SCENE 1:
THEME MUSIC FADES IN, LASTS 30 SECONDS, FADE OUT.
SFX: INTERIOR HOUSE, FADED TELEVISION, BOILING PANS, AND GENERAL HOME SOUNDS. LOWER DURING DIALOGUE.
MOTHER
(SHOUTS) Harry, Georgia, dinner will be ready soon, go wash your hands please.
SFX: PLATES CLATTERING, WATER DRAINING.
DISTANT-
GEORGIA
Race you to the kitchen..
SFX: RUNNING FADES IN, LAUGHTER, CHILDREN SEATED AT THE TABLE, CHAIR DRAG.
GEORGIA
Will you come to the play mummy? I’m playing Gretel, that’s a big part with LOADS of words. Do you know the story of Hansel and Gretel mummy? …
LONG PAUSE
(AS TALKING GET FASTER) ….Well there’s a girl called Gretel – that’s me – and a boy called Hansel, that’s Thomas Brown, which I am not happy about because he has to play my brother and I want Harry to be Hansel because he is actually my brother.
HARRY
As if I’d act in a stupid childish play (muttered quietly/bitterly under breath).
GEORGIA
Hansel and Gretel are such funny names, it must be a really old story ‘cause I don’t know anyone with those names. Why not call them something else like Rihanna or Beyonce, something good. (DEEP BREATH) Well anyway I have to….
MOTHER
Georgia will you just keep quiet and eat your dinner! (SIGH) I’m trying to sort all these bills…
SFX: PAPER RUSTLE, CLATTER AS CUTLERY SCRAPES THE PLATES.
SCENE 2:
SFX: SAME AS SCENE 1, NOW ALSO PHONE RINGS.
MOTHER
Hello….
(PAUSE)
Work, when?
(PAUSE)
Well, I will have to see if someone can look after the kids.
SFX: RUSTLE PAPERS.
(SIGH)..Yes, sir, okay, sir, I’ll be in soon.
SFX: PHONE BEEPING AS PRESSING BUTTONS.
MOTHER
Hi Sally, are you busy?…
Oh right, not to worry then. Just I’ve been called into work….
Yeah okay, well I hope your mum gets better soon..
SFX: PHONE BEEP AS CALL ENDED.
SFX: PHONE BEEPING AS PRESSING BUTTONS.
MOTHER
Hello David, is Chrissie there?….
Hi Chrissie it’s Katy, are you busy?…
I’ve been called into work….
I see, okay, well we’ll catch up soon….
SFX: PHONE BEEP AS CALL ENDED.
MOTHER
(exasperated sigh)
HARRY
Are you okay mum? (Concerned)
MOTHER
Yes, I’m fine, Harry. (PAUSE) Right kids I have to pop out for a while, I’ll be back before bedtime, don’t worry. So you two just stay here watch a film or play on the Wii, but do not leave this house. (EMPHISIS ON THE “DO NOT”)
HARRY
You mean we get to stay in the house on our own?
MOTHER
Yes, and your not to leave the house please promise me kids.
HARRY
I don’t want to babysit Georgia, what about the Johnston’s next door again?
MOTHER
Enough Harry, I don’t have time to argue! The Johnston’s have been wonderful but I can’t keep expecting them to come to my rescue every time I’m called into work – you’ll be fine for a few hours, just promise me you’ll stay put!
HARRY AND GEORGIA
I promise.
MOTHER
Good. Harry, look after your sister please. I won’t be long.
SFX: KISS THE CHILDREN, RATTLE OF KEYS, DOOR SHUT.
SCENE 3:
SFX: TELEVISION, WII SOUNDS, LAUGHTER.
HARRY
I win again, (EMPHESIS ON AGAIN) I’m bored. (DRAG THE WORD ‘BORED’)
GEORGIA
Me too, you always win, this game is rubbish. Shall we watch a film? … (PAUSE, WAITING FOR RESPONSE) … Harry?
SFX: TURN TELEVISION OFF, RUSTLE OF CLOTHES, COAT ZIP.
GEORGIA
What are you doing? Why are you putting your coat on? Mummy said we have to stay here, we promised.
HARRY
Yeah but she isn’t here and we’re bored, so we can just go to the park for five minutes, she will never know.
GEORGIA
But Harry we will be in trouble.
HARRY
Well I’m going to the park, I have to look after you so you can come with me or you can stay here on your own.
SFX: RATTLE OF DOOR LATCH
GEORGIA
Wait for me! (SHOUT)
SFX: ZIP OF COAT, DOOR SHUT.
SCENE 4:
SFX: DISTANT CARS, RUSTY SWINGS, BIRDSONG, OUTDOOR AMBIENCE.
GEORGIA
Push me higher Harry!
HARRY
No, it’s my go Georgia, stop hogging the swing.
SFX: OWL, CONTINUE DISTANT TRAFFIC.
HARRY
It’s getting dark, we should go. Mum might get home early…
SCENE 5:
SFX: WATER FROM A WATERING CAN.
OLD LADY (WITCH)
(TO SELF) That’s all the jobs done, was easier before Arthur passed away…
SFX: DISTANT CARS, RUSTY SWINGS, OUTDOOR AMBIENCE.
GEORGIA
Harry look at that house…looks like the cottage in my school play. See the shutters on the windows; they have gingerbread men cut out. Wow, lets go have a look!
SFX: FOOTSTEPS BEGIN TO FADE INTO DISTANT.
HARRY
Wait; don’t go any closer, there’s a woman. She might be like the witch. (TRYING TO SCARE GEORGIA INTO GOING HOME, SECRETLY UNCOMFORTABLE)
GEORGIA
Don’t be silly, that’s just a story…
SFX:FOOTSTEPS
Hello, I’m Georgia. I love your cottage….
SCENE 6:
SFX: KEYS UNLOCKING A DOOR, OPEN AND SHUT.
MOTHER
I’m back! (shout)…
SFX: FOOTSTEPS IN AND OUT ROOM, UP AND DOWN STAIRS.
Harry….Georgia (shout)
Stop mucking around! (tired)
Come out right now!!
SFX: FOOTSTEPS IN AND OUT ROOM, UP AND DOWN STAIRS.
Georgia…Harry! (panicked).
(gasp) their coats…shoes (panic).
SFX: DOOR OPENS, KNOCKING ON DOOR.
(OUT OF BREATH) Has Harry and Georgia been round?
NEIGHBOUR
No, is everything okay Katy?
MOTHER
I’m sure it’s fine, just their coats and shoes have gone too…. ermmm let me know if you see them.
SFX: DOOR OPENS, KNOCKING ON DOOR.
MOTHER
Are Georgia and Harry here?
NEIGHBOUR 2
No, sorry not seen them since we babysat yesterday.
MOTHER
Okay, thanks!
SFX: DOOR SHUT, PHONE BEEPING AS PRESSING BUTTONS.
MOTHER
Hello police…
SCENE 7:
SFX: OUTDOOR NIGHT AMBIENCE.
OLD WOMAN (WITCH)
Hello Georgia, i’m Shirley. (softly)
And who is this young man?
HARRY
I’m Harry and we are going…
GEORGIA
Your house looks like the cottage in my school play, im playing Gretel from Hansel and Gretel. I’m the lead so I have lots of words to remember. Have you heard the story?
OLD WOMAN (WITCH)
Oh yes, I think I still have the storybook. Do you want to come in and see?
HARRY
No we should go.
SFX: FOOTSTEPS, DOOR SHUT, CHAIN LOCK, FADED TELEVISION. (UNDERLAY DIALOUGE).
GEORGIA
Shut up Harry, do you have children Shirley?
OLD WOMAN (WITCH)
No I don’t (concerned)
GEORGIA
Are you on your own too? Our mummy doesn’t have a husband.
HARRY
Shut up Georgia.
OLD WOMAN (WITCH)
My husband died some years ago now. Look here this is my Arthur.
GEORGIA
Who’s the baby in that picture?
HARRY
Who cares…(under breath, muttered)
OLD WOMAN (WITCH)
Ah..well, thats my daughter, she died too at a young age. I love children, unfortunately I wasn’t lucky with having my own children.(pause) Harry you don’t seem happy, do you want some gingerbread men and a glass of pop?
HARRY
I’m not a child..maybe a glass of lemonade would be okay.
GEORGIA
Can I have a gingerbread man, pleaseeee?
SCENE 8:
SFX: OUTDOOR, NIGHT, PARK, DISTANT CARS.
MOTHER
Harry!!..Georgia!! (call out).
(panic) Have you seen two children, a girl and boy, about this height?…
(panic, out of breath) Have two children been on this park? A girl and boy?..i have a picture…see?
(gasp) Harry’s glove…do you know where the boy who was on this swing went?
SCENE 9;
SFX: FADED TELEVISION. (UNDERLAY DIALOUGE).
OLD WOMAN (WITCH)
There you go Harry a lemonade and a packet of crisps, much more grown up than gingerbread men.
GEORGIA
Have you got any games Shirley?
OLD WOMAN (WITCH)
Ah, how about a few games of dominos while you drink your drinks and finish your snacks, then you should head home, don’t want your mother worrying.
HARRY
Whats dominos? I bet I win, I always do.
OLD WOMAN (WITCH)
Well I will show you, however I am pretty good at dominos, I use to beat Arthur all the time.
GEORGIA
Do you miss Arthur, Shirley? I bet you get really lonely..do you struggle with bills like our mummy? You don’t look stressed like mummy does. Can I have another gingerbread man?
OLD WOMAN (WITCH)
Help yourself Georgia. You have a lot of questions for a young girl.
HARRY
Yeah and she doesn’t know when to shut up. (bitterly)