Lab Journal Entry #24

[matril]

"Wish"

Entry #24: Wish

Int., Clancy’s dining room, evening. Camera has been hidden on a bookshelf to record the family at the table. MRS. CLANCY – clearly unseeing – ABBY, PHILLIP and SOPHIE, the latter two sitting very close, holding hands and very blissful)

SOHPIE
(With thick accent) And when I realize, Father want to leave country and take me away forever, I put foot down. I sneak out house, go to the library and use computer to find you. Then I use last of my money to buy bus ticket and come here.

ABBY
Do you think your father knows yet?

SOHPIE
(Laughs wryly) He know I am gone. He not know where.

PHILLIP
He never planned on letting you marry me, did he? He just used that promise to get me to buy into his investment scheme.

SOHPIE
Hush. He did bad things, but it no good to be angry. I am here now. All is well.

ABBY
All that really matters. But I’m afraid you’re not going to be able to have a very fancy wedding.

PHILLIP
We don’t care about that.

SOHPIE
We wait years while Father say “Not yet, not yet.” Why wait longer? (Hesitates) Though...I have one wish.

MRS CLANCY
What is that?

SOHPIE
My English. (Ducks head) Father never let me learn much, keep me away from people. I wish to speak more good than this.

ABBY
(Excitedly) There’s a wish I can grant! At least, I can try. You know I studied speech pathology in school. You can be my student.

MRS CLANCY
(Wryly) You finally want to work, and it’s for a non-paying student.

SOHPIE
I pay! I get job, work hard. Learn English in – even?

ABBY
Evening. That’s perfect.

Cut to: Garage, dark

CREATURE (VO)
I want to see more of family, so I make camera give pictures. (Hurriedly, defensively) I do not steal it! I find it in here. Friends have new camera they use.

I like them. Like Sophie too. Want to help them. They help me, though not knowing it. They teach Sophie. I learn too.