00:00You are mine, baby! Ha ha ha ha!
00:04Phew, now let's put you somewhere safe, baby!
00:09Hi, watch out, man!
00:10I am sorry, sir.
00:13Here, let me pick it up for you, sir.
00:15Drop the trash and get moving!
00:19I just saw it on the ground, sir. Wanted to help.
00:21You're not allowed back here!
00:23Walter set the bag down slow and looked up.
00:25Grant didn't even look at him twice.
00:27We don't need anyone hanging around looking like that.
00:30Eleanor came out from the kitchen just then.
00:32Grant, leave him alone. He's not bothering anybody.
00:35He's bad for business, Eleanor. People will stare.
00:38Then let them stare!
00:39She waved Walter inside before Grant could argue.
00:42Sit down. I'll get you something warm.
00:44He hesitated.
00:45I don't want any trouble, ma'am.
00:47There's no trouble. Just a bowl of soup.
00:49She set the soup down and went back to work.
00:51A few minutes later, she checked on him.
00:53How is it?
00:54It's good. Real good.
00:56Honestly, though, it needs another minute. The carrots are still firm.
00:59She blinked, surprised.
01:01You know food?
01:02I ran a kitchen once. My own place.
01:04What happened to it?
01:05My partner happened to it.
01:07He sold it out from under me while I looked the other way.
01:10Eleanor, I need to talk to you about my pay.
01:13Stan, the cook, was standing behind her, apron already off.
01:17I know, I know. End of the month, I promise.
01:20End of the month doesn't pay my rent today.
01:23I'm done, Eleanor.
01:24I'm sorry. He walked out without looking back.
01:27She stood there a moment, then turned toward Walter, who was still eating soup.
01:31Can you cook?
01:32He looked up, surprised.
01:33I can.
01:34Then you're hired.
01:35Today, if you want it.
01:36I can't pay much right now.
01:38Maybe not for a while.
01:40He thought about it for two seconds.
01:42I'll take it.
01:43A month went by, then two.
01:45The food got better, and word got around.
01:48Walter brought back dishes nobody had made there in years.
01:51A month later, Grant pulled up out front in a brand new car.
01:54Where did that come from?
01:56Eleanor asked.
01:57I bought it.
01:58Told you I would, didn't I?
01:59With what money?
02:00We can barely cover Stan's last paycheck.
02:02This restaurant is half mine.
02:04I'll spend what I want.
02:06Not when there's nothing left to spend.
02:08She walked off.
02:09After that, he started pulling cash from the register whenever Eleanor wasn't looking.
02:13Then, one slow afternoon, the cash register came up short, and Grant rounded on Walter.
02:19Where's the rest of today's cash?
02:21I don't know what you're talking about.
02:23Grant smirked.
02:24Funny, because it showed up in somebody's bag.
02:27Walter's bag, specifically.
02:28I never touched that money.
02:30Grant had already called the police.
02:32Officers showed up 20 minutes later.
02:34We got a call about a theft.
02:36Eleanor stepped between them.
02:38He didn't do this.
02:39Check the register tape.
02:41Check the cameras.
02:42Ma'am, the money was found on him.
02:43We have to bring him in.
02:45Walter didn't fight it.
02:46He just looked at Eleanor as they walked him out, while Grant watched from the counter.
02:50I told you, trust the wrong person, and this is what happens.
02:55Eleanor didn't answer.
02:56She was already pulling up the camera footage.
02:59Grant, standing by the register, slipping bills into a bag that wasn't his.
03:03She watched twice to be sure, then made one call.
03:07Diane, I need a favor, and I need it fast.
03:10The next afternoon, Walter walked back through the front door, free.
03:14How did you do it?
03:15I have the footage.
03:16I have everything.
03:17And now Grant's going to wish he never touched that register.
03:21Diane was already seated at the corner table when Grant walked in.
03:25Sit down, Mr. Grant.
03:26We have some paperwork for you.
03:28What is this?
03:29A choice.
03:30Sign your share over?
03:31Pay back what you took?
03:32Or this goes to the district attorney?
03:34You can't prove anything.
03:36Diane slid the footage across.
03:38We have it.
03:39Clear as day.
03:40Grant's face went pale.
03:42Eleanor, please, we can work something out.
03:44We already did.
03:46It's right there on the table.
03:48He signed without another word and walked out for the last time.
03:52That night, Eleanor found Walter scrubbing the same counter he'd cleaned a hundred times
03:56before.
03:57You don't have to.
03:58We're closed.
03:59Old habit.
04:00Hard to shake.
04:01She smiled and grabbed a rag of her own.
04:04Regulars have been asking when the new menu's coming out, she said.
04:07Does that mean I'm still the chef around here?
04:09It means you're a partner, if you want it.
04:12Walter set the rag down slowly.
04:14Three years ago, I had nothing.
04:16Not even a roof some nights.
04:18You gave me a bowl of soup when nobody else would even look at me.
04:22That's all it ever takes, sometimes.
04:24Somebody willing to look.
04:25He nodded, eyes wet, and went back to wiping the counter.
04:29Outside, the restaurant lights came back on, steady, like they'd never gone out.
04:34Friends, was Grant's punishment fair, or should he have gotten worse?
04:39Let me know in the comments.
