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.