UNSHELTERED

by
RavenGriffin

1230MaryhillRoad
Maryhill,ONN0B2B0
2265813505
ravensgriffin@gmail.com
FADEIN:
EXT.WINDINGTRENCHESDAY

Amanducksthroughthetrenches,adjustingahelmetonhishead.Only
thebackofhisbodyandtheroughwallsofdirtoneithersideofhim
arevisible.Inthedistance,thereisthesoundofEXPLOSIONSand
VIOLENTGUNFIRE,butthemanisunbotheredbythesounds.Heturnsa
cornerandexposeshisfacethisisERNSTWEBER.

Hesyoung.Theuniformhewearshangslooselyonhisframe,andhis
faceissmoothandcleanshaven.

Thegroundisriddledwithpuddlesandhisbootsstickinthethick
mud.Witheverystep,theybecomemoreandmorecakedwithmud.

TwoSOLDIERSareplayingcardsinasmallalcove,andErnstslows
slightly.

ERNST
Anyofyougotapieceofpaper?

SOLDIER
Nah.CheckwithJohn,hesgottahaveonesomewhere
inthatcushybunkofhis.

Thesoldiershufflesthroughthecardsinhishandsandfrowns,
pullingacardouthalfheartedly.Hisfriendgrins.

Ernstcontinueson,scanningthedugoutsashegoes.Curioussoldiers
lookupashepassesbuthedoesntstopagain.Heignorestheother
men:peoplescrapingdirtoffofthesolesoftheirboots,people
noddingoffwiththeirheadsagainstthewallsofdirt,andpeople
cleaningtheirweapons.

Smokespillsoutofoneofthedugouts,andErnstshakeshisheadto
himself.

JOHNSDUGOUT

THREEMENsitonvariousperchesaroundthedugout.Theirfacesare
unlikethedirty,weariedfacesofthemenErnstmetearlierthere

1
issomesemblanceoflightheartednesshere.Eventhesoundofthe
fallingshellsismuffled.

Atthecenter,JOHNKUSHNAKsitsonaroughlookingblanket,his
cigarettebillowingheavysmokethatdriftsinheavywavesoutthe
opening.HebrightensatthesightofErnstduckingin.

JOHN
Well,ifitisntourveryownGermanbornfighter.
Seenanyofyourcousinsonthefrontlineyet?
(hegesturesfortheothermentoleave)

ERNST
Seenanyofyours?YourenotpureEnglishanymore
thanIam.

Johnsnorts,andoffersapackageofWoodbinecigarettes.Heshakesit
enticinglybutErnstdeclines,pushingthepackawayandsittingdown.

ERNST
Yourwifesentyouanotherpackage,huh?

JOHN
Yeah.Lotsofsuppliesandnewcigarettes.Iwas
justaboutsickofthosecheaponestheygiveus.
(pauses)
Yououttagetyourselfagirl,Weber.There
aredozensofwomenouttherelookingforsomeone
towriteto.Nice,herotypelikeyoutheyd
justbetrippingoverthemselves.

ERNST
WhywouldI,whenIcanjustgetthegood
cigarettesfromyou?

JOHN
Cantrelyonmeforever.

ERNST
Guessnot.Butitsenoughtroublekeepingmy
motherfromworrying.IdontthinkIcouldhandle
another.

2
Johnconsidersthisandbobshisheadslightly.Inthedistance,
anotherburstofshelling.ErnstshiversandJohngrimaces.Hetries
togettheconversationbackontrackasadistraction.

JOHN
(clearinghisthroat)
Howisshedoing?Yourmother?

ERNST
Nottoobad.Shesgotsomehelpoutonthefarm
now,soIthinkshellbealright.Iwasjust
abouttowriteher.

JOHN
(huffs)
Youranoutofpaperagain,didntyou?

Ernstliftshishandssheepishlyandsmiles.Itsenoughofananswer.

JOHN
Youkidsaregoingtobleedmedry,youknowthat?
(rufflesthroughapile,pullsoutasheet)
Thereyouare.

ERNST
Thanks,John.

Johnnods,andrisestoleave.AshepassesErnst,Johnsqueezeshis
shoulderandsomeindiscernibleemotionflickersoverhisface,just
foramoment.Helooksalmostfatherly.

Ernstisalreadypullingoutapen,anddoesntnotice.Johncrushes
theendofhiscigaretteagainstanashtrayandslipsoutintothe
trenches.

Usinghiskneeasamakeshiftsurface,Ernstbeginstowrite.His
lettersarewobblyandbleedintooneanotheratfirst,butashe
continues,theystarttobecomeclearer.HewritesinGerman.

ERNST(VO)
DearMa.

3
Hisfacesoftensslightly.Theendofhislineispunctuatedbya
SCATTERINGofbulletsrainingfromsomeotherareaofthetrench.

ERNST(VO)
ThesocksyousentaremorehelpthanIcansay.
Halftheguysinherehavefeetswollentothesize
ofaloafofbread,andtherestofusfeellike
theyrefittofreezeoffatanyminute.

AMANsitsshiveringinthetrenches,rubbingathisfeet.Hisfaceis
linedandhiseyesdartaroundnervouslyatthesoundssurrounding
him.

Then,thetrenchesasawholesystem.Theylooklikedarkrivers,
runninginlinesthroughthemuddyland.Smallfigurestravelwithin
them,backandforth,andthroughsmallpathwayslikeants.

ERNST(VO)
Ikeepthinkingaboutthattimewevisited
Grandpasfarmafterithadrained,andhispond
wassurroundedbyallthosehugepuddles.Remember?

FLASHBACKFARMINRURALGERMANY

AYOUNGBOY,6or7yearsold,splasheshiswaythroughaseriesof
puddles.Hisboots,too,arecakedwithmudandlookmorebrownthan
yellow.Behindhim,alongskirtcomesintoview.Theboylooksup
intohisMOTHERsfacewithawide,untroubledgrin.

Shereturnsit.Herfaceisfond,anditlookslikesheisaboutto
reachforhimforamoment.Totouchhishair?Topickhimup?He
doesntnotice,alreadydistractedbyalargesnailshellonthe
ground.Herhandfallsbacktoherside.

ERNST(VO)
Youtoldmenotto,butItookoffmybootsand
walkedrightin.Ithoughtthemudfeltlikethemost
wonderfulthing,atfirst,butthenitstartedto
getcolderandIcouldntfeelmyfeetanylonger.

4
Themothercarriesherson.Hisbootslaydiscardedbythebankofthe
pond,andhehasburiedhisfaceinthecrookofherneck.Inthe
distance,thereisawarmlightburninginthewindowofafarmhouse.

ERNST(VO)
IdontthinkIveeverbeenhappiertohaveabath.
Ikeepthinkingofthathotwater,andthewool
sweateryoumademewearevenwhenIcomplainedthat
itwasitchy.
(pause)
Iwoulddoanythingtofeelabitofthatwarmthnow.

BACKTOPRESENTDAY

Ernsthasfilledupafullsheetofpaperwithwriting.Hesqueezes
thelastwordson,nearthebottom.

Heseemstobeonthevergeoftears.

FADETOBLACK

TITLEOVER:Unsheltered

ERNST(VO)
Imissyou.

INT.CITYHOMEINLONDONDAY

Earlymorningsunlightstreamsthroughawindowwithsheercurtains.
Therearebusynoisesfromthestreetbelow,butthereisnomovement
inthehouse.AgrandfatherclocksitsTICKING,theornategolden
handsmovingatanimperceptiblepace.Everythingisascleanand
pressedasaminiaturedollhouse:floralpatternedwallpaperand
delicatechinaplates.Itseemsimpossiblethatthishomeexistsin
thesameworldasthewar.

MAYBURROWSadjustshernurseoutfitinalongmirror.Shehasawide
faceandsmallmouth,andlookslikeakindyoungpersonwhohas

5
alreadysufferedtoomuch.Herhairisdarkblondeandcarefully
tuckedbackunderhernursescap.

Satisfied,shemovesdownthehall.Hershoesbreaktheformersilence
andtheworldseemstocomealivearoundher.Sheputsonarecordand
themusicSWELLSintoexistence.

Attheendofthehall,shepausesbeforearoomandknocksgently.
Thereisnoanswer.Shewalksin.

BEDROOM

Itisamansbedroom,withnicejacketshangingsidebysideinthe
closetandasmallrowofbooksonthedesk.Thereisnomovementfrom
thepersonlyingonthebed,hiddenbeneathamountainofdarkblue
blankets.

Maygrabsawoodenobjectthathadbeenleaningagainstthewall.It
isdifficulttoidentifyatfirst,butthenshesetsitagainstthe
bedandstandsback.Itisacontraptionthatresemblesaleg,with
leatherstrapsnearthetopandacomplicatedlookingsetup.A
PROSTHETIClimb.

MAY
Imleavingforworknow.

Thereisnoanswer.Shesighs.

MAY
Becarefultoday.Theyneedyououtthere.
Notjustanyonegetstoprotectgovernmentsecrets.

Shewaitsforabeatbutthengivesup.Sheleavesthedooropenand
walksdownthehall,hummingalongtothemusicthatisstillplaying.
Shedoesntturnitoffbeforesheleavesandwalksdownthestairsto
asmallfoyer.

FOYER

Anotherwoman,HENRIETTAABBOTTiswaitingthere.Sheisnotdressed
inthesamewayasMay.Instead,Henriettaiswearingdarkblue

6
trousersandandatopofthesamecolour,cinchedatthewaist.Its
afactoryworkersoutfitsheisamunitionworker.

Theymakeanoddlookingpair.Mayslongwhiteskirtandblondhair
seematoddswithHenriettaslessfeminineoutfitanduntamedhair,
butneitherofthemseemawareofthis.Maylinksherarmthrough
Henriettasandkisseshercheekquickly.

MAY
Letsgo.

Thedoorshutsfirmlybehindthepair.

Thegrandfatherclockcontinuestotickupstairs.Therecordplayer
hasreachedtheendofthetrackandishummingsoftly.

BEDROOM

Finally,movementfromthebed.ThecoversshiftandJOSEPHBURROWS
emerges.Hetakeshisprostheticlegfromthesideofthebedand
beginstoattachittohimself,hisfingersmovingdeftlyaroundthe
straps.Hehasbeendoingthisforlongerthanhecanremember.

Whenfinished,hegetstohisfeettheleftoneprosthetic,the
rightoneanordinaryleg.Hewalksoutofhisroomanddownthehall,
hisgaitslightlyaffected,butforthemostpartascomfortableas
anyoneelsewalkingintheirownhouse.

Hefindstherecordplayerandshakeshisheadathissister.Still,
hessmilingslightly.Liftingtheneedle,heremovestherecordand
turnsofftherecordplayer.Heslipstherecordbackintoitspaper
caseandcontinuesonhiswaythroughthehouse.

EXT.LONDONSTREETDAY

ThedoortotheBurrowshomeopenstorevealJoseph.Heisformally
dressedandinoneofhissleekjackets,andhegazesoutoverthe
streetwithassessingeyes.Aroundhim,peoplegreeteachother
easily.Nobodyshowsthesametohim,buthenodsatahandfulof
peopleandlockshisdoor.

7
Josephadjustshishatonhisheadandbreathesin.Withtheairof
somebodyabouttoplungeintofrigidwater,heexhalesandforces
himselfontothestreet.

INT.LONDONCENSORSHIPOFFICEDAY

Thebusylifeofaofficespringstolife.Insomedistantroom,there
isthesoundofsomeonespeakingloudlyintoaradio,theauthority
clearinhisvoice.Awoman,HELENSTOCKETT,sitsatthefrontdesk,
hunchedoverherworkandwritingneatlyonapieceofpaper.

Behindher,asimpleclockishungonthewall.Itshandsarepointed
exactlyat9:00.

ThedoorCREAKSopenandsheglancesupquickly,herhandstill
scribblingfuriously.ItsJoseph,andheapproachesherandclears
histhroat.Sheholdsupafinger,finishingthelastofhersentence
offwithaquickflourish.

Helen
HowcanIhelpyou,sir?

Shelooksathimcuriously,ahintofsomethingjudgementalinher
stare.Josephshiftsuncomfortably,butperseveresanyways.Hesused
tosuchstares.Anapparentlyhealthyyoungman,athomeinEngland
whilethewarwagesonandmenaredyingintrenchespeoplemake
assumptions.

Joseph
Imnew.CanyoutellmewhereImsupposedto
be?

Helen
(shufflesthroughpapers)
Yourname?

Joseph
JosephBurrows.IspokewithMr.Jacksonon

8
Helenlooksupquickly.Hergazedartstohislegandsheseemsto
havebeenstruckwithsomesuddenunderstanding.

Helen
Oh.Youre
(Flushesandlooksupagain)
Sorry.Idontmeantostare.Mr.Jacksontoldus
youdbecomingandwewereallcuriousaboutwhy
youhadntjoinedthearmy.Sohetoldusabout
your...yourleg.Imustsay,Ididexpect
somethingalittlemoreobvious.Youcouldwalk
downthestreetandfooljustaboutanyone.

Joseph
Imnottryingtofoolanyone.

Helen
Iguessnot.

Shestaresathimamomentlonger,mouthparted.Thensheappearsto
rememberherself.

Helen
Illshowyouwhereyoullbeworking.Idont
imaginethatyouveeverworkedincensorship
before?

Joseph
No.

Helenwalksaroundherdeskandgesturesforhimtofollow.Afew
peopleglanceupastheywalkpast,butmostareabsorbedintheir
individualtasks.

Helen
Well,Icantellyouthatyoulldojustfine.Most
oftheworkisdonebyofficersoutonthefield,
anyway,soallyouhavetodoismakesurethat
nothingisslippingthrough.

Joseph
Whatsortofthingisthat?

9
 Helen
(hesitates)
Anythingthatcouldputthearmyatrisk,forone.
Youshouldalsobemindfulofanythingthatwill
convincepeoplethatthewarisntgoingwell.Its
bettertobeoptimistic,inthesetimes.

Joseph
Isntthatdishonest?

Helen
Itprotectsourcountry.
(shrugs)
Thatsallthatmatters,isntit?

Joseph,realizingthathesmadeasmallmistakebyquestioningher,
nodshisheadempathetically.Hedoesntwanttomakeafoolof
himselfonhisfirstdayonthejob.Heleneyeshimandappearstobe
satisfiedwithhisreaction.

Helen
Now,whatyoullbeworkingwithisthelocal
postage.Thelettersaddressedtopeoplewithin
thesurroundingareawillallgothroughyour
department.

TheyreachadoorattheendofthehallandHelenopensit.Joseph
pauses,collectshisthoughtsandcourage,andwalksin.

LOCALCENSORSHIPROOM

Desksarelinedneatlyinrows,precariousstacksofpaperbalancedat
theendofeach.Menandwomenworkaway,sidebyside,atletters.
Theyinkoutsentencesatatimeandfoldtheletterscarefullyback
intotheirenvelopes.Itseemslikeanendlessjob.Josephexamines
theenormousstacksofletterswithanslightlyapprehensive
expression.

Fromacrosstheroom,thereisBOOMINGVOICEcallingout.Itsthe
voiceofWILLIAMTAYLOR,thesupervisorofthisarea.Hesanolder

10
man,justoldenoughtobeexemptfromservinginwar,andhisfaceis
wrinkledandfilledwithlaughterlines.

WILLIAM
JosephBurrows!

Josephstartlesathisnameandlooksup.

WILLIAM
Yourethenewrecruit?
JOSEPH
Yes,thatdbeme.

WILLIAM
Well,Ihavetosay,youretougherlookingthanI
expectedyoutobe.Underdifferentcircumstances,
Idsaythatthearmyshouldbegladtohaveyou.

JOSEPH
Iappreciatethat,sir.

HesnotsureexactlywhattomakeofWilliamsdemeanor,andit
shows.William,usedtothisreaction,doesntevenblink.

WILLIAM
Now,letmeshowyouwhereyoullbeworking.
Itsnoprivateoffice,butyoushouldbe
comfortablethere.Besides,howcouldyoucomplain
whenyouresurroundedbyalltheseprettygirls?

Hewinksatanearbywomanwhoisworkingthroughherownletter.She
looksupandsmilesweaklyatthem.

Williamlaughsloudly.

WILLIAM
ImsureHelengaveyouarunthroughof
everything.Justblackoutanythingwithtoomuch
information.Itcantbetoodifficult.
(heshrugs)
Ifyoureallyneedthespecifics,justkeepa
lookoutforanythingthatmentionslocation.

11
 Keepfuturearmyplansoutofthere,too.Just
bettertobesafethansorry,right?

JOSEPH
Ofcourse.

Theymakeittoadeskinthefarcorner.Itsalreadyfurnishedwith
astackofpaper,butapartfromthat,itstheonlyemptydeskinthe
room.Williamrapsonthewood.

WILLIAM
Hereyouare.Youdonthappentospeakany
Finnish,doyou?

JOSEPH
No,sir.

WILLIAM
Damn.AnyRussian?WevegotsomeRussianletters
thatneedtobedecoded.

Josephgrimacesapologetically.

WILLIAM
Well,itwasworthashot.

Hebeginstowalkawayandthenpauses.

WILLIAM
HowaboutGerman?

Josephlooksupquickly.

BACKCLOSET
Thetwomen,JosephandWilliam,standamidunorganizedboxesof
letters.Dustgathersonmostofthem,andtheotherslookyellowed
andbrittle.Williamcrouchesonthefloor,lookingoverthelabelsof
boxesandhummingtohimself.

JOSEPH
Alltheselettersjuststayhere?

12
 WILLIAM
Whereelsecouldtheygo?Itsnotasifwecan
readthem,soanyoneofthosecouldcontainall
kindsofsecrets.Untilweknowwhattheysay,
theycantpass.

Josephpushesthroughtheboxesuntilhecomesupwithasmallone
thatreadsGerman.

JOSEPH
Thisit?

Williamlooksoverhisshoulderandagrinbreaksoverhisface.He
clapsJosephsshoulderappreciatively.

WILLIAM
Thereyouare,son.Now,letsgetyoustarted.

LATER

INTBURROWSHOMEDAY

Itisdinnertime.Ahandfulofdisheslayoutonthetable,and
Henrietta,MayandJosephareseatedaroundtheendofthetable.They
seemlikeasmallnumberforatableasbigasthisone.

Mayservespotatoesandsitsdown,lookingmildlydisappointedwith
theirfare.

MAY
Iwouldhavehadbutter,butwefinishedourlast
rationyesterday.

HenriettareachesouttotouchMayshand.

HENRIETTA
Itlookslovelyasis.BetterthananythingI
couldevercook,Imsure.

13
Josephlooksbetweenthem.MayissmilingwholeheartedlyatHenrietta,
andhefeelslikeheisbeinganintrusion.Still,hecantfigureout
whathecouldpossiblybeintrudingon,andthisconfusionshowsa
littleonhisface.HesnotsurewhattomakeofHenriettaorthe
intimatewaysheseemstoknowhissister.

Theybegintoeat,themetaltinesoftheforksmakingsmallclinks
againsttheplates.Josephtakesacoupleofbitesandchewsslowly,
tryingtothinkofawaytophrasehisquestion.Heswallowsthe
potatoandreachesforhisglassofwater.

JOSEPH
(carefully)
Willyoubestayingoveragain,Henrietta?

Hetakesasipofhiswater,hopingthathehadaskedcasuallyenough.
Henriettaseemstohavefrozen.ShelooksatJosephwordlessly.May
haswrungherhandsaroundthecornerofthetableclothandis
grippingittightly.Herjawissetfirmlyandthereisanelementof
defensivenessinhereye.

Josephknowsherwellenoughtorecognizethis,andbacktracks
quickly.
JOSEPH
Ionlymeanthatitdoesmakemoresense.Imsure
thebothofyoufeelbetterknowingthatyoure
bothsafe.Anditsacloserwalkforyouinthe
morning,Henrietta.Isntit?

Henriettarelaxes.

HENRIETTA
Itis.

Still,theressomethingleftunaddressed,andsheglancesbetweenthe
siblings,unsureofhowopenshecanbe.

HENRIETTA
Myhomefeelstheloneliestintheevenings.Its
goodtohavecompany,andIcouldntwishfor
anyonebetterthanMay.Iwouldbecontentto

14
 spendmylifewithher,Joseph.

Josephlooksdown.Thisisasmuchofaconfirmationashesgoingto
getastowhatishappeningbetweenhissisterandHenrietta,andit
feelsjarringtohaveitacknowledgedasopenlyasthis.Hecanthelp
butfeelsomekindofurgetostopithecaresforhissisterand
knowsonlytoowellwhatcanhappentopeoplewhentheydontappear
tofitinsociety.

Buthesalsoseentheirtenderness.Hesseenthosequietmoments
betweenthepairandknowsthatnoonehasevermadeMayhappier.He
wouldneverruinsomethinglikethatforhissister.

Andhelooksupagain.

JOSEPH
Imgladyouhaveeachother.

Theirfacesmorphintopurerelief.Maylooksatherbrother.She
knowshim,tooandhesbeenhidingsomethingfromher.Nowthather
secretisacknowledged,shewantstobethereforhimaswell.

MAY
(firmly)
Youhaveustoo.Youknowthat,dontyou?

Josephlooksdownandspearsapotato.

JOSEPH
Iknow.

Hemovestogoeathisfood,butMaycatcheshishandandlooks
meaningfullyathim.Hereyebrowsarearched.Shecanbestubborn,and
Josephknowsthathewontgetoutofgivingafullexplanation.

MAY
Isityourwork?Youvebeenactingoddlyever
sinceyoustarted.

Thereisnothingbutconcerninherwords,butJosephcantbring
himselftostarttalking.Hehesitates.Lookstotheside.Hecan
stillhearthewordsofhiscoworkersthepeoplewhotoldhimthat
hecouldneverletanythingslide,thathemustalwaysbevigilant.

15
Still,hecanalsoseethewritingofthatboy.Thewayhewroteto
hismotherandweavedloveintothewordswithsomuchcare.Itwould
beabiggercrime,itseemed,todestroythatletterinanyform.He
putshishandinhispocket.Thelettersitsthere,crinklingwhenhis
handtouchesit.Hedrawsitoutatouch,thecorneroftheletter
peekingoutfromthebluefabric.

Thecandlesflickerwarmlyandthepotatoessteamontheirplates.It
feelssafehere.Josephlooksathissisterandmakesuphismind.

Hepullsouttheletterandsmoothsitoutonthetable.

JOSEPH
Itsthis.

Thewomengetoutoftheirseatsandgatherbehindhimtogetabetter
look.Henriettarunsafingeracrossthetopline.

HENRIETTA
Isthat...German?Youcanreadthis?

JOSEPH
Iknowenoughtogetby.Thewaythismanwrites,
though,makesmefeellikeImfluent.Ifeellike
Iknowhim,insomeoddway.Asthoughhessome
longlostbrotherthatImmeanttoprotect.

MAY
(gently)
Whatdoyoumean?

JOSEPH
Imeanthat...Icantlettheselettersgettorn
apartorblackenedout.Hismotherdeservesto
readthemthewaytheyweremeanttoberead.

HENRIETTA
So,youvebeen

Shebreaksoff,unsure.ShedoesntwanttoaccuseJosephofsomething
hehasntbeendoing.MaylooksatJosephandunderstands.

16
 MAY
Youhave.
(pause)
Joseph,thethingstheywouldsayif
theyfoundout...

JOSEPH
Theywont.

MAY
Youcanttellmethatnooneeverchecks.Or
thatthewordwontgetoutsomehow.

JOSEPH
May.
(passestheletter)
Here.Justjustreadit.Please.Youremember
yourGerman,dontyou?

Maytakestheletterandmovesbackaroundtoherspot.Shesinksback
inherchairandbeginstoread.Henriettawatchesher,tornbetween
fondnessandworryaboutJosephschoices.Josephwatcheswitha
similarlevelanticipation.

WhenMayfinishesreading,shewipeshercheeks.Shestouched,and
Josephletshimselfhaveasmallsmile.Sheagreeswithhim.

JOSEPH
YouunderstandwhatImean?

MAY
(nods)
Still,Joseph...

Shelooksentreatinglyathim.Nomatterhowshemightfeel,shes
sensibleenoughtounderstandthatfeelingsarentenoughtoprotecta
person.

MAY
Promisemeyoullbecareful,alright?Icouldnt
bearitifsomethingwereto

17
 JOSEPH
Iknow.May,Isweartoyou,nothingwillever
happen.Illkeepitallveryquiet.

Maynodsandswallows,forcingherselfbackintocomposure.Henrietta
looksatherandtakesthisasasignthatthingswillbeokay,so
she,too,takesherseatoncemore.Josephfinallyliftshisforkand
eatshispieceofpotato.

INTBURROWSKITCHENNIGHT

MayandJosephwashupthedishestogether.Henriettahasdisappeared
upstairstoprepareforbed,andMayissmilinghappilydownatthe
dishshesdrying.Josephdoesntbreakthesilence,buthelooksover
andispleasedtoseeMaylookingsohappy.Especiallyinthesetimes.

Josephfinishesscrubbingthelastpotandletsthewaterdrainout,
circlingdownatthebottomofthesink.Maypasseshimadishtowel
andhedrieshishandsbeforeslingingiteasilyovertherack.

BeforeJosephcanturntogo,Maycatcheshisarm.

MAY
Joseph.Youunderstand,dontyou?Wellstandby
you,nomatterwhatmaycome.

JOSEPH
Iknow.Andthesameforyou.Noonesgivenyou
anytrouble,havethey?

Maycloseshereyesandshakesherhead.Whensheopensthemagain,
theyreglitteringwithwarmth.

MAY
Ofcoursenot.Youdontneedtoworryaboutme.I
knowmywayaround.
(then)
Youretheyoungest,youknow.Leavetheworrying
tome.

18
 JOSEPH
(softly)
Ofcourse.

Shewalksnearerandwrapsherarmsaroundhim.Josephrestshischin
ontopofherhead.Outsidethewindow,itbeginstorain.

19