Angela came early so she could see you and me before she left.

Samantha about 18 is bending over the kitchen table writing on a piece of paper. The kitchen is dimly lit. It is early morning. She finishes and straightens slowly, and then picks up her coat which had been laying on the table and proceeds to carefully and quietly put it on. She picks up a pair of shoes that were on a chair and places them on the floor beginning to put them on her feet, then thinks better of it stops and undoes any progress she has made with the shoes. She quietly walks down the hall and softly opens up a door into the bedroom of Jeanie about 11 and Sarah about 8. She walks to Jeanie's bed and carefully leans over her and kisses her on the top of the head. She Then moves to Sarah's bed and touches her arm looking at her, kisses her head and walks back to the door. She looks back in on them and whispers "I love you" and then softly closes the door. She walks down the hall back into the kitchen and puts on her shoes. She walks to the door that leads out of the house, takes a deep breath and walks out closing the door behind her. It is silent.
A soft rustling is heard and then Sarah peeks out of her bedroom door.

Sarah: Sammy?

Being around you makes my period come.

A girl Holly between 11 and 12 walks quietly down a hall in her pajamas carrying her clothes in her hands. a board creeks and she tops short and looks to the door she has just passed. Jess about 17's voice is heard from behind the door.

Jess: Oh no you don't!

Jess' door flies open and Holly sprints down the hall with Jess on her heals. Holly flings the bathroom door open and slams it shut just as Jess grabs the door nob. Holly locks the door and Jess pounds on it.

Jess: Holly come out here! I need to first!
Holly: I got here first!
Jess: I'm older! Come on Holly. You're hair takes you like two minutes, and it looks the same weather you shower first or last, so why can't you just let me go!
Holly: Leave me alone I got here first I'm going first.
Jess: You are such a pain.
Holly: Whatever.

Jess stands there for a minute and then walks back in to her room closing the door. In a minute Holly is heard from the bathroom.

Holly: Mom! [Pause] MOM!
Jess: [Yelling from in her room] She already left for work, this is her early day stupid!

There is a silence.

Holly: [From the bathroom] Jess!
Jess: [Opening her door and leaning out irritated] What?
Holly: Jess, would you please just come here?

Jess sighs and walks to the bathroom door.

Jess: What?
Holly: Come here.

Jess tries the door and it is still locked.

Jess: The door, Holly.

The sound of the door being unlocked is heard. Jess enters. Holly sits on a stool.

Jess: What?
Holly: I...I think I...

A look of understanding and sympathy crosses Jess' face.

Jess: Oh, Holls, did you...?

Holly nods a little. They both just look at each other. Then Jess sits on her knees on the floor.

Jess: Well...do you know what you're doing? [Holly looks uncertain and shrugs] Well here, I'll help you out. [Jess opens a cupboard looking for something] Well first of all make sure you always have supplies with you at school. It is no fun to be caught unprepared...

Jess smiles encoragingly at Holly.

I had the strangest urge to play the singing cow.

A woman stands bending over pulling weeds in a garden. Thomas almost 2 sits just outside the dirt of the garden on the grass. A couple yards away is a fenced in pasture where a few cows are grazing. Thomas soon becomes bored with just sitting and carefully stands up. he totters over to the fence and stands leaning with his hands on the lowest rung.

Thomas: Cow! [He points] Cow!

Thomas giggles and puts his hand back on the fence and watches the cows. In a few moments a cow leisurely walks closer to the fence. Thomas becomes very giddy.

Thomas: Cow!!! Moooooo! Moo!

The Cow stops about two feet from the fence facing Thomas and lets out a loud "Moo!" Thomas falls on to his bottom laughing. The cows stops and begins eating grass again. Thomas gets up and totters clumsily back toward the garden.

Thomas: Mama! Cow!

I'm sorry.

A little boy is walking through the park a little ways off from his parents. As they stroll along the paths they walk past a man blowing up balloons and tying them into different shapes (he is not a clown). The boy is very interested in the balloons.

Little Boy: Mommy can I have a balloon? Please?
Mother: No sweetie, mommy already bought lunch and I left my purse in the car.
Little Boy: Aww man...can I watch?
Mother: For a minute.

The Little Boy walks up to the balloon man and the crowd of people waiting for their balloons. He has trouble seeing the process and so squeezes his way through some people to get closer. He ends up however in a spot where he has a clear view but of the back of the balloon man. The balloon man finishes a balloon and takes a step back to get another balloon. As he steps back he steps on the Little Boy's toes a bit.

Balloon Man: Oh dear! I'm sorry! Did I hurt you?
Little Boy: Oh, no I'm sorry. I'm okay.
Balloon Man: Well here.

The balloon man takes a balloon and blows it up shaping it into a airplane and hands it to the Little Boy.

Balloon Man: Here you go.
Little Boy: Aw gee! Thanks!

The Little Boy is very happy. He skips off to his mother. Making swooping motions through the air with his balloon airplane.

I'm going to follow you, because none of my friends are here yet.

Two lines of kindergarten students file out of a school and on to a playground for recess. Jana is in the middle of her line and once outside she stops and waits while the other children disperse to various places on the playground. The second line comes to an end with Cody bringing up the rear. Once outside he begins to walk toward the swings. Jana follows him at a trot her curly pony tail bouncing. Cody climbs on to a swing and starts to swing. Jana goes to sit on the swing next to him but another child takes the spot, so she stands and watches instead. Cody begins to notice her watchful eye and slows down his swing. He gets off the sing and goes the the sand box, while Jana follows. Cody sits in the sand and uses a truck. Jana sits down too and smiles. She finds a truck and uses it. Cody looks uncomfortable. Jana smiles. Some boys on the other side of the playground in the grass call to Cody and ask him to come play football with them. Cody looks relieved. Jana's face falls. Cody gets up and starts to walk over Jana following with her eyes until the boys call back that they don't need him after all. Jana brightens and gets up to follow Cody again. Cody walks at a fast pace to the monkey bars and begins to climb them. Jana gets to them and looks nervous but after a moment she tentatively starts to climb up them again. Cody gets all the way to the top and looks scared that Jana will continue up, but she has frozen half way up and looks petrified. She tries to take a step down but can not make herself. Cody looks relieved for a moment and then begins to look guilty. In a minute or two Cody has climbed down to beside Jana and he starts to climb lower, and slowly she follows. Once on the ground Jana stares at Cody with pure admiration while he stands looking awkward. Just seconds after they have reached the ground the bell rings and Cody looks as though he were just saved and sprints back to the school.

I didn't see you.

In a room with little dainty tables and a buffet to one side men and women meander about in cocktail type dresses and suits. In a back corner almost hidden by being mixed into a group of people a Man is flirting around with a Young Woman. The Young Woman has a champagne glass in one hand and seems to have a bit of a buzz but is not drunk. A Woman begins to approach. They continue obviously flirting and step out into an adjoining hall as Woman comes closer. When she sees that they have stepped out she quickens her pace and turns into the hallway to see Young Woman and Man giggling and kissing a little. Man notices woman first and looks ashamed and doesn't know what to do. Young Woman stands looking dumb founded. In a moment Woman has shoved the wine glass she had been holding into Young Woman's hand and reached into Man's pocket. She pulls out the keys and speaks with a serious and disgusted face and tone.

Woman: I'm taking the car. Have fun.

She turns around and marches out of the room.

No one is home.

A girl about 15 bundled up from the cold with rossie cheeks pushes open the door to her house closing it quickly behind her. She begins to take off her outer ware.

Girl: I'm home!!

She listens momentarily for a response, but one doesn't come. She doesn't seem too bothered and continues taking off the rest of her outside clothes. Once she has finished she walks into the kitchen where a little black and grey kitten meets her. She pats the kitten and then goes to the refrigerator and pulls out the orange juice and brings it to the counter. She takes a cup out of the cupboard and then walks to the other side of the kitchen humming. She picks up the cat's dish and takes it to the sink. She places it in the sink and turns on the water. She then begins pouring her orange juice.

Girl: Helloooo! I'm home!

No response comes and she turns off the water just as the dish is filled. She places the dish back in its spot the kitten following her the whole way.

Girl: Where is she? Maybe at the store, huh? I hope so. [She pats the kitten] She wouldn't leave again. She just got back.

She goes and takes her orange juice off the counter and goes to sit at the table. She sits as she takes a sip and immediately notices a paper on the table. She picks it up to read it as the kitten jumps up on to the chair and then the table. The Girl places the paper down and pats the kitten.

Girl: Well i guess it is just you and me again tonight.

Here, sign the card for Theresa.

Man is standing at the kitchen sink doing dishes. A woman comes in and drops a manila envelope on the table.

Woman: I brought the papers. Would you please sign them.
Man: [Scrubbing a dish] Not now...
Woman: I brought them right too you. Right here. I even brought the pen [She tosses a pen on to the table as well] so no excuses. Just sign them. [Man keeps scrubbing harder] Jason, I've been waiting for weeks. Can't you just sign them?
Man: I don't want to...
Woman: I don't understand you. Our relationship has been terrible for months. You know that. [Man looks like he is about to say something to the dish in his hand but he doesn't] And to be quite honest most of it was my fault and I haven't been that good to you. Let's just put this behind us and move on. Most guys would be glad to be rid of this problem. Please just sign the papers.

The Man keeps washing dishes looking down past them. He places the dish he had been working on in the rack and starts on another. Woman is frustrated, exasperated, and confused.

Woman: Jason would you just sign the stupid papers!

The man pulls the dish up from the water and gently places it to dry and then lifts his eyes up.

Man: I married you because I love you.

Is she biting your toes too?

On a shelf there is a fish bowl with a little fish swimming around in it. There are two chairs pulled up near the shelf that two boys stand on to have a better view of the fish. One boy Robbie is about 3 the other Ted is about 7. They both watch the fish interested.

Ted: You know fish are very smart.
Robbie: What's he doin' in there?
Ted: He's swimming. The bowl is his home. Fish don't mind staying in their house their whole life because their house is like outside too. So they already have both.

The boys watch the fish swim carefully.

Robbie: Feed the fish?
Ted: I guess we can feed him.

Ted reaches over and grabs a container of fish food and takes a pinch of it in his fingers.

Robbie: No! I wanna.
Ted: No, Robbie. You have to feed fish carefully. They don't eat very much and you would dump it.

Ted proceeds to feed the fish while Robbie scowls at him. Then they both watch the fish eat.

Ted: You could pretend to feed the fish, Robbie.
Robbie: How?
Ted: Sometimes fish get confused a little, and if you put your finger on top of the water they think it is food and try to eat them. Do you want to try?

Robbie nods excitedly. Ted shows him how to place his finger on top of the water, and soon the fish nibbles on it a little. Robbie excitedly pulls his finger out of the water laughing.

They're good, I miss you guys, but they're good.

The stage is split in two with Jamie on the phone in her kitchen on one side and Ally one the phone in her living room. Outside Jamie's window it is sunny and outside Ally's it is snowing.

Jamie: So how is the basketball team doing?
Ally: Well every one wishes you were here obviously, but we are going 4-1 so far so not too bad I guess. Do they have a good team down there for you?
Jamie: Yeah, the coach really knows what she is doing, but when I came down here no one knew me and all that and I got put on JV...
Ally: That's stupid. They'll realize their mistake.

Pause. Both girls look a little sad and maybe a little uncomfortable.

Ally: Its snowing. It looks like the sticky kind too.
Jamie: Oh my word it is so weird to be in January with no snow. I miss it.
Ally: I imagine. You were always the one who shoved Chrissy and I out the door to make a snow man on the first day the snow fell.
Jamie: Did you do it? Did you make one the first day?
Ally: I wasn't...really up for it.
Jamie: Oh...

Jamie shifts in her chair and sighs a little. There is a heavy sad silence. Ally looks like she is almost in tears but controls her voice.

Ally: So how are the people up there? How are your new friends?
Jamie: Oh their good. I miss you guys, but they're nice.
Ally: [Voice cracking] That's good...
Jamie: [Strongly and seriously] None of them are half as good as you though.
Ally: Thanks...

A tear runs down Ally's face and there is another sad silence but it is lighter.

Jamie: Well I have to get to practice...
Ally: [Wiping her eyes] Yeah, I have chemistry work to do.
Jamie: Well I'll be calling again soon if that's alright.
Ally: Of course.
Jamie: Alright bye.
Ally: Bye.

Both girls hang up. Jamie pulls her legs up to her chest and just sits for a moment. Ally stares at the phone for a moment. Then at the same time Ally reaches for her chemistry book and begins doing her home work while Jamie grabs her sports bag and exits.

I like the piano.

A boy Vincent about 14 sits on a piano bench, his instructor sits in a chair beside the piano. Vincent plays part of Chopin piece, gets stuck and goes back, over and over again, while the Instructor watches carefully. Eventually Vincent flustered drops his hands to his sides.

Vincent: I practiced. I worked on this all week!
Instructor: I believe you.
Vincent: Why can't I get it?
Instructor: You can.
Vincent: It doesn't seem that way.
Instructor: You can. You just haven't yet.
Pause.
Vincent: I practiced...I don't know what is wrong with me...
Instructor: Nothing is wrong with you. Some times it just takes extra practice. This stuff isn't easy.
Vincent: [Almost to himself] I used to think I was pretty good at the piano.
Instructor: You are very good at the piano. Chopin is tough. [Vincent just sighs and stares at the keys of the piano] Listen Vincent, just because you aren't Beethoven, Mozart, or Chopin doesn't mean you aren't talented. Not musician is a prodigy; most people have to work hard to play how they do. Not to say the masters didn't work hard, but we can't all write symphonies before we hit double digits. Even the naturally talented still have to work. And some people don't even get it naturally. But that doesn't mean in any way that those people can't be talented musicians. It just means that they will work hard. And that they don't just like the piano; but they love it.

Vincent looks at the Instructor like he values her words and opinions. Like he trusts her.

Instructor: I want you to think about that when you go home. Think about what kind of musician you are, and if you like of love the piano. Because you can just go as you are and be a really good piano player, and people will be impressed. Or you can work very hard, and be a wonderful pianist that moves people.

You look like you just tasted something bad.

A 13ish year old girl stands in the bathroom brushing her teeth. She goes from side to side and in circles and brushes on the sides and in front. She spits and makes a face as she is about to put her tooth brush back on its rack. She happens to catch her face in the mirror, and stops. She tries to make it again but it isn't exactly the same. She drops her tooth brush in the rack and again makes the face perfecting it this time. She then leans on the sink thinking. She then straitens herself and makes another face. She continues with different faces adding in gestures and motions. She is enjoying herself. She adds objects from the bathroom to her poses and actions, all the while looking in the mirror and scrutinizing these faces and either approves of them or disapproves. When the latter happens the works on improving them until she has a different idea. Eventually she places all her bathroom props back in their places and calmly walks out the door turning off the light as she goes.

When would you suggest we do it? Come on every one is waiting on you.

A class room filled with 4th-ish grade students sit in their desks most looking at the teacher in the front writing a math problem on the board. The teacher having finished turns to the class.

Teacher: Who would like to try this next one on the board? [Some hands go up and some students say "me!"] Sarah, how about you. Here.

The teacher hands Sarah the chalk and she does a problem on the board. She then looks to the teacher for approval she knows she will get.

Teacher: Well what do you think class? Did she do it right? [They nod and say yes] Yes I'd say she did pretty well too. Good job Sarah you can sit down now. Who is next? [Again some hands are raised but the teacher looks at a boy David who sits in the middle of the class who slumps a little and has never raised his hand] David. David how about you come up and do the next one. [He stares back at her eyes wide] It isn't a really hard one. Come on. David?

He slowly gets up out of his chair and shuffles to the board. He begins to write the problem with many pauses in between every thing he writes. He finally finishes and glances at the teacher and then starts to quickly shuffle back but the teacher stops him.

Teacher: David, that part there is multiplication.

David quickly corrects his mistake and then quickly reclaims his seat and slumps downward and looks intently at the book on his desk.

You look tired. How did you sleep last night?

Mother in a kitchen. She is standing in front of the counter, her back to a bar with stools. It is earlier morning around 7. A little boy enters in his pajamas, he looks tired and a little pale. He sniffles. Mother glances at him briefly, then goes back to facing the counter and opens a cupboard pulling out a bowl.

Mother: Hey, Buddy, good morning.
Little Boy: [He croaks a little] Hi mommy.

Little Boy climbs up on to a stool and sits his chin in his hands. Mother opens another cupboard with cereal in it.

Mother: What kind do you want, hon?
Little Boy: [Somber and a little scratchy sounding] I don't know...

Mother turns around and looks at Little Boy carefully.

Mother: You're sick, aren't you? [Little Boy coughs] Mmm...[She walks over and sits on a stool next to him] How about...I make you pancakes? Would you like that? [Little Boy nods but doesn't smile] And...I could make soup. How about I stay home with you today and we make soup., and take a nap, and kick that sickness right out of you?

Little Boy smiles and nods. Mother gets up from the stool and kisses Little Boy on the forehead.

Here you go, Emmie Lou.

Mail boxes ona road. The mail person goes by putting mail in each one. After he/she has moved off, Alice about 18 walks quickly up her driveway to her mail box. Once she has reached her mail box, Sandra about 70 walks to her mail box as Alice frantically goes through her mail.

Sandra: Did it come?
Alice: Oh! You jumped me a little. [Finishing going through the mail a second time] No. The letter didn't come.
Sandra: [Taking out her mail and looking through it] Oh, don't worry, dear.

Pause. Alice puts her mail back into her mail box.

Alice: What if it doesn't come?
Sandra: You're a bright girl Al, they'd be crazy not to let you in. Of course it will come.
Alice: Yeah...
Sandra: [Looking up from her mail and at Alice] It will come, sweetie. Say it.
Alice: It will come.
Sandra: There now go back in the house and relax.
Alice: Okay...
Sandra: And make sure not to tackle the mail man tomorrow. You were better today, but I still worry for his safety.

Sandra winks and the two of them return to their houses.

Haha...you look cold.

It is late fall and a high school football game is going on. There are scattered people through out the bleachers but a Boy and a Girl sit next to each other on the bleacher closest to the ground watching. The boy more intently than the girl but they are both interested. the Girl is shivering some.

Boy: Did you see that pass?!
Girl: Mmhmm, Danny has always been a great player.
Pause as they both watch the game and the Girl begins shivering a little more.
Boy: You cold?
Girl: Oh, not much really.
Boy: Cause you could wear my...Girl looks hopeful but Boy trails off as something interesting happens in the game. Girl shrugs and looks back out at the game, still shivering.
Girl: Wow! This is awesome we might actually have a chance at this game!
Boy: I know it's so gre...[looking over at Girl] you look like you're frozen!
Girl: Well I...
Boy: [taking of his sweatshirt and handing it to her] Here.
Girl: Thanks.

Boy goes back to watching the game as Girl pulls the sweatshirt over her head. Once it is on she pulls the neck up to her nose and takes a deep breath in and resettles the sweatshirt smiling and returns to watching the game.