Scene 4 - Act 1

The House on the Hill
Scene 4 â€" Act 1
The Longest Day


PAUL
CONNIE
EMMALINE
MOVING MAN


The scene is set in an Empty house with packing boxes around. Paul is on the first level ready to leave the house.

PAUL
(Yells up the staircase) Connie, I'm leaving! (pulls his suitcase toward the door) Connie!


CONNIE

(Connie walks down the staircase) Do you have to go? I need you to help move boxes. I don't trust the movers. You know this.

PAUL
I'm sorry but I have a business trip that I must be a part of. (sighs) I can't cancel.

CONNIE
For a whole week? Paul (pause) This is the longest you have ever been away.


PAUL
I know. (long pause, looks at Connie) It can't be helped. (picks up his briefcase) I have to go. I ... uh... hope things go well for the move. Connie, the movers will do all of the work. (sigh) So, don't worry, okay?

Connie stands silent, stares at Paul.
PAUL
Well ... I have to go. I'll see you next week in our new house. (Paul turns and walks out the front door, he turns back, waves) Bye! See you next week!

Connie watches from the doorway as he places his suitcase in the trunk and drives off.


CONNIE
(waving slowly, whispers to herself) Goodbye. (She turns around quickly and yells) Emma! Where are you?


EMMALINE
(Steps out into the hallway) I'm right here Mamma.


CONNIE
Oh, my heaven's child! You must stop sneaking up on me.


EMMALINE
Sorry, Mamma.


CONNIE
It's all right, darling. (pause) Now quick! We must get ready for the packers to come and move our furniture to the new house. (sigh, worried tone) Isn't that exciting?


EMMALINE
(shrugs her shoulders) I guess so, Mamma.

CONNIE
Emma, go pack your overnight bag. They'll be here soon. Okay?


EMMALINE
Okay, Mamma (turns toward the stairs) Mamma? I will find friends at the new house, right?


CONNIE
Of course, you will. This will be the best move, yet. Remember that as you pack.

Emma smiles half-heartedly and dashes up the stairs to her room. Connie looks down at the floor, paces, and thinks about all the tasks that needed to be completed to have a smooth transition to the new house. She walks to the kitchen and pours herself some coffee.

The day has just started. Oh, I have to get moving but first I'll have some coffee. (Connie sits at the kitchen table with her cup) Emma is getting so big. She'll find friends, I'm certain of it. Not like last time. And Paul, he'll get used to the drive. I'm certain of that as well. This will be a good move for us. It's simply time to move. That's all...

The doorbell rings loudly, snaps her out of her trance.

They are here, early. (walks toward the door) I guess better than late. (She answers the door)


MOVING MAN
(a burly man dressed in overalls stands at the door, looks at a clipboard) Ah.... Ms. Stewart?


CONNIE
Yes.


MOVING MAN
We are here to pack you up and move you to your new home. (waves to the men in the truck to come forward) My name is Jack. I'm in charge of today's packing.


CONNIE
Yes, just in time too. (opens the screen door)


MOVING MAN (JACK)
Glad we can help, ma'am.

Connie steps out of the way of the men. The workmen instantly scatter about the house, each looking around at specific rooms simultaneously.


MOVING MAN (JACK)
I assigned my guys to work in particular areas. We get the work done faster this way.


CONNIE
(perplexed look) Okay.

MOVING MAN (JACK)
We do good work too... and fast... (smiling at Connie) We'll have you and your husband in your new home by late afternoon. Don't you worry about a thing, ma'am?




CONNIE
He won't be joining us until next week. (clears her throat) He's on a business trip at the moment.


MOVING MAN (JACK)
Oh. Uh, well, (pause) we'll get you moved over with no problems, ma'am. If you don't mind, ma'am, I'll get to work now,

CONNIE
Of course. (pause) Thank you.

The men immediately start sorting, wrapping, and packing items into boxes. They work fast, efficiently and move out box after box into the truck. Working through the morning, long into the early afternoon. Eventually, the house was empty. Connie stands in the empty kitchen looking around.

MOVING MAN (JACK)
(walks into the kitchen) Ma'am, we're done packing up the house. If you wouldn't mind taking a walk around to make sure we got everything (pause) before we head to your new house.

CONNIE
Okay. I can do that.

MOVING MAN (JACK)
If it's all right with you, we'll wait by the truck, ma'am. (leaves kitchen)


Connie searches around the empty house. The entire downstairs was cleared out, she walks up the staircase. She hears Emma playing in her room.


CONNIE
Did they forget to take Emma's things? (opens her bedroom door, Emma sits on the floor in an empty room playing with a doll. She looked up quickly as her mother comes into the room)

Oh Emma, they certainly did a good job moving all your toys, didn't they?

EMMALINE
Yes, Mamma.

CONNIE
Honey, it's time to go. The house is empty.

Emmaline picks packs her doll into her bag.


MOVING MAN (JACK)
(stands in the doorway, clears his throat) Uh ... Excuse me, ma'am?

Connie jumps and turns around quickly


MOVING MAN (JACK)
My apologies, Ma'am. (long pause) Does everything appear to be loaded into the truck, Ma'am?

CONNIE
Huh? (snaps back into the present moment) Oh yes (pause) the house is empty. Thank you.


MOVING MAN (JACK)
Ma'am, in that case, if you don't mind, we'll start moving to the new house. Your husband gave me a key. We'll go on ahead and start unpacking and place the boxes where they belong ... uh ... if this is okay with you? That is...

CONNIE
You ... have a key? Paul (pause) gave you a key? Why do you have a key?


MOVING MAN (JACK)
Oh, I dunno, ma'am. He maybe thought it would be ... uh... easier for you.


CONNIE
(stern voice, irritated) Easier for me? (pause) easier for me? Do you know what would be easier for me?


MOVING MAN (JACK)
Ma'am, no... ma'am. I just do as I'm told. (he shrugs his shoulders, looks at Connie)

CONNIE
Oh ... of course, I'm sorry. No worries, I'll take this up with the appropriate person. (turns around, stares at the empty room from the doorway) Yes, go on ahead and start unpacking. I shouldn't be far behind anyway.


MOVING MAN (JACK)
Okay, ma'am. We are leaving now. Uh, Thank you.

CONNIE
(turns to watch Jack go down the staircase) No ... Thank you. (yells loudly) Emmaline? Where are you? You were just here.

EMMALINE
I'm right here mamma. (steps out into the hallway)


CONNIE
Honey, grab your things, we need to go to the new house now.


Emma picks up her bag and walks with her mother down the staircase and out the door. Connie looks back at the empty house.

CONNIE
Emma, this is the right decision.

EMMALINE
Okay, mamma.


CONNIE
Let's go find some new friends for you, Emmaline.