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Prompt

A small American diner on Saturday afternoon, warm fluorescent lighting mixing with natural light from large windows, red vinyl booths and chrome counter stools, seven customers frozen mid-conversation. Carmen (23, blonde ponytail, white waitress uniform with name tag) stands behind the counter, hand pressed to her reddened cheek. A man in his 50s (plaid shirt, baseball cap) sits on a stool, leaning forward aggressively. The dining room has gone completely silent - Ruth (elderly woman) holds her coffee cup suspended, the Kowalski brothers at the window booth have stopped eating mid-bite. Kitchen door swings open. Lou (55, salt-and-pepper hair, white cook's apron with flour and chocolate frosting stains) emerges carrying a homemade chocolate birthday cake with both hands, still warm, unfrosted top visible. Wide shot captures the frozen tableau. Lou stops, takes in his daughter's face, the man's posture, the silence. He walks to the counter, sets the cake down carefully between Carmen and the man. Close-up: Lou reaches under counter, pulls out birthday candles, places one in center, lights it with his pocket lighter. He looks at Carmen: "Make a wish." She blows out the candle. Lou turns to the man: "You're going to leave a twenty dollar tip. Then you're going to leave my diner." The man stares at Lou's stained apron, at the homemade cake, puts twenty dollars on counter and leaves. No logos, no brand names, no watermarks, no text overlays.