JENNIFER AND HELEN'S HOUSE - MID-MORNING
A fairly normal family home. JENNIFER, about 20, is sitting at the table in the kitchen, having a cup of tea. She is in casual clothes, and is looking at a photo of her mother. She hears HELEN making "wake up" noises, and knows she is on her way into the kitchen. JENNIFER: (to photo) Ok, here goes. I don't know what I'm gonna say. Any ideas? The photo doesn't answer. JENNIFER stands up, puts the photo on the bench amongst a few other family photos, and starts to pour some strong coffee for HELEN. HELEN enters, obviously the worst for wear - she is about 5 years younger than JENNIFER. She shuffles to the table and sits down, letting her head slump onto the table and plops her mobile phone down next to her with a couple of tablets. She doesn't even look up - just raises her hand in the direction of JENNIFER and the coffee. JENNIFER hands it to her. HELEN's arm has some sort of rigor mortis, because it remains outstretched with the coffee cup in her hand. JENNIFER: Bend. HELEN: Can't. JENNIFER manipulates HELEN's inner elbow so that she somehow ends up with her arm resting on the table, coffee upright and intact. JENNIFER: Drink your coffee. HELEN mumbles something unintelligible. Beat JENNIFER: (baiting her) I'm just gonna cook up some greasy sausages and eggs - HELEN raises her head off the table. HELEN: (slurring her words) You obviously want to spend the next 2 hours cleaning up my puke. JENNIFER: Then sit up, and drink your coffee. HELEN unravels herself and gingerly lifts the coffee cup to her lips. JENNIFER: Big one last night, huh? HELEN: Oh, man! It was totally awesome! (big cheeky grin) I can't wait till I'm old enough to drink legally. She finds that very funny and laughs and chokes on her coffee. JENNIFER: Yeah ... just as well we have those minimum age drinking laws. HELEN: (small, plaintive voice) Toast? JENNIFER: Get it yourself. HELEN: But you made it for me yesterday morning. JENNIFER: Yeah, well ... the service stops at coffee now. HELEN: Please, Mummy? Silence HELEN: (mumbling) Sorry. Beat JENNIFER: ("older sister") Well, she might not be here any more, but she did leave me in charge, so you'll have to live by my rules. So - get up and make your own toast. HELEN: I don't really want toast. Coffee's fine. JENNIFER looks at the photo of her mother, who would always make toast for her in this situation. She thinks about it ... and decides that today of all days, she'll give in this one more time. JENNIFER goes to the toaster and puts in two slices of toast, and presses it down to cook. HELEN notices, and smiles to herself. She always gets her way. END OF PAGE ONE |