Visit My Grandparents
Hannah and Emma have been best friends since kindergarten.
Hannah: Emma, I am so sorry, but I’m not gonna be able to go to the Six Flags with you tomorrow.
Emma: Why not?
Hannah: My parents are making me go with them to visit my grandparents.
Emma: Really? That sucks.
Hannah: It’s not that bad. They’re pretty cool.
Emma: Hmmm… Where do they live?
Hannah: My grandparents? They live in Mohrsville. About three hours away.
Emma: Ah. [pause] So what time will you be leaving in the morning?
Hannah: Um… I don’t know. Probably around nine. Why?
Emma: Well, I still have that book I borrowed last week, and I keep meaning to return it to you, so I was thinking that maybe I’ll stop by in the morning to give it to you before you leave.
Hannah: Oh, that’s okay. Keep it. You can just give it to me on Monday.
Emma: Oh? Okay.
Hannah: Well, I guess I better get goin—
Emma: My mom and I saw your mom at the grocery store last night. Did she mention it?
Hannah: Um… no.
Emma: Oh, that’s strange. I told her to tell you I said “hi”.
Hannah: I guess she must’ve forgotten.
Emma: Yeah. I guess she must have.
Uncomfortable silence.
Emma: So Mohrsville?
Hannah: Yeah.
Emma: Is that near the beach?
Hannah: Um… no. I mean, yes. I mean… it’s closer to the beach than we are now, but it’s, you know, it’s not REALLY close to the beach… why?
Emma: No reason. It’s supposed to be a really nice day tomorrow, so I just thought, you know, maybe you could go to the beach with your grandparents.
Hannah: Oh. Yeah. I don’t know. Maybe. I don’t really think my grandparents are beach people. We’ll probably just stay inside and play cards and stuff.
Emma: Yeah, that’s probably a good idea. As hot and sunny as it’s supposed to be tomorrow, if you went to the beach, you’d probably get sunburned. I’m sure I’ll get some sun at Six Flags tomorrow.
Hannah: Yeah. Right. Well, maybe we will go to the beach. Or maybe I’ll lay out in their backyard and get some sun.
Emma: Hmm.
Hannah: Well, I’d really better get going.
Emma: Oh wait a minute, Hannah, before you go, can you give meCourtney’s phone number?
Hannah: Courtney’s phone number? Um, I guess so. Why?
Emma: Well, since you can’t go to Six Flags with me tomorrow, I’ve got to find somebody to go with me, and I just figured it’d be fun to go with Courtney.
Hannah: Oh. Um… sure.
Emma: Thanks.
Hannah looks up the number on her phone and shows it to Emma.
Hannah: Here it is.
Emma: Okay, great. Thanks. I’ll give her a call right now.
Hannah: Now. Oh… um. I’m pretty sure she’s at her karate class right now.
Emma: Oh well. I’ll just leave her a message. [as she presses SEND on her phone] See ya. Have fun with your grandparents tomorrow.
Hannah: Yeah. Um. Have fun at Six Flags.
As they are going their separate ways, we hear Emma.
Emma: Oh, hi Courtney. It’s Emma. (beat) I didn’t expect you to answer. I thought you’d be at karate class…
DO NOT SHARE THIS INFORMATION WITH YOUR SCENE PARTNER…
EMMA – WHEN YOU WERE AT THE GROCERY STORE AND RAN INTO HANNAH’S MOM, SHE LET IT SLIP THAT HANNAH IS GOING TO THE BEACH WITH COURTNEY AND A BUNCH OF OTHER KIDS FROM SCHOOL. THE EXACT CONVERSATION WAS…
Hannah’s Mom: Emma, I’m so sorry you’re not going to be able to go to the beach with Hannah and Courtney and the gang this weekend.
Emma: Um…
Hannah’s Mom: Hannah said you’re going to visit your grandparents?
Emma: Uh… Yeah. That’s right. Gotta go see my grandparents.
DO NOT SHARE THIS INFORMATION WITH YOUR SCENE PARTNER…
HANNAH – YOU’RE NOT REALLY GOING TO SEE YOUR GRANDPARENTS. YOU’RE GOING TO THE BEACH WITH COURTNEY AND A BUNCH OF OTHER KIDS FROM SCHOOL, BUT SOME OF THE KIDS DON’T LIKE EMMA, SO SHE WASN’T INVITED. YOU’RE EXCITED ABOUT GOING TO THE BEACH WITH ALL THE COOL KIDS, BUT YOU DON’T WANT TO TELL EMMA, BECAUSE YOU DON’T WANT TO HURT HER FEELINGS.