In a Crowded Room

In a Crowded Room:

 

INT. HEADMISTRESSES’ OFFICE - LATE AFTERNOON

 

(KATHY, and her thirteen year old daughter, MICHELLE, are seated in front of the headteacher’s desk, in her office, waiting for her to return. Kathy is smiling widely, swinging her legs, and drumming her fingers on the table, as though she is playing in a rock band. Kathy looks around the room, then at Michelle, who is wringing her hands).

 

Kathy: Buddy, Buddy, guess what…

 

(Michelle looks up at Kathy, and forces a smile, shaking lightly. Her voice comes out in a hoarse whisper).

 

Michelle: You okay, Mum?

 

Kathy: Look what I can do…

 

(Kathy drums hard on the table, smiling excitedly).

 

Kathy: Isn’t it fun? You try.

 

(Michelle smiles fondly at Kathy, rubbing her back gently, just as the headteacher, Miss Sandra Smith, walks in. Kathy springs to her feet, knocking over her chair, and pulls Sandra’s chair out for her).

 

Sandra: Thank you, Miss… Thomson? Am I correct?

 

(Kathy smiles excitedly, clapping her hands together, before returning to her seat).

 

Kathy: She knows my name! Yes! We’re going to talk about Michelle, right? Aren’t we Michelle? Right? We’re going to talk about you? About how well you’re doing in school? Right? Right?

 

Michelle: Yes, Mum. (Quietly) Why don’t we let the lady speak first, then you can ask her anything you like.

 

Sandra: Thank you for coming in, Miss Thomson. I hope it wasn’t too far out of your way.

 

Kathy: I’m Captain Thomson (Kathy’s eyes gleam with pride) Well, I was. I had to leave, but now I get to spend more time with my favourite person (Kathy grabs Michelle, and holds her tight, unknowingly hurting her with how tight she is holding her). Could I join the school? Then I could be with Michelle all the time. Wouldn’t that be fun?

 

(After a while, Kathy finally lets Michelle go).

 

Kathy: Wouldn’t that be fun, Michelle? It would be fund. It would be fun, wouldn’t it?

 

(Michelle looks at Kathy, she looks like she’s on the verge of crying).

 

Michelle: I’m sure it would be, Mum.

 

Kathy: So it’s settled? I can join? (Kathy looks painfully hopeful, smiling).

 

Michelle: We’ll see, Mum. We’ll see.

 

Kathy: Yay! It’s gonna be so fun.

 

Michelle: Mum, let’s listen, okay? I don’t think the lady has finished.

 

(Sandra smiles awkwardly, shuffling papers).

 

Sandra: Right, so recently teachers have raised concerns regarding Michelle’s wellbeing.

 

(Kathy smiles broadly, thinking this is praise).

 

Kathy: She’s amazing, isn’t she? She’s truly the best. You won’t find a better girl anywhere than my Michelle she gets her brains from me you see, she could hardly have gotten them from her father he was never around.

 

(Kathy laughs, smiling to herself).

 

Michelle: Mum, please, let the lady talk.

 

Sandra: Is everything, (Sandra pauses and looks directly at Michelle) okay?

 

Michelle: Yes, we’re okay. There’s no need to worry.

 

Sandra: Your teachers have said you have been distracted, and withdrawn from your peers. You are failing to return homework in on time, and you are not participating in lessons.

 

Michelle: I am fine. I promise. Been spending so much time with Mum, because I love her so much. But I promise I’ll do better.

 

Sandra: We just want to make sure you have something (Sandra pauses) consistent.

 

Kathy: We are consistent. Ev… Ev… (Kathy struggles to say the word, her words slurring slightly). Every… we are consistent. I, I take Michelle to school, and I wash my dishes. I even know how to make a duck from a towel. Watch this…

 

(Kathy pulls out a towel from her rucksack, her hands trembling, she tries desperately to make a duck).

 

Kathy: Why is there no duck? There’s no duck, look, Michelle, there’s no duck. Where’s the duck? Why is there no duck? There should be a duck, where’s the duck?

 

(Michelle gently squeezes Kathy’s hand with one hand, and rubs her back with the other).

 

Michelle: It’s okay, Mum. We’ll make a duck when we get home.

 

(Kathy smiles, there are tears in her eyes. Michelle strokes Kathy’s hair, kissing the side of her head.)

 

Michelle: Let’s let the lady finish, okay?

 

(Kathy nods and smiles).

 

(Sandra considers her next words very carefully, looking sympathetically at Kathy).

 

Sandra: Miss Thomson, are you feeling okay?

 

Kathy: Yes, yes. I’m feeling great, I’m with my favourite person in the world. Why’d you ask?

 

Sandra: You were seen rolling around on the floor earlier this morning.

 

Kathy: I was showing Michelle how I used to crawl when I was in the army. Want to see?

 

Sandra: That’s quite alright, thank you, Miss Thomson.

 

Kathy: Kids think I’m funny. They laugh, then l laugh, then they laugh some more. It’s fun.

 

Michelle: Mum, maybe we should go.

 

Sandra: It’s okay to ask for help, Miss Thomson. It’s okay.

 

Kathy: Help? What do we need help with? Michelle? Do you need help?

 

(Michelle looks up at Kathy, there are tears in her eyes, as she nods weakly).

 

Michelle: Yes, Mum. I do. People are hurting me.

 

(Kathy’s eyes widen).

 

Kathy: You’re hurt? Who’s hurting you? I can take you to a hospital right now. Who’s hurting you? Who’s doing this?

 

Michelle: You are, Mum.

 

Kathy: I’m hurting you? I’m… hurting you? No. I wouldn’t. Please… I’ll fix this. I’ll fix you.

 

Michelle: The other kids are laughing at me, Mum. Because of you.

 

Kathy: Is that all it is? But laughter is good.

 

Michelle: No it isn’t, Mum. Laughter is bad, very bad.

 

Kathy: Very bad?

 

Michelle: Yes.

 

Kathy: I can fix you. Let me fix you.