MIA
FX: KNOCKING ON SUMMER'S DOOR Bug? Can I come in?
SUMMER
Sure Mom.
MIA
You were extremely quiet at dinner tonight and I didn't see much of you this afternoon. Anything you want to talk about?
SUMMER
FX: SUMMER MAKES AN “MMM” SOUND, AS A “NO” ANSWER.
MIA
Are you sure? Because you know you can talk to me about anything. Anything that's on your mind.
SUMMER
I know, mom.
MIA
(beat) What about those Blueberry scones today? Man were they good! Am I right?
SUMMER
(Not paying attention to what her mom is saying) What? The scones? Oh yeah. They were great.
MIA
Okay, Bug. Now I know something is wrong because you LOVE tasting the new pastries Lindsay cooks up.
NARRATOR
Summer was still not ready to talk.
FX: SUMMER ROLLS OVER ONTO HER SIDE
MIA
Okay. Well then I guess we won't talk about it tonight. I'll give you some space and you can come to me whenever you are ready. But we WILL talk tomorrow.
FX: MIA KISSES SUMMER ON THE FOREHEAD, AND FOOTSTEPS ARE HEARD AND THE DOORKNOB TURNS BEGINNING TO OPEN THE DOOR.
SUMMER
Do you mind if we talk about my biological parents? ...
FX: THE DOOR CLOSES
MIA
Oh wow. Bug. Yes. Sure, of course. What do you want to talk about specifically? I’ve already told you all I know about them. Which, I’m sorry to say, isn't much.
SUMMER
Yeah, I know... I was, well I was just wondering about their hair.
MIA
Their hair?
SUMMER
Yeah. I mean, like, what was their hair like? Curly like mine? Short, Long. I just, I was just wondering what it looked like. And how they took care of it, I guess.
MIA
Oh Summer. I wish I knew. I’m sure it would be nice to see the resemblance between you all. I’m sure they had beautiful hair just like yours.
SUMMER
(She scoffs at herself) Beautiful? Yeah. Okay (beat) I’m sure they did.
MIA
Bug- You have the most beautiful head of hair I've ever seen. I mean, look at those curls. You know, now that I think of it, you and Lizzie have very similar hair. (She begins to realize where Summer's questions were coming from)
MIA
Ah. I see. Is this because of Lizzie's hair?
FX: SUMMER TURNING OVER IN BED AND RUFFLING THE SHEETS
MIA
Did she say anything bad about your hair? (said in a concerning tone)
SUMMER
No...
MIA
But....
SUMMER
Some of the other girls were saying some things about my hair being big, and frizzy, and dirty...
MIA
And dirty? (quickly exclaimed defensively, and then in a calm assuring voice) Summer, your hair is gorgeous, CLEAN, and beautiful, and I'm sure those girls were just saying those mean comments, which are NOT true, because they wish they had hair like yours. I mean who doesn't?
SUMMER
(She makes a sad little grunt noise acknowledging what her mother said)
MIA
Okay bug- Why don’t you get some sleep, and we can talk about all of this more tomorrow. Okay?
SUMMER
Sure. Okay, mom.
MIA
Bug...
SUMMER
Yeah mom?
MIA
I love you, now...
SUMMER
And always.
FX: FLOOR CREAKS AS MIA WALKS TO THE DOOR, SHUTS THE LIGHT, OPENS AND CLOSES THE DOOR BEHIND HER.
SCENE 5
NARRATOR
The next morning when Summer woke, she still wasn't her usual peppy, go-getter self. She took her time getting out of bed. She looked out her window for a while, slowly picked out an outfit for the day, and sat down at her vanity mirror.
FX: SUMMER LAYING IN BED GRUNTING, GETTING OUT OF BED, THE BIRDS CHIRPING BUT HER NOT WHISTLING BACK, PLOPPING IN VANITY CHAIR, OPENING AND CLOSING VANITY DOORS & COMPARTMENTS
Looking around for the last of her hair ties, she found one and without thinking, put her hair in a very low messy bun and favorite hat. She sat there, just staring in the mirror. 1 minute, now two minutes, 3, 4, 5 minutes go by. She took off her hat and took her hair out of the bun. She began playing around with her hair, unsuccessfully trying to do different styles with it.
SUMMER
Ugh I have no idea what I’m doing. It’s just getting more tangled. How does Lizzie even deal with all that hair? (beat) ...this. is. soooooo frustrating!!!! (She grunts to herself)
MIA
Summer?
NARRATOR
Yelled her mom from downstairs.
MIA
Can you come down for a second?
SUMMER Coming mom!
NARRATOR
... She yelled back. (beat) She quickly grabbed the hair tie again, putting her hair back into a messy bun, VERY messy, grabbed her "Sunday-Funday" hat, and ran down the stairs.