Just back from Cantina Agave, where I witnessed a young lady return a bottle of old booze. This bottle of booze, which, according to co-owner Raffe Ibrahim, was a personal gift from Alexandra Marnier. That's her name on the bottle. That, in the picture, is the bottle back in Cantina as of 5pm today.

Ask him the story sometime. After he explains that even the French HQ couldn't locate another one anywhere, he'll tell you, "You know who else has this bottle? The Queen of England. Cantina Agave and the Queen of England."

Wonderful. It went down like this: Only the girl showed up. She cased the place to make sure the cops weren't hiding out -- they weren't; just me -- before walking in and sheepishly asking for the manager. Co-owner Kelley Lee came over -- "Oh, so you're the girl with the bottle." -- and made her sit at a table, for 45 minutes, with this rather ugly red-and-brown striped bottle on the table in front of her, while everyone waited for Raffe to show up. Like school. Her posture drooped and she stared into space. She must've been terrified.

And then Raffe strolled in. The three of them sat down. The girl apologized. Raffe got all self-righteous. The girl almost cried. Raffe was wearing an intimidating black t-shirt with white dragons on the sleeves. His long, luxuriant hair blew in a curious breeze. The girl's bangs swept over one eye. She wore a white shirt with blue stripes and had a shiny black plastic shopping bag in which she brought the booze. Nine West, maybe. I couldn't catch the logo.

Sorry. Too much fashion.

So, girl returned booze. Apologized. Raffe got his Grand Marnier back. Cops will probably call it all off. Everything's more or less cool.

Except, the thieves are still idiots. Sitting there, watching the girl fret and shake, it was easy to feel sorry for her. Drunk. Stupid move. The bad luck of grabbing the Queen's booze. She's forgiveable. Almost forgivable. Pitiable, at least.

But the guys. The guys! Where were the guys, her accomplices?! Too afraid to show up, that's where. They hung this girl out to dry, and only she had the self-dignity left to show up and take responsibility. Low. Stupid. Idiotic. I guess we already knew that about them.

You, honey. You need new friends. I can introduce you. We'll go out to dinner.

Ever been to Maya?