CORINA Let me explain to you to my plan...

CORINA Let me explain to you to my plan then that way-

EFREN This won’t take long.

CORINA …that way, you’ll see my worth. My plan is to get to New York City and on that same day, I’ll find me a job and-

EFREN You’ll be slaughtered.

CORINA I read all about the hustle and bustle of the city. I can survive it. I’ve survived everything else.

EFREN You should have stayed in Guatemala.

CORINA You’re here.

EFREN I didn’t come to America for a better life.

CORINA Why else come?

EFREN Sometimes people end up in places.

CORINA I think I’m destined to be here. I’ve been ready and Adrian has been here for a year preparing for my arrival. So-

EFREN A year? Long time.

CORINA We’re still very connected.

EFREN Nothing is strong enough to hold two people together. No matter what your wedding ring is made of and no matter how fat your fingers have gotten to keep it there.

CORINA Adrian and I are different. We are devout Catholics and we believe in the vows we made and the ring he will get me will actually mean something.

EFREN (Bangs wedding ring against the table) Tell you what, if I can get this one off of me, you can have it. Save yourself some money. (Tries to remove ring)

CORINA I don’t want it.

EFREN Hey, maybe you might need it for that long trip to the big city where everyone there will be waiting for you with open arms. (Cannot get the ring off) No luck. But hey, you know, what’s a ring anyway if you can’t get a marriage license.

CORINA Immigration reform.

EFREN Oh, yeah, right! (Laughs)

CORINA I thought you would be more understanding. Being a coyote.

EFREN As a citizen, let me tell you that you got a big surprise in store for you.

CORINA Are you telling me that America really isn’t what everyone says it is?

EFREN No. It’s exactly what everyone says it is. And worse.

CORINA Nothing can be worse than where I’m from.

EFREN I always deal with the devil I know.

CORINA I’m not sitting here with any intent on going back!

EFREN The world is still an oyster to you, huh?! You’ll see that there aren’t any more pearls left. We’re too late.

CORINA I think the world is what you make of it.

EFREN Oh, of course you do! But have you seen the world lately?! I bet it’s all a sappy movie ending to you! Great philosophy! I can see the two grand coming out of the sky right now!

CORINA That philosophy got my through the civil war, illiteracy, English classes, college, poverty, kidnap, starvation, a very long distance relationship and crossing over the border with a band of criminals! And I made it! I’m here and I am nowhere near finished!

EFREN I apologize. I didn’t know you knew all the answers.

CORINA Yes, I do! My life will be exactly how I envision it!

EFREN Go ahead. Paint your picture.

CORINA We have a small apartment where the quilt my mother made him is hanging on the wall. The floors are wood. We have a small dinning area that we share with the living room.

EFREN What a beaut.

CORINA The kitchen counters are old but he got a really good deal on the new microwave and toaster.

EFREN Who says you can’t go refurbished?!

CORINA The washing machine and dryer came as gifts from the job. There’s a working showerhead. We have really nice old neighbors, although they’re a bit scared of us at first.

EFREN Ah, yes, the Goldbergs!

CORINA And we have really loud ones who live upstairs.

EFREN The Williams Family! (Laughs)

CORINA We watch CNN and reality television and vote for anyone who’s Central American.

EFREN Got to support!

CORINA I buy calling cards to call my mother every weekend to tell her that I’m okay. I get my citizenship and apply to graduate school.

EFREN (Laughs) Let me guess, you want to be a doctor?

CORINA A linguist. And with my thirty percent tax-bracket translating job, we move into a house.

EFREN (Laughs) Can I move into the attic?

CORINA Then we have kids. Four of them.

EFREN (Laughs) Juan, José, Javier and Jésus!

CORINA I’ll have a German maid and an Italian chef!

EFREN Bon appetite! (Laughs)

CORINA At least I have a dream!

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