You're just returning?

A man sits in a black leather recliner in a sparingly but well decorated living room. He is reclined partially but not relaxing, he twiddles his fingers, glances at a book and at the clock. After a time a noise is heard out side the door, he sits up right and waits, but nothing happens. He leans back again. After some time of agitation he begins to dose off. Another noise outside the door is heard and he darts up. A scratch of a key in the lock is heard and he attempts to relax himself and look uninterested. The door opens and a woman dressed in heels a dress and make-up comes in. He looks hopefully at her and she gives him a half-hearted smile before digging through her purse as she walks into another room. The man's face drops and he falls back into his chair and rubs his face with his hands.

You look cold.

Two boys Mathew about 7 and James about 11 stand outside bundled up against the cold waiting at a bus stop for the school bus backpacks on. Some time elapses.

Mathew: I'm cold.
Pause.
Mathew: I'm cold.
James: I know.
Pause.
Mathew: How long have we been waiting for?
James: I don't know.
Mathew: Have we been waiting for 15 minutes?
James: I don't think so.
Pause.
Mathew: Do you think we missed it?
James: No.
Pause.
Mathew: How do you know?
James: How do I know what?
Mathew: That we didn't miss it.
James: Because we left on time.
Pause.
Mathew: James?
James: Hmm?
Mathew: Umm...I have to pee.
James: Mathew I told you before we left...
Mathew: I know but I have to go. Please take me, James.
James:[Taking his mittened hand] Come on, hurry up.

James and Mathew run up the road as fast as their boots will let them and the get a ways up before they hear the bus go by James whirls right around, but Mathew takes a few more steps before turning.

James: Oh man! Arg..
Pause.
Mathew: I guess we missed it.

Emily, the phone is for you.

People in a living room talking and eating, balloons are around and in an adjoining kitchen a mother bustles around a layered cake is on the table. A boy about eight comes from the living room to the kitchen and up to the mother who is looking for candles.

David: Mom can we start now?
Mother: David, we have to wait for your father.
David: When is he going to get here?
Mother: Any minute, sweetie.
Pause.
David: So we have to wait for him before I open any presents?
Mother: Yes. He should be here soon though, don't worry. Be patient. Do you want to help me with the candles?
David: Okay.
Mother: Here, now. Which color?

Mother holds out different colored candles and David looks them over. The phone rings. David jumps and skips toward it.

David: I got it! [He picks up the phone] Hello. Yup, that's my mom. Yup, one second. [Holding the phone out towards his mother] Its for you!

Mother comes over and takes the phone.

Mother: Hello? Yes, that's my husband. [Pause.] No. No, I don't think so, I think you made a mistake, my husband wouldn't have been going down that road. You must have the wrong name...yes that is my husband's name. Yes...

Mother hangs up the phone.

David: Mom are you okay?

Mother leans heavily on the wall, her voice is gruff and muffled a little. She doesn't look at David.

Mother: David, put your coat and shoes on we have to go...

Did you have a nice sleep on the couch?

Four girls about 12 years old, Mary, Pam, Sue, and Tina all huddle together on a couch. It's dark.

Mary: Come on guys we have to go to my room to sleep.
Pam: I'm not moving!
Mary: It was only a movie.
Sue: Yeah, come on Pam, I'm tired.
Tina: How can you be tired? I'm all jumpy now.
Pam: I'm with you. That was totally creepy!
Mary: But we have to get to my room.
Tina: I'll just sleep here...
Pam: And I'm staying with you.
Sue: You guys are ridiculous.
Mary: Okay, well are you ready, Sue?
Sue: Sure.
Mary and Sue start to get up Mary slower than Sue.
Pam: You're not going to just leave us are you?!
Sue: Oh, come on...
Pam: Seriously!
Mary: Well what do you want us to do?
Tina: Stay here and sleep with us on the couch.
Sue: You guys are so pathetic...do you never watch scary movies? [Mary sighs and climbs back on to the couch to Tina and Pam's delight] Mary, what are you doing?
Mary: Sleeping on the couch.
Sue: You're kidding.
Mary: Come on Sue, come back on.
Sue: There is no way we can all fit!
Tina: We'll all move over some.
Pam: And we can snuggle to keep safe.
Sue: Yeah because snuggling is really going to help. [Beginning to climb onto the couch] I can't believe I'm doing this.
Al the girls begin moving around settling themselves in to a comfortable squishy bunch, until they are all quiet. Pause. Sue lets out a yell. All the other girls scream and Sue laughs.
Pam: Sue, you are terrible.
Sue laughs and Mary turns on a lamp. Every one resettles and all is silent.

It's freezing! I wore my big coat, and I found gloves in the pocket!

Two girls stand ina school lobby beside big boxes with coats and a sign that says "Donate Coats To Help Those In Need This Winter". There is a line of people who are dropping off coats, the two girls show them which box to put them in judging by size and if it is for male or female.

Carla: We are getting so many coats donated! This is great.
Sarah: I know it seems like practically everyone in the school is getting into this stuff after all the different charities, community service and fundraisers that have been going on.
Carla: I know! And you've been involved in all of them haven't you?
Sarah: Yeah I have. I really like to see people help out, and I like to too.
Carla: Well it's working out great.
Sarah: Yeah, except for him. [Points to a boy with messy hair a very nice jacket and old shoes making his way through the line just to get by the people donating] He doesn't get into it at all. See? He just walked right past, didn't donate. He didn't with the canned goods either. Whatever. Some people just don't get it I guess, his jacket looks nice and expensive you'd think he could stand to donate.
Carla: [Seriously] That coat used to be my brothers. I donated it last year. Some people just don't have a coat to give. That's why we do this, Sarah.

I can finally play this song now. I practiced so you won't have to play them all this time!

BOY in soccer uniform runs up to a COACH standing on the edge of a field. Other players are about doing various things.

Boy: Coach! Coach, you can put me in today!
Coach: I don't think so, Ralph.
Boy: Coach I practiced real hard this week! You can put me in. I won't mess up. Please, Coach?
Coach: It's a play off game today.
Boy: I know that. I won't let you down I worked so hard! Please!
Coach: No, Ralph, we need this game.
Boy: But...

COACH sternly raises his hand and points to the bench looking hard at BOY. BOY walks toward the bench obediently but as his back turns to the COACH his face begins to contort a little in efforts not to show his emotions and disappointment.