A script made by LB from a novel named <Looking for Alibrandi>

Quarrel with Mother For My First Dating With Jacob Coote

Characters: Josie (A student in Year 12; Christina’s daughter) Jessica
Christina (Josie’s mother) Terry
Mrs. Sahd (An old lady who lives in next Josie’s family’s next door.) Gu yu


Scene One
Mama parked in front of the terrace and turned to me questioningly while I was brooding, leaning against the car window, not saying a word.

Christina: ‘Apart from the fact that you’re not talking to me, are you okay?’ (Josie shrugged with a sigh.)
Christina: ‘Is it that bad?’
Josie: ‘Yes.’
Christina: ‘I went out with the man, Josie. I am not going to marry him.’
It was a weed since our fight.
Josie: ‘Oh, Ma, it’s not that,’ (Josie said facing Christina.) ‘How do you put up with me
when I treat you so bad?’
Christina: ‘Oh my God, is this my daughter talking?’ (Christian laughed.)
Josie: ‘No, I mean it. God, you spend all your life bringing me up, wasting your youth
on a selfish person, yet you never complain.'’
Christina: ‘Josie, are you possessed? I’ve never heard you being this humble.’
Josie: ‘I wasn’t worth it, Mama. You should have gone through with the abortion.’
Christina: ‘Oh, stop it, for God’s sake! I had you, Josephine, because I wanted to. I have
never ever regretted having you, except when you threw that meatloaf away
knowing there are children starving in the world.’
Josie: ‘I put too much oregano in it anyway,’ (Josie sighed and looking out of the
window.) ‘I’ tired of fighting you. I need a rest.’
Christina: ‘Your grandmother said that to me too. Maybe we should all give each other a
rest.’ (Josie took Christina’s hand and squeezed it.)
Josie: ‘I’m changing, Mama. I’m growing up. I’m finally seeing the light.’
Christina: ‘I’m glad of that, but to tell you quite honestly, you’re not that bad a person.
Personally I think you’re basically a … nice person.’
Josie: ‘Don’t choke on the words,’ (Josie was rolling her eyes as Christina leaned over
to kiss me.)
Christina: ‘I miss not touching you when we’re angry with each other.’
Josie: ‘Can I ask you a favour?’ (Josie said, facing Christina.)
Christina: ‘Ask away.’
Josie: ‘I’ve been asked out to the movies on Saturday night by a boy and I really
would like to go.’
Christina: ‘Is that what all this buttering up has been about?’ (Josie shook her head,
determined that she believe me.)
Josie: ‘No way, Mama. If you say no, I’ll accept it. I told you. I’m tired of fighting you. You’re too tough for me.’ (Christina leaned back in the seat and sighed.)
Christina: ‘John Barton?’
Josie: ‘No. Jacob Coote.’ (Christina frowned, pensively.)
Christina: ‘Jacob Coote? Isn’t he the boy who threw eggs at you once?’
Josie: ‘I know it sounds suss, but he really is nice. He’s very deep when he wants to be.’
Christina: ‘Jose, you know how I feel about letting you go out with boys I don’t know. At
least I’m familiar with John Barton from debating.’
Josie: ‘Mama, have I ever been interested in anyone foolish?’
Christina: ‘You hang around with Sera. That’s enough evidence to consider you foolish,’ (Christina said in a dry tone.) ‘I’ll think about it, okay.’
Josie: ‘I appreciate that.’
Mrs Sahd: ‘Where’s my little Josie? I never see her any more,’ (Mrs Sahd said, standing up and walking to the fence.)
Christina: ‘It’s a bery busy year for her, Mrs Sahd. It’s very hard to get into university these days if you don’t study,’ (Christina said, kissing Mrs Sahd on both cheeks.)
Mrs Sahd: ‘Look at her. I remember when she was this high,’ ‘Send her over some time, Christina. I’m an old woman, I like the company.’
Christina: ‘Of course, Mrs Sahd. Josie loves the company as well.’
Mrs Sahd: ‘I need to talk to you about those boys, Christina. They are very noisy. The
music is much too loud.’
Josie: ‘I’ll talk to them, Mrs Sahd. I promise.’
Mrs Sahd: ‘Ruper is very upset by them too. He came home the other night with nerves, Christina. I had to put a sedative in his cat food. It was because of the noise, Christina.’
Christina: ‘Leave things to me, Mrs Sahd,’ Mama said taking her hand and squeezing it
before walking towards our terrace.
Josie: ‘God knows what else she feeds that cat. He looks like he’s on steroids,’ I
whispered as she continued to wave to us.’ (Mama checked for the mail and
walked up the stairs.) ‘Did Elvis Presley try to get you into bed?’ I asked
her.
Christina: ‘It’s Paul Presilio,’ (Christina smiled, unlocking the ground floor door.) ‘Not
that it’s any of your concern, but yes he did.’ (Josie looked at her, horrified ,
and stopped in my tracks.)
Josie: ‘Did you tell him that there is an AIDS epidemic going around? God, what a
creep to even try.
Christina: ‘Jacob Coote will probably try it on you, young lady, so you’d better have the
same opinion.’
Josie: ‘I’ll tell him that if it’s not on, it’s not on.’
Christina: ‘You will tell him to keep away from you or your mother will shoot him.’
Josie: ‘Women are being told to carry condoms in their handbags. Someone told me that wearing one is a bit like talking a shower with your clothes on.’
Christina: ‘Who told you ?’
Josie: ‘Just someone,’ (Josie said airily, rushing up the stairs.)
Christina: ‘I do not know if I like you discussing condoms with strange men, Josephine,’ (Christina yelled after Josie.)
Josie: ‘Mama, this is the nineties. In the twenty-first century they’ll be blowing condoms up on Romper Rroom and playing “punch,punch,punch the ball” with them. Face it, the age of innocence is gone. We abused the act of sec and now God’s sitting back and having the laugh of his life.’
Christina: ‘I don’t know think He works that way, Jose.’
Josie: ‘Well, however He works isn’t the issue. The issue is that because of AIDS,
sex will now become the most talked about topic in this world, so if you want to start dating, young lady, get used to it,’ (Josie teased.)
Christina: ‘Yes, Mum,’ (Christina mocked.)
Josie: ‘And, Mama?’
Christina: ‘Yep.’
Josie: ‘You mightn’t regret things you’ve done in your life, but I sure do regret thinkgs I say,’ (Josie said as apologetically as I could then Christina smiled gentily from the bottom of the stairs.)
Christina; ‘We just have to learn to meet each other haldway, okay?’(Josie nodded and descended the stairs. And met her halfway.