Trattoria Eldredge-Hanafordi is bustling with activity.

Of course, it is not unusual to see the restaurant packed with patrons. After all, Trattoria Eldredge-Hanafordi had just been voted the Italian Restaurant of Year for 1993 by Gourmet International Magazine.

And there is one major reason for the family restaurant’s international acclaim.

“Although the restaurant has great service, tasty desserts and refreshing entertainment, Mama E. Hanafordi’s secret sauce recipe is the drawing card,” proclaims Gourmet International Magazine in its review.

So as the guests arrive on this night, the HOSTESS sweetly makes sure to point out the glowing review, which hangs on the wall along with other flattering newspaper reviews and certificates of excellence that Trattoria Eldredge-Hanafordi has earned over the years.

Also on display, in a locked glass case, is the main object of the reviewers’ praise – MAMA’s secret sauce recipe.

Well, at least the main ingredients of the valuable recipe can be seen by the customers. The secret ingredients are listed on the back of the piece of paper that is protected in the case, out of the patrons’ sight. A SECURITY GUARD stands watch, just in case.

Suddenly, as the final guests are seated, there is a commotion. The shy, clumsy WAITRESS spills water on the floor. She covers her face with embarrassment as the HOSTESS approaches.

"You bubblehead! You spilled again! Go get the JANITOR," shouts the HOSTESS, the bossy side of her two-faced personality exposed.

In a short time, the dim-witted JANITOR shuffles in and cleans up the water, mumbling about his desire to be rich so he could buy a yacht.

A VIOLINIST roams around the restaurant, adding to the ambience. The WAITERS and WAITRESS put bread on the tables. MAMA and PAPA HANAFORDI walk around greeting the guests.

All of a sudden, the BUSPERSON, his fingers dripping with sauce, rushes out of the kitchen, followed by an angry CHEF, upset that the BUSPERSON has tasted the sauce. One of the WAITERS, the HANAFORDI’s son, steps in between them. The SECURITY GUARD leaves his post briefly.

The food is served. The customers enjoy their meal until, suddenly, there is a loud argument between the two WAITERS. And then the CHEF gets upset with a customer in the buffet line, an INSURANCE AGENT, who has complained that the meatballs are mushy.

Everyone on the staff rushes over to the scene. Eventually tempers settle down. The SECURITY GUARD plays the piano for a bit. The FLOWER SALESPERSON moves from table to table, selling flowers.

"Aaaaiehhhh!"

MAMA HANAFORDI screams.

"My secret recipe! It’s gone!" yells MAMA HANAFORDI, breaking into sobs as she stands in front of the open glass case, which is empty.

A man gets up from his seat in the restaurant. He is a DETECTIVE. He had a feeling there might be trouble on this night. MAMA had tipped him off.

The restaurant had been getting threatening notes, pieced together from letters cut out of a magazine. He holds them up and reads them to the crowd.

"Kiss Your Sauce Recipe Goodbye, Mama!"

"Mama E., Tomorrow Night Your Recipe Will Be Gone, So Watch It!"

There was even a note MAMA E. HANAFORDI received in the mail, in rhyme, no less.

"Mrs. Hanafordi,

The recipe you love so dear

Has made me want more and more to appear.

In five days, that’s coming, oh yes!

I’ll make your restaurant into a mess.

For your recipe will soon not be there.

After I emerge from my lair.

The DETECTIVE brings everyone on stage, pulling the CHEF, JANITOR and BUSPERSON out of the kitchen. The DETECTIVE searches for clues.

He finds a pencil. Did the RESTAURANT CRITIC lose it while he was stealing the recipe? Or did the pencil belong to MAMA’S INSURANCE AGENT, who knew that the recipe was insured for $1,575,385.16?

Did one of the WAITERS steal it to help pay for his college tuition at Harvard? Did the other WAITER, the HANAFORDI’S son, steal it to get back at his parents who were making him work in the restaurant?

Would the recipe help the JANITOR buy his dream yacht? Why is the HOSTESSES’ button on the floor near the case?

Suspects. They are all around the DETECTIVE, and he questions everyone. He looks around and sees the CHEF stuffing his hands into his apron.

“What’s in the apron?” asks the DETECTIVE.

“Uh, nothing. It’s just dirty. I’ll go get a clean one in the kitchen,” says the CHEF, trying to move away.

The DETECTIVE blocks his path, reaches into the apron pocket and pulls out a sauce-stained secret recipe.

“Mama Mia, my recipe!” shouts MAMA E. HANAFORDI.

The CHEF isn’t taking the rap alone, though. He squeals on MAMA and PAPA’s son, one of the WAITERS, who was in on the crime, too.

According to the CHEF, the WAITER stole the key to the glass case from his MAMA and started an argument with the other WAITER as a distraction, allowing the CHEF to take the recipe.

The DETECTIVE leads the CHEF and WAITER out of the restaurant to the police station.

“They’ll be simmering for years in the slammer,” says the DETECTIVE.

MAMA HANAFORDI addresses the customers.

“Escussata. Please, now that the mystery has been solved, everybody join us for our special dessert buffet, complete with coffee and tea.”