger
FADE IN
EXT. condominium – PORT ARANSAS – DAY The Restaurateur
The Restaurateur
TITLE CREDITS
The Restaurateur
Rafeé (72) leaves a high-rise condominium with his golfing gear. He drives in his truck. He drives very slowly (6 mph). Winnabegos and Airstreams on coastal vacations. Condos, shrimping boats, seagulls and tourists picking up seashells, buying t-shirts and beach towels.
Rafeé’s truck passes an upscale Corpus Christi restaurant. There are a few people at tables under umbrellas out on the sidewalk. Hispanic workers are unloading a “sea food” delivery truck in the back. Rafeé pays extra attention to the restaurant as he drives by.
The Restaurateur
INT. restaurant – Corpus Christi – DAY
The Restaurateur
In the background, we see Hispanic workers hauling in boxes of seafood into a large walk in refrigerator. Chef BEAU (42) has a clipboard. He examines the fish and checks off the manifest.
The Restaurateur
BEAU
Black Drum
Mahi-Mahi
Flounder
Grouper
Mackerel
Mullet
Snapper
Swordfish
Red Snapper
Oysters
King Salmon
Shrimp
Sun Dried Tomatoes
Andartichokes
Scallops
Blue Crab
Golden Crab
Gulf Stone Crab
Swordfish
Mussels
Flounder
END TITLE CREDITS
BEAU
Trout. Hey, hang on.
The worker with the trout stops. Beau looks closely at the fish. Beau smells. The Hispanic worker looks at Beau.
BEAU
Es nuevo en el menú.
WORKER
Oh, sí. Bueno?
BEAU
Sí.
INT. nursing facility – Corpus Christi – DAY
Rafeé stops to visit his MOTHER (92) who lives on the way to the golf course.
NURSE
We are dealing with your mother’s dementia.
Rafeé
Well I appreciate everything you all do.
NURSE
She is very upset at being confined there.
Rafeé
It’s hard to visit her when she doesn’t know who I am and has nothing positive to say.
NURSE
Of course.
Rafeé
Well I won’t deny it is especially hard for me. I keep thinking I can make life easier for her.
NURSE
Unfortunately, there is nothing that can be done and she is well taken care of.
Rafeé
Hopefully someday soon, she will realize that this is her home.
NURSE
You made the correct decision. She is not capable of taking care of herself and needs help with everything.
Rafeé leaves dismayed and depressed by his mother’s condition.
EXT. GOLF COURSE CLUB HOUSE – DAY
Rafeé’s clubs remain in his truck.
INT. GOLF COURSE CLUB HOUSE – DAY
Rafeé sits at a table with a soda. He is emotionless and contemplating. His golfing friends arrive – energetic and ready to golf.
Rafeé
It’s been awhile.
GOLFER #1
Things have been good?
Rafeé
I had hoped that I could play some golf today.
(half beat)
But now I’m here, I just can’t.
GOLFER #2
You sure?
Rafeé
You guys go on and play without me.
GOLFER #1
Are you sure? You need a few minutes to collect yourself?
Rafeé
No. You guys play. I’m just drained.
INT. Port ARANSAS AIRPORT – DAY
Rafeé and a helpful neighbor (42) roll out his small plane. He goes through exhaustive pre-flight checks. But hesitates, he looks lost for a second. He reaches for the manual and looks up a list of things to check. He finishes and taxis out to the runway. He takes off.
Aerial footage of Corpus Christi Bay.
EXT. AIRPLANE OVER Corpus Christi – DAY
Rafeé turns the plane and flies over the restaurant. The delivery truck is pulling out of the parking lot.
Beau goes to the backdoor, which is open, he pays particular attention to the plane overhead. Beau shuts and locks the backdoor.
INT. restaurant – Corpus Christi – DAY
Beau is giving instructions to his staff and teaching by example. There is a hot sauté pan on the stove and all the ingredients are out on the counter. There is a pot of Cappellini Pasta on another burner.
Beau
Preheat sauté pan with olive oil over medium high heat. When hot, add the trout fillet flesh side down and cook for about 3 minutes. Flip and cook other side for another 3 minutes or until done.
Beau places a fillet in the pan.
Beau
Remove the trout.
Beau removes the fillet to a plate.
Beau
Add another two tablespoons of olive oil and stir to break off tasty scraps from bottom of pan. Mix in chopped garlic, cooking for a minute or so to soften garlic. Add white wine and reduce by one half.
(half beat)
Reduce Heat. Mix in lemon juice, capers, and tomatoes. Add butter 1 tablespoon at a time mixing gently over low heat to create proper consistency in sauce.
(half beat)
Don’t do this over high heat because butter will begin to break up and separate.
(half beat)
Pour sauce over fish fillets. Garnish with chopped parsley and add salt and pepper.
(half beat)
Serve with Cappellini Pasta. Add fresh toasted garlic bread for sopping up sauce.
The group pass around the plate of trout and pasta. Each cook takes a bite and passes it to the next cook.
EXT. PORT ARANSAS AIRPORT – DAY
Rafeé is returning to the airport. His neighbor is cleaning his small plane. But the neighbor notices something wrong. Rafeé’s plane is approaching for landing but the gear is still up. The neighbor waits and waits, worried. Finally at the last moment, the neighbor runs out onto the taxi way frantically waving his hands he crosses over and out on the grass.
Out of the corner of his eye, Rafeé notices. He is very close to crashing the plane onto the runway. He looks at the gear indicator and it says, “up”. At the very last second, he pulls up avoiding a crash landing. The neighbor stops waiving and hold his chest.
Rafeé circles and lowers the landing gear. He lands safely.
INT. restaurant – Corpus Christi – DAY
Beau draws a ‘lunch special $5.99’ on a chalkboard. The first customer of the day arrives. The hostess, waitresses and workers in the kitchen move into gear.
EXT. PORT ARANSAS AIRPORT – DAY
The neighbor is working inside his hanger. Rafeé stops by and sticks his head in the door.
Rafeé
Thanks.
Beat.
NEIGHBOR
You okay?
Rafeé
Forgot the gear.
NEIGHBOR
Well, that happens.
Rafeé
I appreciate your warning.
NEIGHBOR
No problem, friend.
INT. restaurant – Corpus Christi – DAY
A design company EMPLOYEE delivers a new set of menus. Beau opens the box and looks over the menu. He seems familiar with it and focuses on the new additions. Beau smiles.
Beau
Thank you.
EMPLOYEE
It looks okay.
Beau
It’s great.
Later…
EXT. TENTH FLOOR condominium – PORT ARANSAS – DAY
Rafeé is a bit depressed sitting looking out at the ocean.
The garbage is stacked up.
The television is on and Rafeé is waiting for a baseball game.
Beau
Dad, you okay.
(half beat)
You flew today?
Rafeé is silent.
Beau
I’m taking your garbage out.
Rafeé
Can you do a favor for me?
(half beat)
Take Rex here to the vet and have him put down.
Beau looks at the dog. The dog is perfectly behaved resting comfortably in his bed. His eyes are loyal and never leave Rafeé.
Beau
What?
Rafeé
He’s getting too old. I don’t want him to suffer.
Beau
Dad, he is two years old. I’m not putting him down.
(half beat)
What? Is he not going to the bathroom outside?
Beau looks around the room for signs of dog mess. There isn’t any.
Rafeé
No, he goes outside.
Beau
Well, he is a fine looking dog. You don’t put a dog like that down.
Rafeé
He is a pretty dog that is sure. I just don’t have time to play with him.
Beau
He doesn’t want to play. He wants to eat and sleep.
Rafeé
Are you sure?
Beau
Don’t do anything to him. I’m serious. He loves you; you can’t stab him in the back.
(long beat)
Dad, are you okay? What happened?
(half beat)
Why don’t you want to walk down to the dumpster?
Rafeé
You staying to watch the baseball game?
Beau
No, I have to work. If I’m not there, they start serving beans and enchiladas.
Rafeé
Nothing wrong with that.
The baseball game begins.
ANNOUNCER
Welcome to Globe Life Park in Arlington Texas for an afternoon game between the Seattle Mariners and your Texas Rangers.
Beau leaves.
Later… between lunch and dinner.
Beau enters the condo and sits. His father is still watching television, a baseball game.
Rafeé
Second game of the double hitter. Third inning.
ANNOUNCER
Homerun!
Rafeé
He hit a home run in the first game too.
Beau has a strange worried look on his face. He checks his smart phone – the baseball schedule.
Beau
Dad, this isn’t a doubt hitter. This is the replay of the first game.
There is a long beat.
Rafeé
They shouldn’t do that.
Beau
You are probably right.
Rafeé
It only confuses people.
Beau contemplates.
Beau
You feeling okay, dad?
INT. DOCTOR’S EXAMINATION ROOM – DAY
The nurse notes Rafeé’s pulse, blood pressure and weight.
Outside in the hall, we see Beau hand the doctor some notes. Beau is weighing in on his dad’s condition.
The doctor examines Rafeé and looks at the blood test results.
DOCTOR
Your physical health is good.
(half beat)
So, let me ask you some questions.
(half beat)
Who is the President?
Rafeé
How soon do you need to know?
(beat)
Just kidding.
(beat)
That woman.
(beat)
Just kidding.
(beat)
Billary.
DOCTOR
Good to see you still have a sense of humour.
Rafeé
I’m not that far gone.
DOCTOR
No. I don’t think so.
(half beat)
What is your phone number?
Rafeé
My son has it. I don’t know it; I don’t call myself.
DOCTOR
Good point. I doubt I can tell you mine.
(half beat)
What about the date?
Rafeé
It’s Friday.
DOCTOR
What about the date, like July…
Rafeé
My life is just been too busy for me to keep up!
DOCTOR
What about the appointment? You had to remember that to be here.
Rafeé
I didn’t want to come. My son brought me. Forced me.
(half beat)
I’m retired.
DOCTOR
What did you do?
Rafeé
I was an airline pilot. Houston to Paris, three times a week for 28 years.
DOCTOR
Oh, how exciting. You still fly?
Rafeé clams up. Frozen. Long beat. Rafeé is suspicious of the doctor.
Rafeé
I have a small plane.
(beat)
I buzz around a bit.
DOCTOR
Oh, great. It is important to remain active.
(half beat)
And of course you still drive?
Rafeé
Yes.
DOCTOR
Any citations or problems.
Rafeé
No.
DOCTOR
What about pets?
Rafeé
Yes, a dog?
DOCTOR
What’s its name?
Long beat.
Rafeé
Dog.
DOCTOR
What’s his name?
Long beat.
Rafeé
Dog. The dog’s name is dog.
DOCTOR
Oh, I thought the dog’s name was Sammy.
Rafeé
Oh, that is what my son calls him. When my wife died, he gave me the dog. I call him ‘dog’.
INT. DOCTOR’S OFFICE – DAY
BEAU
How long should Dad drive?
Beau’s chest feels heavy and the looks very guilty.
DOCTOR
A better question might be how long should your dad fly?
Long beat.
BEAU
Did you ever think about selling the plane, dad?
Rafeé chuckles.
Rafeé
I’m flying, so you can just forget it.
The doctor raises an eyebrow.
DOCTOR
Your license and everything in order?
BEAU
He does his own maintenance.
Rafeé
Perfectly legal. It’s not a commercial plane. If it goes down no one dies but the mechanic and that’s me.
DOCTOR
Well, let’s schedule a follow-up appointment in four months to monitor the situation.
INT. BEAU’S SMALL TRUCK – DAY
Driving home.
Rafeé
I hate to have taken your time away from your restaurant. I’d have been fine driving myself.
BEAU
I know.
Rafeé
I’ve done it for years, you know.
BEAU
You wouldn’t have come by yourself.
Rafeé
Well you got me there.
INT. restaurant – Corpus Christi – EVENING