Carmen by Walter Dean Myers Page A

remarkably attractive older woman dressed in a housecoat and curlers, answers the door.
    ZUNIGA
    Police! Stand aside.
    TÍA SOFIA
    (defiantly)
    Do you have a search warrant? Let me see it!
    ZUNIGA
    (turning slightly)
    The warrant!
    The other officers look around to see who has brought the warrant, but, to their embarrassment, it is not found.
    ZUNIGA
    What the hell is wrong with you people? Keep your guns ready. I’ll call headquarters!
    ZUNIGA goes to one side and radios headquarters.
    The other officers relax.
    TÍA SOFIA
    (to the crowd)
    They come to search our place, but they don’t have a warrant! No warrant, no searching! Who do they think they are? This is America!
    There are cries of approval and general laughter from the street residents.
    JIMENEZ
    They watch too much television. That’s why they’re taking time out for a commercial.
    ZUNIGA
    Put your teeth in when you talk to me, lover boy.
    OFFICER SHEA
    (to ELENA)
    Why don’t you come home with me? You would look good on my sofa.
    ELENA
    (touching SHEA’s ears)
    Ah, still wet. I thought so. Come back when you’ve grown up, papi.
    The other OFFICERS laugh.
    MICAELA enters from stage right. She is wearing a blue plaid jumper, which is significantly less flamboyant than the outfits worn by the other women of the block. She looks at the women wearing tight pants and short skirts. Then she begins looking at the POLICE OFFICERS, obviously searching for someone.
    MICAELA
    (to SHEA)
    Do you know José? He’s on the force. Is he with you? Sometimes they call him DJ.
    ZUNIGA
    (who has overheard MICAELA)
    I know him. Sure. He’s not here yet. But he’ll be here soon. He’s bringing the warrant. You want to sit in the car with me? Get out of the hot sun?
    He tries to put his arm around MICAELA, who slips easily away.
    MICAELA
    No, it’s all right.
    ZUNIGA
    Hey, don’t fly away so soon, little bird.
    MICAELA
    I’ll come back after a while. You sure he’s coming here?
    ZUNIGA
    Any minute. This is a rough neighborhood. Come with me, and I’ll protect you. What’s your name?
    MICAELA
    Micaela. I’m a friend of José’s. Tell him his friend—the teacher’s aide—was looking for him. He’ll know who I am.
    She leaves, looking cautiously around the neighborhood as she does.
    ZUNIGA watches MICAELA go and then turns back toward the old lady in the doorway.
    ZUNIGA
    (to the OFFICERS, pointing to TÍA SOFIA)
    Keep an eye on that one!
    TÍA SOFIA
    (tossing the front of her dress up)
    And don’t forget to read me my rights!
    OFFICER LANE
    Look—here’s José now.
    ZUNIGA
    Men! Fall in! Get ready!
    The men get ready to enter the building as JOSÉ approaches. JOSÉ goes directly to ZUNIGA and whispers something in his ear that clearly disturbs the sergeant.
    ZUNIGA
    What do you mean, we have to go to the judge again? What happened to the warrant we had before? By the time we go through the whole process, they’ll have moved their operation to another building!
    JOSÉ
    What can I tell you?
    ZUNIGA
    I’ll call the captain. By the way, there was a girl looking for you. Okay-looking, not from around here, I think.
    JOSÉ
    Dark hair? Pretty?
    ZUNIGA
    Aren’t they all?
    TÍA SOFIA
    (calling from the doorway)
    Who’s the captain? Tell him Sofia says hello.
    ZUNIGA, on the side, gesticulates as he talks into the radio. We can’t hear his conversation but see that he is upset.
    ZUNIGA
    (angrily)
    The operation is off! Get the men out of here! How are we going to shut down anything with this stupid paperwork?
    A loud buzzing noise comes from the factory. Instantly the younger men in the area jump to their feet. One, MANNY, begins to brush off his jacket. Another, GATO, first pulls up his pants, then lowers them to just the right height to be cool.
    ZUNIGA
    What’s that? Their all-clear signal?
    OFFICER LANE
    Lunchtime at the factory!
    The door of Delgado’s opens, and the factory girls come out, strutting and chatting. Many are on cell phones, and most are speaking a