Bluefin

August 19th, 2020

Starring: Roy (male, 30’s), Chef (60’s)

A high-end sushi bar.  Very limited seating.  Roy sits at the bar, watching Chef prepare the individual pieces.  It’s art on a plate, the first of which Chef hands to Roy.  

ROY

This is…?

CHEF

Uni.

The sea urchin.

ROY

Oh wow

Sea urchin.

Ok.

Roy eats as Chef looks on.

ROY

Very strong flavor.

Intense.

CHEF

You like?

ROY

...

Yes.

Different.

CHEF

Yes.

Chef hands Roy the next plate.

CHEF

This is the eel.  

ROY

You said eel?

CHEF

Yes.

Tried before?

ROY

Uh

No.

CHEF

Try.

ROY

...

Mm.

CHEF

This eel, not slimy.  

ROY

Oh

It’s usually…?

Well that’s good.  No slime is good.

CHEF

Yes.

Chef passes the next plate.

CHEF

This one, no soy sauce.

ROY

Okay…

Is this the tuna?

CHEF

Hm?

ROY

Is this the bluefin?  The tuna?

CHEF

Tuna?

No.

Salmon.

ROY

Salmon, okay.

I thought it was tuna.

...

I heard many good things about the tuna.

CHEF

Ah, yes.

ROY

My friend, he told me the bluefin here is the best in the city.  Worth the three month reservation.

CHEF

Yes.  High reputation.

ROY

Yes, yes.  So I wanted to come—

CHEF

Yes.

Salmon good?

ROY

Oh yes it’s

It’s very yummy.

… 

I uh

I know that you pick the menu

But do you have the tuna?  On the menu?

CHEF

Regular menu?  Yes.  

Omakase?  No.

ROY

...

You said you don’t for this? Mine?

CHEF

Yes, no.  Not tonight.  

ROY

Oh.

Because my friend said when he did this menu there was tuna.

CHEF

Tuna not as fresh tonight.

ROY

But you said it’s on the normal menu?

CHEF

Yes.  But different tuna.  Different quality.

ROY

Oh.

CHEF

You know this Omakase.  It change—

ROY

No yes I know.  

I was just curious about trying the tuna.

I sort of came for…

It’s alright.

CHEF

It’s ok?

ROY

Yes, ok.

CHEF

When you come back.

ROY

Sure, yes.  Another time.

Chef hands Roy another plate:

ROY

And this?

CHEF

Boiled cod roe.

Enjoy.

ROY

Thank you.

I’ll try.

END OF PLAY

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