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ACT I
Scene 1
The New Neighbor
Characters:
Connie Housewife, detail-oriented, takes care of the family
Paul Businessman, consumed with work, avoidant of family life
Emmaline 8-year-old daughter of Paul and Connie
CONNIE
(Connie peering through the curtain of the kitchen window) Paul? Do you see this?
PAUL
(Intently reading a newspaper) I see a newspaper … if that’s what you mean?
CONNIE
Paul, be serious, this is important! For heaven’s sake, LOOK!! (sigh) There’s … a man next door.
PAUL
(Stops reading his newspaper and looks up with Connie behind him in the kitchen) There are a lot of men in this world. (goes back to reading) You’re bound to come across one sooner or later.
CONNIE
Paul! Will you stop reading that blasted newspaper and look! See for yourself… look… there’s a skinny man hunched over suitcases. (turns to look at Paul) COME HERE PLEASE!
PAUL
(places down the newspaper on the table and walks into the kitchen and stands next to Connie and looks out the window) (long pause) Oh, we have a new neighbor.
CONNIE
Neighbor? What happened to the old neighbors? Where did they go?
PAUL
Connie, they moved out six months ago. Don’t you remember? The old couple … moved to be closer to their family.(stares at her with a serious look) You do remember, right?
CONNIE
Oh, yes. (pause) I recall now that you say that. (confused look) Why does he have so many suitcases, Paul? (Pause)This isn’t good, Paul. I can tell already, this isn’t good.
PAUL
Connie, look at me, okay? (grabs her by the shoulders) Look at me. (pause) He’s simply moving into his new house. It’s all right. Okay? Everything will be fine. He’s simply a new neighbor.
CONNIE
(points out the window) Look! … now he’s carrying oversized suitcases … there are so many of them. (worried look on her face she looks at Paul) Why, Paul? Why so many?
PAUL
Perhaps it was easier to use suitcases instead of packing boxes. (shrugs) Connie, it’s fine. He’s moving in that’s all. Nothing more nothing less. (pause) I’ll introduce myself tomorrow and get to know the new neighbors. Okay? Perhaps, he’s married and has a wife? That would be nice, right? Someone to gossip about me with? Right? That would be good. (pause) Okay, don’t worry Connie. It’s all fine. Okay?
CONNIE
(staring out the window intently) (long pause) I fear it’s that time again, Paul.
Paul walks back to the dining room table sits down and starts to read the newspaper.
PAUL
(looking up from his paper) (Pause) For?
(Dropping the curtain Connie turns around to face her husband through the kitchen doorway.)
CONNIE
To move. (pause) What else?
PAUL
(sighing loudly) Oh, not again, Connie we’ve only been here for three years. (pause) We can't keep moving around like vagabonds. (folds the paper and places it on the table)
CONNIE
(turns back to look out the kitchen window) That man is no good. I can just tell by how he walks. He can't even carry a suitcase the proper way. Paul, there’s no telling what’s in that suitcase. You never know what is going on behind closed doors.
PAUL
Let's discuss this later. Okay? (looking at his watch)
CONNIE
… or behind the skull. Paul, you never know what others are thinking. (pause) There’s nothing to discuss as far as I'm concerned, Paul. I simply (turning to face Paul) don't feel safe here anymore.
PAUL
The same ol' story. Connie, it’s fine. We are safe here. (pause) We can't keep moving and you know it. Not everyone is dangerous. (walks to the hallway table and picks up his briefcase turns back to look at Connie). We'll talk later. Okay? I need to go to work.
CONNIE
Of course. (turns away from the window and begins to clear away Paul’s dishes)
(Paul stares in her direction shakes his head before finally turning and walking silently out the door.)
CONNIE
(hears the car start and drive away) He desperately needs to do something about that car. It sounds awful. He’s so lazy… I have to do everything around here. (looks at her watch, realizes she is off schedule) (yelling) Emmaline! Where are you?
EMMALINE
(softly) Right here, Mamma. (stands in the far corner of the room)
CONNIE
Oh, heaven's dearie me, have you been there the whole time, listening?
EMMALINE
No, I came when I heard you calling. Don't I look pretty, Mamma? (spins in a circle showing off a billowy white dress with small daisies imprinted). I picked this dress out myself. Do you like it?
CONNIE
Why, yes! I love it! You look beautiful and you are all dressed too. Ready for school, like a big girl. I'm amazed at how grown-up you are becoming.
EMMALINE
Thank you, Mamma. (smiling) I'll get my backpack and wait for the school bus. (looking toward the door) It should come soon.
CONNIE
(with a stern look on her face) Oh, Uhm… No, you can't! Not today... or maybe no … more (pause) days.
EMMALINE
But Mamma, I want to go to school. I’m working on a project with one of my friends. Today, she was going to bring in feathers to school and I’m bringing glitter for our art project.
CONNIE
I’m sorry but not today, Emmaline. You were sick last night with a fever with a terrible fever. You can’t go to school, today.
EMMALINE
I was hot. I didn’t need all of those stupid blankets on me. I’m not sick. (pause) Mamma, I'm the top reader in my class! I have to go.
CONNIE
Not today, Dear. You are ill. I can’t in all good faith, send you to school when I know you are ill. It’s not fair to everyone else who is healthy. Do you want to get everyone sick with your germs? (pause) Well, do you?
EMMALINE
I have so many friends… I miss them. My teacher is nice, Mamma. (under her breath) Don’t keep me here, please.
CONNIE
No, we'll find you another class to go to. Okay (pause) in another town.
EMMALINE
(teary-eyed) Not again. Mamma! (pause) I don't want to go. I like my friends here. (hugs her mother, pleading) Have I done something wrong? Why do we have to move? I don’t … want to. I like it here Mamma.
CONNIE
We won't worry about this right now. Okay? (turning toward the kitchen) Oh, I know. Let's make some cookies.
EMMALINE
Mamma, I want to go to school and see my teacher and my friends. (pause) Mamma, I can’t keep …
CONNIE
What? Emmaline? You can’t keep … what?
EMMALINE
Mamma, I have to go to school. (pause) I can’t keep missing days, Mamma.
CONNIE
(taking a deep breath and closing her eyes) No, honey (pause) you are sick today. Who said you miss too much school anyway? I’m your mother. I know what is best for you and this family. I know you are too sick to go to school today. All right?
Emmaline glares at her mother with a distressed glance as she walks over to the couch in the living room. She sits down quietly, moping, and shifts her stare to the floor.
EMMALINE
(under her breath) Mrs. Jackson … says so. (looks at her mother) Mamma, I need to go to school every day.
CONNIE
Mrs. Jackson? Okay. I’ll have a little chat with her. You can guarantee it. Who else is saying you need to go to school every day? Hmmm? Who? I’ll discuss it with everyone who tells you this. It clearly says in the school policy, you cannot return to school after having a fever. (pause) Emmaline, who? Tell me, now.
EMMALINE
(tears flowing down her face) No one, Mamma. (pause) I’ll stay home with you, Mamma. I’ll stay home.
CONNIE
Now, that’s my pretty girl. I’m so proud of you. (strokes her daughter’s hair) I didn’t want to call anyone anyway. You stay home with me and be a good girl. Okay, Emmaline?
EMMALINE
(looks down at the floor) Okay, Mamma. (sigh) I’ll be a good girl for you.
CONNIE
That’s, Mamma’s little girl. Good thinking, Emmaline. Good thinking. I’m proud of you for making the right decision. (changing topic) Now let's find a recipe for some delicious cookies. (stern voice, looks Emmaline in the eyes) That's the end of this conversation, Okay? Emmaline? Now ... now, don't you worry, we'll find you a new class. One that's safe. Okay?
EMMALINE
(mumbling under her breath) My class is safe.
CONNIE
Emmaline, enough! (smiling, changes topic) Come on, let's go make some yummy cookies.
EMMALINE
(Reluctantly) Okay, Mamma. (pause) I like Chocolate Chip.
Connie standing next to the kitchen door, looms, with hands-on her hips.
CONNIE
Oh no! I don’t have any chocolate chips. Well, that’s okay. We’ll make my favorite cookies, peanut butter.
EMMALINE
(walks past her mother and steps into the kitchen) Yes, Mamma.
CONNIE
That's my big girl. (following Emmaline into the kitchen) Now tell me, what color house do you want? Tell your Mamma all about it.
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