Beat.

JANET: What are you trying to say, Appa?

APPA: Alex is not Korean, but if you want to marry him, that’s okay with me.

JANET: We went out on one date. I don’t even know if he had a good time.

19. Let’s talk

Bell.

ALEX: Hi.

APPA: Alex.

ALEX: To JANET. Can I talk to you?

APPA: Yah, okay, talk.

ALEX: Uh, I didn’t —

APPA: No, it’s okay.

ALEX: No, Mr. Kim, I didn’t mean —

APPA: Alex, it’s okay, take easy, nice and slow. We is here for you. Talk. (Beat.) We closing soon. Hurry up.

ALEX: Uh, okay. I have this, uh, friend, this girl, who’s just a friend.

APPA: Okay.

ALEX: She recently met an old friend of hers, uh, this guy.

APPA: Okay.

ALEX: They used to know each other when they were kids. I mean, he was best friends with her brother and she’d always be around and he never thought much of her, growing up — see, the thing is, he was a bad kid.

APPA: Oh.

ALEX: And she knows all about the stuff he used to do, like really stupid stuff. Anyway, so they meet and they go out . . . on this date, I guess, and, well, it wasn’t like an official date per se, but . . . uh . . . Sorry, this was a bad idea. (Makes to leave.)

APPA: Alex! Do you think she like him?

ALEX: Who?

APPA: You friend.

ALEX: Oh, uh, I don’t know. I’m not sure.

APPA: Janet, do you think she like him?

JANET: Uh —

APPA: Okay, Alex, do you think he like her?

ALEX: Um, that’s a good question, Mr. Kim. Well, uh, see, ever since his divorce . . . uh . . . see, the thing about it is, he went through this phase where —

APPA: Okay, that’s enough! Alex, do you believing in the Jesus?

ALEX: What?

JANET sighs.

APPA: Do you believing in the Jesus?

ALEX: Yes, I believing in the Jesus.

APPA: You have job?

JANET: Appa —

ALEX: I’m a cop.

APPA: Do you think my Janet is the sexy?

JANET: Appa!

ALEX: What?

APPA: Do you think my Janet is the sexy?

JANET: Appa!

ALEX: Mr. Kim — AH!

APPA twists ALEX’s hand, forcing ALEX to his knees, writhing in pain.

JANET: Appa! What the hell are you doing?

APPA: You want to know answer? Alex, do you think my Janet is the sexy? Yes or no?

ALEX: Yes!

APPA lets him go.

APPA: Good. (Beat.) Then give to her popo.

JANET: Appa, stop it!

ALEX: What? You want me to give her a popo?

APPA: Yah.

ALEX: What’s a popo? (APPA kisses the air twice.) You want me to kiss your daughter?

APPA: Yah.

ALEX: Now?

APPA: Yah.

ALEX: In front of you?

APPA: My store, my business.

ALEX slowly, awkwardly kisses JANET. Then she kisses him. Then he goes in for another kiss and APPA grabs his arm in such a way that ALEX is up on his toes, writhing in pain.