Alice (16 page)

ALICE:
I’ll go to the shop and get it.

DAD:
OK?

ALICE:
Be good for me to get out the house, maybe.

ALICE
looks at her
MUM
, who nods bravely.

Get some fresh air.

MUM:
Yes, OK.

DAD
reaches in his pocket and pulls out a fiver.
ALICE
takes it.

ALICE:
Thanks. See you in a minute.

ALICE
goes.
MUM
and
DAD
look at each other.
MUM
tries not to say something,
but after a moment blurts it out:

MUM:
(Calling after her.)
Be careful on the road!

Alice?

They spring into action.

DAD:
Watch her out the window...

MUM:
Just peek round the curtain so she doesn’t see you. What’s she doing?

DAD:
Hang on a sec, she’s not there yet. No, she’s coming out the front door –

MUM:
Yeah?

DAD:
She’s walking down to the gate.

She’s standing at the gate.

MUM:
Is she alright?

DAD:
Looks like she’s not sure about it –

MUM:
Oh heck.

DAD:
Hesitating...

MUM
goes to the other window.

Don’t let her see you, just peek round the curtain.

MUM:
She’s going – is she going?

DAD:
That’s it Alice. That’s my girl.

MUM
and
DAD
fade away as
ALICE
comes through the garden gate and onto the pavement.

She breathes deeply. She enjoys the feeling. She starts to walk down the road.

A crowd of
WONDERLANDERS
appears behind her, including the
WONDERBAND
. They play music as they follow her. A mash-up of
Joe’s song with Welcome To Wonderland and the Lobster Quadrille.

ALICE
doesn’t dance, but the
WONDERLANDERS
do.

ALICE
smiles, knowing they’re behind her.

THE END.