-Scene E(A dysfunctional family)

(18.10.2014)
(Relu)

First day at sunset.

Amala has to go back home for dinner.
She patters along the town's streets until she reaches her
house. She opens the door and starts towards the main
staircase. She is stopped halfway by a voice calling her.
Mother: Amala.
Amala turns around and faces her mom who is standing near the
foot of the stairs.
Amala: Yes, Mom?
Mother: Dinner is ready, sweetie.
Amala: I'll be with you in a second.
Scene fades to black.
The whole family is eating in the dinning room around a
rectangular table. There is Amala, her mother, her father and
her 7 year old little sister, Sonia. You can hear the
clattering of the tableware. Amala is facing her mom and her
Sonia stands opposite her dad.
Amala is sitting quietly, trying not to draw too much
attention. The mother briefly looks at her and starts to talk.
Mother: There was a lot of commotion today.
(After a moment of silence)
Sonia: Mommy, what's a commotion?

(Giving a side glance to her Sonia)

Amala: It's when people make noise
because they are agitated.
: Do you think you can spell it?
(Flustered)
Sonia: O-Of course I can!
: ...
: Lets see.
: C
: O
: M
: O
: T
: I
: O
: N
(Eyes closed with a bright smile)
(Giggles)
Amala: Close enough.
Sonia just mumbles something avoiding eye contact while her
face goes red.
Amala: Hahaha.
Father: You shouldn't rush into answering
when you're not sure.
Mother: It's okay, sweetie.
They're just being mean.
: There are two Ms in "commotion".
: Just so you can learn.
The mother helps herself to some more food.
(Getting back to the point)
Mother: That was quite a scene
to behold this morning.

: No wonder the town is in an uproar.

: That awful face.
: And did you see that painting
inside the church?
: These are mad times we're living in.
Father: The police have no clue
what's going on.
: But from the looks of it,
they want to brush it off as
a harmless prank.
(To Amala)
Mother: Do you know anything about it?
Amala shakes her head.
Mother: You're sure you don't have anything
to say about the matter?
Amala: Well, we are trying to investigate it.
: We think a kid did that.
Mother: Of course kids did that.
: No adult would do something
so childish.
: It wouldn't make sense.
Amala: But there's no proof of that!
Her mother looks at her for a couple of seconds.
Father: Watch your tone.
Amala: Sorry.
Clattering continues.

Mother: I just hope they catch the ones

responsible soon.
: So we can enjoy the rest of summer.
(Turns to the two girls)
: By the way.
: Did you girls do your homework?
Sonia: I did!
Amala: ...
The mother looks at her.
Mother: Well?
Amala shakes her head "no".
Mother: I knew it.
: That's not very serious.
Father: Dear, it's okay.
: She just prefers to have fun.
Mother: But it's essential to study assiduously,
especially when one has difficulties.
Sonia: A-ci-du-sli?
(Giggles)
(Looks at her Sonia with a happy smile)
Amala: Don't try.
: This one's too hard for you.
Mother: We're having an important
conversation now.
: You almost failed your last
year of school.

: If you keep on walking the same path,

your grades will continue to sink.
: Sometimes, I wonder if you're
not doing it on purpose.
Amala is frowning while averting her eyes and doesn't respond.
Mother: Like I said many times before,
it's okay to have learning
difficulties.
: But you should at least do
something about it
instead of wasting your time.
: And you're not even trying.
Amala is still fixing the table, looking very unhappy. Both
her father and Sonia don't want to butt in at this point.
Mother: Maybe we should try and send you
abroad for your own good?
Amala: I don't want that.
Mother: That's not something for you
to decide.
: If we can't educate, someone
else will.
Amala: ...
Mother: What did you even do today?
Amala: ...
Mother: Well?
Amala: ...
: We...I...

: I was playing outside.

Mother: In other words, nothing.
: It's all very good.
(Frowning)
Amala: ...
Mother: If only you didn't behave like a
stray dog.
: We could at least keep the
house clean.
: But you just had to like dirty places.
Amala: ...
Father: Lets have a nice dinner, shall we?
Sonia: Please.
Clattering continues. Everyone stays silence for a couple of
seconds.
Amala: Sometimes, it feels like you hate me
for some reason.
Mother: What are you saying?
: Of course I love you.
: I'm just sad that you don't
behave like a normal little
girl.
Amala: ...
: What do you care?
Mother: Watch it.
: Don't you talk back to me.
: You better improve yourself or you'll

end up on the street, mark my word.

: Now, if you're done with your dinner,
you can go to your room.
: Police will be visiting
tomorrow morning.
: They'll want to have a word with you.
(Completely taken aback)
Amala: Huh? Why?
Mother: About the mess at the church.
Amala: Are they accusing me?
: But we didn't do anything!
Mother: Oh, I'm sure you'll convince them,
just like you usually do.
(Stands up)
(Angry expression)
Amala: WE DID NOT DO ANYTHING!
: THAT WAS NOT US!
Still sitting, the mother's face suddenly becomes really
angry. She slowly raises her arm in the air and slams it on
the table. It startles both the father and the Sonia.
Mother: SIT DOWN YOU IMBECILE!
(Amala sits down)
: You spent the whole summer playing
pranks on people.
: It's only natural that you and
your friends are suspected when
something like that happens.
: If not useless, you should at least
show us adults some sort of respect.
: I did NOT raise you to be that kind of
good for nothing.
Amala is looking at her mom with a sad expression.

Amala: But you...you believe me, right?

Mother: ...
: I'll let the system decide.
Amala averts her eyes, a little defeated.
Mother: Now go to your room.
: You're forbidden to come out
before the whole thing gets
cleared up.
: End of discussion.
Scene fades to black.
Amala is now in her room on the second level.
The night sky is visible outside the window. There are various
posters plastered on the walls, most notably an Ocarina of
Time one. A TV is set with an N64.
(Go to the door)
Amala: ...
: I don't think it's a good idea.
Regular hitting noises can be heard coming from the room's
window.
(Go to the window)
Amala opens it wide and looks at the garden beyond. A blonde
girl is standing there and is gazing at her with sharp blue
eyes. She's holding a rock in her hand.
Andra: You look like you had a rough night.

Amala: You have no idea.

Andra: I heard shouting.
: Is everything OK?
(Annoyed expression)
Amala: Sometimes, I really hate my family.
Andra: Did you have a fight with
your mom again?
Amala: Aside from the usual, she thinks
we did the mess at the church.
Andra: ...
Amala: How about your mom?
Andra: She trusts me, of course.
: I mean, we really did do nothing...
Amala: ...
: You didn't come here to tell me that.
Andra thinks for a second and then gets wildly excited.
(Eyes wide open)
Andra: Right!
: You have to come to the base.
: We think we found something.
Amala: I can't.
: I'm not supposed to leave my room
until the police interrogation
tomorrow.
Andra: As if that would stop you.

(Smiles)
Amala: Haha, you're right.
(Suddenly taken aback)
: Wait, why are you not even surprised?
Andra: Your family's like a comedy show.
Amala: Oh, screw you.
: And I bet my mom called them.
: She hates me.
Andra: Are you coming or what?
(Smiles)
Amala: Right behind you.
Amala gets a rope from one of her cupboards, attaches it to
her window's frame and uses it to slide to the ground.
Amala: Lets go.
The two girls then both disappear into the night.