The Girl Next Door

The House on the Hill
The Girl Next Door
Act I â€" Scene 5



CONNIE
VANESSA (Nessa) age 5 - Miranda's daughter â€" exuberant, talkative friendly girl
MIRANDA - Mother of Nessa â€" new neighbor â€" Friendly, Talkative



Connie stands staring at the new house. It is late afternoon and the movers had most of the boxes into the new house already. They are busy unpacking just as fast as they had packed up. Connie notices a young girl playing in the neighbor's yard next door. She had long brown hair a dirty face, wearing overalls and a t-shirt, playing with cars in the dirt. Connie watches the young girl and finally clears her throat to grab the little girl's attention.


VANESSA (NESSA)
(Looks up from playing in the dirt, sees Connie, immediately stands up and yells out)
Mom, they're here!"


A young woman walked out of the house onto the front porch. Sees Connie, she walks over, smiling, with her hand extended.

MIRANDA
Hi! Welcome to the neighborhood. It's nice to finally meet our new neighbor. My daughter (taps Vanessa on the head) has been waiting and waiting to meet you as well. This is Vanessa.


VANESSA (NESSA)
(irritated) Mom ... (turns away from Connie, whispers) It's ... Nessa.


MIRANDA
(sighs) Oh, yes. Sorry, my mistake, this is my daughter NESSA and my name is Miranda. It's nice to meet you.


VANESSA (NESSA)
(smiles a big toothless smile) Do you have any kids?


MIRANDA
Vanessa! Let our new neighbor speak ... before you ask such questions. (looks toward Connie) Sorry, she's a bit excited.

CONNIE
(Connie smiling, looks at Vanessa, awkwardly speaks)
Uhh... Thank you. I didn't expect a huge welcome to my new house.


VANESSA (NESSA)
(exuberantly) I've been waiting for you!


CONNIE

(nervously) WHY? Oh Uh ... thank you. Uh... Nice to meet you both.


MIRANDA
Well, you must have a busy day ahead of you. We just wanted to welcome you to the neighborhood.


VANESSA (NESSA)
(blurts out) Do the cops come to your house too?



MIRANDA
(astonished, embarrassed) VANESSA!



VANESSA (NESSA)
Nessa. (frowning) Mom.


CONNIE
(choosing her words carefully)
The police have been to your home? Is that what Nessa is telling me?



MIRANDA
(Loud sigh) Ummmm... Nessa! (sigh) She loves talking to everyone... particularly adults. (looks at NESSA, sharp tone) That's private business, Nessa!


CONNIE
(stares at Miranda cautiously) So (pause) what the child says is ... true, then?





MIRANDA
Ugh ... I'm sorry. She ... yes, it WAS true at one time. But not any more ... (stern voice) Right? Vanessa. (sincere tone, looks at Connie) We are not problem neighbors. Sincerely. (pause) She's only 5 and doesn't fully understand... (trails off speaking) Her father... (sigh)


CONNIE
Her father?


MIRANDA
We're divorced! (pause) He doesn't live with us anymore. (looks at Vanessa) We are working on not talking about it with everyone. Right, Nessa?


Vanessa frowns and pulls a car out of her pocket to play with.

CONNIE
Well, uh... Miranda. I'm not just anyone. You can tell me your story.


MIRANDA
(taken off guard) Oh, I ... already did. We are divorced and he doesn't live with us anymore. Not much more to tell than that, really. (long pause) What about you? So rude of us to take away from your big day. Paul said you were excited to move.


CONNIE
Paul? You've spoken with Paul?

MIRANDA
Uh, yes. I met him when he was here one day with the real estate lady. (pause) Nice. It was nice to meet him. (Connie stares says nothing) Uh... that's why we were so excited to meet you today. He told us all about you. (smiles awkwardly)

CONNIE
He told you about me? (pause) What did he tell you?


MIRANDA
Nothing ... nothing much. Just how much you like the house ... and ... ahhhh... how much you are looking forward to living in a nice neighborhood with ... nice neighbors... (pause) We're not crazy... I promise. (sigh) Look, my ex is an addict. He caused a lot of problems for us... right, Nessa?


VANESSA (NESSA)
(quietly) Yeah.


MIRANDA
He's gone now. (looks at Vanessa) Nothing to worry about anymore.


CONNIE
Police, huh. Well, one thing I do know. Addicts and police go hand in hand. Don't they?


MIRANDA
(solemnly) They sure do. That's very true. (pause) Anyway, welcome again, to the neighborhood. We've been excited to meet you.


CONNIE
(touched) Thank you, Miranda. Thank you. (looks at Nessa) Nessa, it's an absolute pleasure to meet you as well. (quickly turns to Miranda) Miranda, you do know you can talk to me about your... (whispers) husband. Anytime. My Paul ... isn't an addict but I do understand husbands and their ways my dear.

MIRANDA
Uh, thanks.


CONNIE
(bends down to speak face to face with Nessa) As for you, you can always come and talk to me. (coughs) If your mother will allow it. Okay, little one? You can always talk to me. I will always listen to you. That is if your mother allows it. Okay?

VANESSA (NESSA)
Okay! You're going to be a fun neighbor. I can tell already.


MIRANDA
Thank you. Nessa, let's go.


VANESSA (NESSA)
Ahh, mom!


MIRANDA
Nessa, you heard me. We'll meet again after you are all settled into your new house. (pause) Oh.... I forgot! Your key!

Miranda immediately turns and runs quickly into her house, disappears for a minute. Reappears and runs back holding out a ring with keys on it.

(out of breath) Oh my goodness... how stupid of me? You wouldn't be able to get into the house. So sorry!


CONNIE
(reluctantly taking the keys) How do you have my keys and I do not? Can you tell me this?



MIRANDA
Ah, Paul asked me to give them to you... the day you ... move... in. (Sigh) He didn't tell you?


CONNIE
He did not. This is nothing unusual, however. Remember Dear, I can tell you all about the foibles of men, starting with Paul. (pause) Are you certain he didn't tell you anything else? ... about... us?

MIRANDA
(confused) About what?

CONNIE
Oh, I don't know. He lies so much. It's often difficult to tell ... what on earth he would be telling others (long pause) about me.



MIRANDA
(pause) No, he said you were excited to move in.... and give you the keys because he thought you would have enough on your mind today. Jack gave it to me after the movers first got here this morning. I haven't had it very long. If you are worried about that...


CONNIE
Do I look worried, dear?

MIRANDA
No! (sigh) I'm just used to guys ... being jerks is all. I totally understand what you mean by the ways of men. (pause) Connie, sincerely. You have nothing to worry about with me. Okay?


CONNIE
Yes, it would seem as though I don't have anything to worry about here. Thank you, Miranda.


VANESSA (NESSA)
(grabs her mother hand and tugs it) I'm hungry.


MIRANDA
We better make lunch in that case. Connie, it's nice to meet you. We'll see you again I'm certain.

CONNIE

That would be ... nice. (looks back to the house) I do have a lot of work to do.

Workers going in and out furiously trying to finish the move before dark.

MIRANDA
Nessa ... let's go.



VANESSA (NESSA)
Oh-kay.

CONNIE
(watches them both walk away) Goodbye. (turns to look at the new house, smiles, under her breath) This is a good decision.