Day 1 Challenge:
I love you/ I hate you/ I love you
MARCIA and FIONA are at a kitchen table. MARCIA is FIONA’S grandmother. In this scene FIONA is roughly 5 years old. MARCIA is making peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for the two of them.
MARCIA
Now did you want apricot or raspberry?
FIONA
Apricot! I love apricot jam! And you are the only one I know that has it!
MARCIA
Is that true? Well, I’m sure if you ask your mom—
FIONA
No! I like that it’s something special that I only get when I visit you!
MARCIA
I love you.
FIONA
And can you cut in slices! I like it so much better than squares!
MARCIA
Of course! I would never cut it into squares for you!
FIONA
You know me so well.
MARCIA
I’d like to think so.
(MARCIA finishes making the sandwich for FIONA and passes it to FIONA before working on her own sandwich. FIONA proceeds to play with her sliced sandwich as if they are dolls)
FIONA
(in the voice of “stick 1”)
But I want a dog!
(in the voice of “stick 2”)
Well you haven’t proved you are responsible enough for a pet.
(stick 1)
Have to!
(stick 2)
Honey, I’m not saying we can’t have a dog eventually, you just aren’t ready for a pet. Maybe in a few years…
(stick 1)
No! Now!
(stick 2)
You can’t always have what you want when you want it!
(stick 1)
But why!
(stick 2)
Because you can’t, honey. Now eat your oatmeal.
(stick 1)
I hate oatmeal. I hate not having pet, Grover, I already named him. He’s got a lot of spots. and is this tall.
(stick 2)
Honey.
(stick 1)
I hate you!
(FIONA takes a bite out of stick 2. MARCIA stopped making the sandwich and is watching the scene in dismay.)
MARCIA
Fee, dear… did you have a fight with your mom?
FIONA
(stuffing stick 3 and 4 in her mouth)
No… why?
MARCIA
Because that stick sounded an awful lot like your mom…
FIONA
Mom won’t let me get a dog…
MARCIA
Ah. So, you were upset with her.
FIONA
Yeah! Wouldn’t you be if Nana said you couldn’t get a dog?
MARCIA
Oh, I sure would. But you know, it’s not nice to say things you don’t mean, even when you’re mad.
FIONA
I know…
MARCIA
And saying you hate someone can really hurt someone’s feelings, especially if they really care and love you like your mom feels about you.
FIONA
Yeah…
MARCIA
So…
FIONA
I should tell mom I’m sorry.
MARCIA
That’s my girl.
FIONA
Grandma?
MARCIA
Yes?
FIONA
You give really good advice.
MARCIA
Well, I like to think so.
FIONA
Can I call mom now and say sorry?
MARCIA
That sounds like a good idea.
FIONA
(goes to get the living room to call. We hear her offstage)
Hi, mom?
Hi! Are you having a good day?
I just wanted to call to say sorry. I didn’t mean it when I said I hated you.
Yeah.
Yeah! And now we’re having PB&Js!
Okay. Bye. I love you.
(FIONA comes bounding back in and finishes her sandwich.)
Thank you, grandma.
MARCIA
You’re welcome, sweetie.