Dinner or Disaster

Welcome to Cafe Chaos! A playable dining experience by Leryl Joseph. After two successful interviews at Cafe Chaos, Frankie arrives at the restaurant for what she hopes to be her final interview with the Head Chef and Lead Server. Frankie's feeling confident, excited, and like this should be a done deal. Let's head inside and knock this out of the park. [[[Enter Restaurant->Enter Restaurant]]]

You enter Cafe Chaos and are immediately enveloped by silent, buzzing energy that comes with pre-service shifts. The aromas from lunch service still linger in the air. However, this time, there's a little more to the energy that you can't quite put your finger on. The first thing you notice is that the hostess podium is empty. It's empty in the way that looks sudden--an urgent departure. Each time you've arrived at the restaurant, there's been someone there to greet you. [[[Wait->Wait]]] [[Call out->Call out]]

You stand and wait for a few minutes. As you stand there bouncing on your toes, nervousness starts to settle in. There's a crash and some yelling, but before you can take a step forward to check, the hostess, Kyla appears. "Frankie, hi," Kyla says. "Thanks for waiting." Between constantly looking over her shoulder and shuffling papers on the podium, it's clear she's distracted. The yelling hasn't stopped, and it's becoming clear that there's something going on. "Your interview, right? You're here for your interview?" You nod quickly in the brief moment her eyes land on you. "Sorry," she says. "It's just been really crazy today, so we're a little all over the place with the calendar." [[Ask about what's happening.->Ask about what's happening]] [[Ask about your interivew.->Ask about your interview]]

"Hello?" you call out to the empty room. "Hello, is anyone--" Before you can finish your question, the hostess, Kyla rushes out, shushing you with fervor. "Frankie, it's lovely to see you again, but please be quiet," she says. She looks over her shoulder, and a crash sounds from the back. "Listen, there's a lot going on, and I'm not sure if your interview can happen today." [[Ask about your interview.->Ask about your interview]] [[Ask about the drama.->Ask about what's happening]]

"Sorry to hear about all of the drama. Can you call me when things die down?" you say. "Sure, Frankie," Kyla says. You walk out of the restaurant, and you can hear the yelling on the inside getting louder. You stand on the sidewalk, defeated and thinking about what to do now. The door swings open and someone brushes past you. It's the Lead Server, Armond. Armond turns around, and although his eyes are on you, it's as if he's looking straight through you. He stomps toward you, puffing his chest, and you brace yourself for...you're not sure. "You'll fail without me! Screw you and screw this place!" Armond screams. His eyes fall directly on you after that. Shaken and uncomfortable, you [[scurry away.->Bail]] Understanding that there's an opportunity for you, you [[ask what's happening.->What's Happening]]

"What's happening?" you ask. "Is there anything I can do to help? The Lead Server, Armond, stomps out of the dining room and into the lobby. Head Chef, Lorin is on his heels. You and Kyla step back and watch it all unfold like two flies on the wall. "Armond, I'm so sick of your drama! You absolutely cannot keep disrespecting me in my restaurant--" "It's not your restaurant!" "In my kitchen!" "That's as much your kitchen as it is my dining room. And you disrespect it just the same." "How about I take it off your hands, then. Get out. It's both my kitchen //''and''// my dining room now." As this happens, Kyla pulls you off to the side. "Yes, we need your help, but we can't do your interview right now. Can you stick around for a minute?" [["Yes, sure. What do you need?"->What's Happening]] [["Well, maybe I should just come back."->Leave]]

The game is now over, and there's no telling if you got the job or not. Is there something you could have done differently? [[Talk to Kyla Again->Enter Restaurant]]

"Will I still be having my interview today?" Kyla looks down at her phone, back up and says, "Not exactly, but I think we might need your help. Can you stick around?" [["Sure, what do you need?"->What's Happening]] [["Maybe I should just come back another day."->Leave]]

"Thank you for joining us at Cafe Chaos. This evening we're serving a pre fixe menu that consists of three courses. You have two options for each course." "May I have a menu?" "Actually, at Cafe Chaos, we do not offer menus because we want you to enjoy the conversation with your server--which would be me--about the food so that you can focus on the experience." "If you say so. So, what will it be for the appetizer course?" We have a savory butternut squash cake with braised pork belly. The other option is a grilled oyster plate with a meyer lemon sauce. "What is the sauce on the pork belly?" [[Meyer lemon->Wrong Answer]] [[Fig and thyme->Fig and Thyme Sauce]] [["Umm... Let me double check."->Mr. Black is Annoyed]]

You take a deep breath and say, "While a customized culinary experience feels more familiar, we strongly encourage our guests to enjoy each meal the way Chef intended. Each ingredient is carefully chosen and put together to give you the perfect bite." He looks a little put off by your response, and you shift on your feet, unsettled. You can't let him get upset, but if you go back to Chef and say to put the sauce on the side, that conversation won't end well either. [[Relent->Relent]] [[Reassure->Reassure]]

"You know what?" you say, "Let me talk to Chef and see what we can do." "Thanks," Mr. Black says. You walk through the dining room, working up your nerve as you make your way to the kitchen. Dinner service is starting, so you have to do your best to avoid a scene like what happened earlier with Armando. You enter the kitchen, and Chef Lorin is sitting on a stool with her head in her hands. She looks at you and you smile--all teeth and nerves. "H-hey, Chef," you say. "I have the first course to put in for Mr. Black." Chef Lorin jumps up and ties an apron around her back. "Lay it on me," she says. "He wants to do the pork belly--" "Got it." She turns to her cooks who are awaiting instruction. "But..." you say. Chef pauses her movements. "But he wants the sauce on the side." Chef drops her knife. She's clearly upset. Before you can try to explain, she says, "Get out." [[Uh-oh...->Wrong Answer]]

"Well, you know... Maybe it'll be okay. I'll talk to Chef." "Thank you." [[Talk to Chef.->Agree to provide the sauce on the side]] [[Reassure->Reassure]]

"With all due respect," you say, "you'll love what Chef has prepared. Give it a shot, but if you don't like it, I'll personally bring you sauce on the side." He agrees, and you head back to put in the order with Chef. "Hi, Chef. First order in," you say. "Well, what is it? I don't have all day." "It'll be the pork belly starter." "No modifications?" "No, Chef." "Good work. Coming up. Kitchen! I need a pork belly. Let's make it fast and perfect." [[Leave the kitchen.->Leave the kitchen.]] [[Ask for something else.->Ask for something else]]

"We have an important food critic showing up today, and we need your help. Armond was supposed to be handling this, but he's gone and we can't mess this up," Kyla says. "What would you need me to do?" you ask. "Chef will walk you through the options for each course. It's up to you to remember all of the information. Mr. Black is the food critic. Don't let him or Chef Lorin get angry. The more you mess up, the closer they'll get to walking out. "If you can pull this off, you'll have a great future here at Cafe Chaos. But if you drop the ball, I can't promise we'll be asking you back. It's a make-or-break situation, Frankie. This is your shot. If you're still on board, head to the kitchen to talk to Chef." What's your response? [["Okay, here goes..."->Meet with Chef]] [["I don't think this is a good idea."->Bail]]

You walk through the dining room with Kyla and into the kitchen. Chef Lorin is pacing in the kitchen. "Hi, Chef," Kyla says. "Frankie will be your lead tonight. Get her set up, please. Mr. Black will be here any minute." Kyla walks out, and before you can speak, Chef Lorin's already begun. "We don't pass out menus. It's the server's responsibility to help create the proper experience. Usually, the server knows the entire menu, but I'll tell you course by course since you're learning. "There are three courses, and we have two options for each course. We do not do any modifications, substitutions, changes, or anything like that. This menu has been pored over endlessly. Each ingredient is carefully picked to ensure we're delivering the perfect bite. That's part of the beauty of what we do, so you cannot forget that. "The first course is an appetizer course. We have a butternut squash cake with braised pork belly and a fig and thyme sauce. The butternut squash is shredded and then made into a hashbrown-style cake. It's crunchy outside and fluffy on the inside. The pork belly has been braised for hours in red wine, so it melts in your mouth. "The other option is a grilled oyster plate. It comes with three locally-sourced grilled oysters. There's a meyer lemon glaze and a small microgreens salad. It's light and refreshing but rich and meaty." She stops to direct one of the cooks holding a large tray. You take that moment to quicly recite the first course to yourself. A moment later, Chef Lorin's attention is back on you. "Do you have any questions?" she asks. "Yes, I--" Just then, Kyla swings open the kitchen door. "Frankie, we need you on the floor now. Mr. Black is waiting." [[Greet Mr. Black. ->Start Service]] [[Bail->Bail]] [[Ask Kyla for more time.->Wrong Answer]]

"That sounds pretty good," Mr. Black says. "Is there any way I could just have it on the side?" [[Explain Chef's modification policy.->Explain Chef's modification policy]] [[Agree to provide the sauce on the side.->Agree to provide the sauce on the side]]

That was the wrong answer. Sorry, Frankie. Your only options are to leave and keep looking for a job, or go back a few steps to [[try again.->Meet with Chef]]

You stand in the kitching, shifting your weight from foot to food. Chef looks at you, irritation growing. "What are you still doing in here?" "I was wondering something..." you say. "Out with it!" "Should we, I don't know, maybe offer Mr. Black something else?" "What are you talking about? We're working on Mr. Black's order right now." "No, I just think we should offer Mr. Black more of an experience, you know? Let him try both starters, or maybe give him an amuse bouche?" Chef stares at you long and hard. "You wanna' tell me how to run my kitchen like buddy who walked out? Thought he knew more than me?" [["Never mind, Chef."->Drop it]] [["Well, maybe if you listened a little more..."->Give attitude]] [[Not at all, Chef. I just think it'd be a great way to showcase the kitchen.->Explain patiently]]

You walk out of the kitchen and stand to the side, defeated. You ask yourself if you should give it another shot, or if you should just wait for Mr. Black's order to come out. [[Wait->Just wait]] [[Give it another shot.->Explain patiently]]

Someone comes up to you and introduces themself. You talk for a minute about your interview and how you got there. They say they have some insider information on the drama that unfolded earlier. [[Ask for the info.->Ask for the info]] [["Nah, that's okay. I'm gonna' get ready for the second course."->Move on to second course]]

You give Chef some more attitude. You can see why there's been so much drama here. Chef is clearly hard to work with. Instead of backing down, you push a little more because you want Chef to see your point of view. Right now they're down a server, so they clearly need you more than you need them. Chef gives you one more chance to back down. Do you: [[Drop it and move on.->Move on to second course]] [[Push it some more.->Wrong Answer]]

"That's fine by me! Let's move onto the second course. You ready?" [[Move on to second course.->Move on to second course]] [[Try again.->Suggest the other appetizer]]

You compliment Chef's delicious and extensive work. You say that it would be a good idea to offer more of the menu as a taste. "I just think it would be great to showcase a bit more of the menu so Mr. Black can see the diversity in the dishes. Maybe we can offer the other appetizer." Chef seems interested in your point of view but not totally convinced. Do you: [[Wait for Chef to agree.->Wait for Chef's approval]] [[Drop it.->Move on to second course]]

"This was your suggestion. If you don't have any ideas, let's just move onto the second course. I don't have time for this." You want to come up with something, or you want to move on to the second course? [[Suggest the other appetizer.->Suggest the other appetizer]] [[Move on to the next course.->Move on to second course]]

Chef asks if you're ready to start the second course. You nod. The focus for this course is the wine. Both are famed dishes that people from all over have talked and raved about. The food will be delicious and is probably what Mr. Black is actually here for. No matter what he picks, the key will be to pair it with the right wine. "Let's start with the dishes," Chef says. "We have a roasted duck with purple mashed potatoes, root vegetables, and a brown butter sauce. The duck skin is crispy, and the breast is cooked to a perfect medium. And remember..." "No substitutions," you say. "The wine pairing for the duck is a skin contact chardonnay," Chef says. "It looks orange when poured because it made with the skins still on the grapes. It's from California but it's not buttery and it's not oaky. Got it?" "Yes," you say. "Got it." "Great," Chef says. "The other option we have is a dry aged 9-ounce rib eye. With it we have a creamy fontina and aged gouda mac and cheese and grilled asparagus. We serve this with a lemon butter sauce. You still with me?" "Yup," you say. "Now, the wine for the rib eye is a sparkling red from Italy. It's a lambrusco that is traditionally sweet but this one is drier while still very fruit forward. I hope you got all that because there's no time for questions. Get going, Frankie." [[Go to Mr. Black's table.->Go to Mr. Black's table]]

You get caught gossipping and are asked to leave the restaurant. [[Uh-oh...->Wrong Answer]]

As soon as the words are out of your mouth you realize your mistake. Chef does too. He fixes you with a stare so menacing you're not sure whether you should push it or just leave it alone. You want this job, and you're willing to fight for it. "You want to say something to me?" Chef asks. [[Push it.->Push it]] [["Forget it."->Leave the kitchen.]]

Okay, what are you thinking? [[Suggest the other app.->Suggest the other appetizer]] [[Ask Chef for an idea.->Ask for Chef's thoughts]]

"If you say so," Mr. Black says, "Why not? Let's talk about wine. I think I'd like a glass of Merlot to go with this one. Can you pour me a glass?" [[Recommend the white wine.->Suggest the white wine]] [[Recommend the red wine.->Recommend the red wine]] [[Agree to the Merlot.->Agree to the Merlot]]

"It sounds like it should be good," Mr. Black says. "Would you recommend a red or a white wine for this meal?" "Actually," you say, "we have the perfect pairing for this dish. It's a..." [["White, skin-contact Chardonnay."->Recommend the white wine]] [["Red, sparkling Lambrusco."->Red wine for steak]] [["It's up to you. What would you like?"->Mr. Black is annoyed again]]

You explain the wine and then you go to Chef to put in the order. You walk in the kitchen and are immediately hit with the rich smells of the herb-dense braises and buttery sauces. Your mouth waters as your senses become overwhelmed. You spaced out for a minute. Chef Lorin snaps to get your attention. "Earth to Frankie! What did Mr. Black order?" Chef asks. [[Steak and Lambrusco->Steak with the red wine]] [[Steak and Chardonnay->Steak with the white wine]]

Mr. Black seems hesitant, but ultimately goes with your recommendation. You go back to Chef to tell him the order. "So, what's he having?" [[Steak and Lambrusco->Steak with the red wine]] [[Steak and Chardonnay->Steak with the white wine]]

You explain the Lambrusco to Mr. Black. Although he seems hesitant at first, he accepts your suggestion. You head back to let Chef know what Mr. Black ordered. "Red?" Chef says. "You were supposed to offer the white!" [[Go back to Mr. Black.->Suggest the white wine]] [[Apologize to Chef, but don't change because Mr. Black already agreed.->Wrong Answer]]

Hesitantly, you agree to Mr. Black's request. You go to the kitchen to let Chef know what he has ordered. The kitchen is lively. The sound of searing meats fill the air, and the smell of rendering fat fills your nostrils. You're almost tempted to ask for a plate, but you remain focused on the task at hand. "Chef, Mr. Black is having the duck, and with it he wants a glass of Merlot." "Merlot?" Chef says. "No, we don't even have any Merlot. I told you the wines already. You need to go back out there and handle your table." [[Suggest the Lambrusco instead since it's a red wine like Merlot.->Wrong Answer]] [[Go back to Mr. Black and suggest the Chardonnay.->Suggest the white wine]] [[Ask Chef for a refresher on the wines.->Ask Chef for a refresher]]

"Nice work, Frankie. We'll take it from here. Why don't you head up to the front with Kyla. I'll check on you after dessert." Chef pats your shoulder and heads out of the kitchen. You observe the business for moment, watching the line cooks work vigorously on their dishes. The busboys clean the dishes and pots quicker than anything you've seen before. The sous chef reads off tickets and calls out orders. Servers come in and out of the kitchen, exchanging tickets for plates. You're mesmerized by it all, and with your service ending well, you're not sure what to do next. [[Go to the front and wait for Chef.->Game over, good job]] [[Offer to help in the kitchen.->Help in the kitchen]]

Chef is not pleased. That wasn't the right wine. Do you: [[Serve it anyway.->Wrong Answer]] [[Correct it with Mr. Black.->Correct the mistake]]

"Wait, sorry, Chef! That's not it. Mr. Black asked for my recommendation, and I said the lambrusco. Mr. Black will have: [[The lambrusco with the steak.->Steak with the red wine]]

Mr. Black seems interested and impressed with your recommendation. He agrees to the Chardonnay. You go back to the kitchen. "It smells good back here, Chef," you say. "Oh yeah? What do you know about it?" she asks. "I know that you've been using sage in your brown butter sauce instead of rosemary for a more refined finish." Chef Lorin almost smiles, but keeps her face stern. "Not bad, kid. Now, let's have my order." You tell Chef Lorin what Mr. Black is having, and you confirm the correct wine. Chef smiles and nods her head. "Nice work, Frankie. Take a breather. We'll handle it from here. I'll catch up with you in a minute." [[Go to the front.->Game over, good job]] [[Hang back in the kitchen.->Kitchen staff]]

Chef agrees and offers to take out the extra appetizer herself. She thinks it'll be a great idea to get a some face time with Mr. Black before service is over. When she comes back it's time for the second course. [[Move on to second course->Move on to second course]]

Mr. Black crosses his arms over his chest. "Truthfully," he says, "if I have to sit here and wait while you learn your menu, I'd much rather go somewhere where they'll allow me to read the menu for myself." Maybe you should give the answer another shot. [["Actually, sir, it'll be a fig and thyme sauce..."->Fig and Thyme Sauce]] [["Well, sir, I believe it's the meyer lemon sauce..."->Wrong Answer]]

You walk out of the kitchen and dinner service is underway. Only a few patrons occupy the tables in the restaurant, but you can feel their excitement. Cafe Chaos is known for its lively atmosphere even though it is a fancier restaurant. Chef Lorin's food brings a variety of reactions--all positive, and guests are encouraged to enjoy their food, fully. First courses are leaving the kitchen, and the scent of fresh lemon sends tingles up your spine. The pork belly passes by you, and the richness of the sauce sticks to your bones just from the smell. You approach Mr. Black's table, and you see a small smile he tries to hide. He's clearly been enjoying his food so far. Hopefully you can help keep things moving in the right direction. "Mr. Black," you say, "enjoying everything so far?" He purses his lips and folds his hands on the table. "Let's talk about the second course, why don't we?" A bit defeated that you didn't get an answer, you continue on. "Sure thing, sir. You again have two options for your second course. We have a roasted duck entree, and dry aged ribeye." You explain the dishes the way you remember without yet touching on the wines. To your surprise, Mr. Black says, "I'd like to go with your recommendation for this course. What do you insist I have?" [[Roasted duck with purple mashed potatoes and root vegetables->Main 1]] [[Dry aged ribeye with aged gouda and fontina mac and cheese and asparagus->Main 2]]

Mr. Black raises an eyebrow. "What would I like? You recommend this dish to me, and then you tell me to choose my own wine? After you feed me some bologna about eveything being perfectly curated? How about this? How about you tell Chef Lorin to come out here and tell me what wine I should drink with my steak." [[Go get Chef.->Go get Chef]] [[Insist on Mr. Black choosing.->Wrong Answer]] [["White, skin-contact Chardonnay."->Recommend the white wine]] [["Red, sparkling Lambrusco."->Red wine for steak]]

You walk into the kitchen, and things have clearly picked up. Everyone is moving quickly, putting together the orders that are coming in. Chef Lorin moves in and out of each station, helping out where needed, but calling orders and instructions out to keep the lines moving. She notices you in the doorway. "Why are you just standing there? You got an entree for me?" she asks. "No, actually," you say. "Um, Mr. Black wants to see you." "See me? Already? He hasn't even had his entree yet." "Well, I couldn't remember the wine for the ribeye... So--" "Wait a second," Chef says, stepping to you slowly. "You mean to tell me, you're back here... to get me... to go do your job?" "No, Chef, I just--" "You what? You what?" "I just... forgot." Your admission was the final straw. "Get. Out!" [[Exit Kitchen->Wrong Answer]]

"Uh, Chef," you say. "What?" she says, clearly growing more agitated. "Could you, um, could you remind me what the wine selections are?" "Everyone stop!" she says, and the kitchen becomes still. The only things moving are the sauces bubbling and the oil crackling. "Frankie needs a refresher on the wines. Someone tell me, do I have time to do Frankie's job?" In unison, the voices in the kitchen yell out, "No, Chef!" Chef Lorin nods and then turns to you. "You heard them, Frankie. Now get out of my kitchen." [[Exit Kitchen->Wrong Answer]]

You approach the podium and wait for Kyla to finish helping a group of diners. Their waiter greets them and takes them into the dining room. Kyla looks at you with a smile. "Not bad, Frankie," she says. "Yeah?" you ask. "Looks like we'll be seeing more of each other. I'll go get you a plate and ask the manager to cut you a check for the day. He just got in, but he can probably spare minute. You worked hard. You deserve it." "Thanks, Kyla! That was fun. Scary, but fun." Kyla walks away and leaves you in the lobby alone. A few patrons leave while you're standing there, and one walks in. You're not sure if you should help them while Kyla's away. You open your mouth to say something, although you're not quite sure what. But before any word comes out of your mouth, you hear Kyla's foice. "Welcome to Cafe Chaos. How many in your party?" Kyla asks the person. You move out of the way so they can continue their conversation. "Frankie," Chef Lorin calls out. She has an envelope and a small container in her hands. "Chef," you respond. "Listen," she says, "Mr. Black is pleased. He just ordered more wine and another dessert and he even asked for you." "No way!" you say. "Yeah, you really left an impression on him... On everyone this evening. You stepped up to a challenge, had some bumps, but you cane through for us, and it paid off." "I'm glad, Chef. I mean, it was my pleasure. I love what you guys are doing here. This opportunity meant a lot to me." "That's good to here. This is for you," she says, and she hands you the envelope and small container. "Dessert on me, and your pay for the day. Kyla will reach out later this week to get you properly onboarded. Enjoy and welcome to the team, Franie." CONGRATULATIONS!

You stand and watch all of the action in the kitchen. The excitement of a restaurant is as much back here as it is out in the dining room. The sous chef catches you staring and raises an eyebrow. "Looks like it went alright for you tonight," he says. "Yeah, I think it did." "That's good. It's not easy, you know? This business is tough. Best thing you can do is be confident when you need to be, and be cocky never." You think for a moment, and then say, "I thought this whole industry is based on cockiness." "It is, but it's also about finesse--" A line cook interrupts your conversation. "Chef, how many steaks for table four?" they say. The sous chef turns around and looks at the tickets hanging over head. "Table four, I have 3 steak, two duck, heard?" Every voice in the kitchen besides yours and the sous chef yell out, "Yes, Chef!" The sous chef turns back to you, and says, "Heard?" "Yes, Chef," you say. "I'm Tommy. Frankie, right?" "Yes, Chef." "Frankie, can you restock the ticket machine and do a sweep in the dining room? If people look restless, come back. If everything looks good, take a beat in the lobby. Can't have you taking up space in my kitchen," Tommy says. You do a quick glance around the rooom to find the paper for the ticket machine, and see it on the shelf next to you. You do as asked, and then walk into the dining room. Everything looks good, so you [[Head to the Front.->Game over, good job]] [[Go Back to the Kitchen.->Return to the kitchen]]

The sous chef finds you observing. "Hey, I'm Tommy," he says. "Frankie," you respond. "You need anything," he asks. "You've been standing there for quite some time, and Chef doesn't usually let that happen." "No, I'm good. Well, actually, I was wondering if you guys needed a hand with anything," you say. "Everyone here is trained to handle what they have going on, but thanks for asking. You never know when we're just pushed enough to need impromptu reinforcements, so I'll keep you in mind." "Okay, great," you say. "Looking forward to it." "Yeah, you should probably get lost now. Chef'll meet you in the front," Tommy says. [[Thanks, Tommy.->Game over, good job]]

You push through the doors, and find Chef Lorin talking to Tommy. They both stop and look at you. "What are you doing back here, Frankie?" Chef says. [[Blame Tommy.->Blame Tommy]] [[Apologize and Leave.->Apologize and Leave]]

"Um... Tommy, uh, Tommy told me to come back here," you say. Chef Tommy's face drops in confusion. Chef looks at Tommy and tilts her head in a silent question that Tommy shakes his head no to. "You know what, Frankie? You did a really great job tonight, and you risked it all for a petty lie that just blew your shot," Chef says. "What?!" you say. "No, Chef. Please, let me explain, I--" "Get out of my kitchen, Frankie. I won't say it again." [[Listen to Chef.->Final Fail]]

"Sorry, Chef. Just wanted to see if you guys needed anything else," you say. "That's enough for tonight. Go wait up front." [[Follow Chef's Order.->Game over, good job]]

//You were so close! Chef Tommy told specifically said NOT to come back if the dining room looked good. Whether you forgot, or you were too scared to tell the truth, all your hard work just went down the drain.// You head to the front, and Kyla hands you her bag. "Better luck next time, Frankie," she says.