Louise is sitting on the bed listening to recent music, e.g. Teenage Dirtbag by Wheatus.
Melissa enters and turns the music off, she takes off her coat and places it on the back of the chair she puts her small bag on the floor next to the bed.
Melissa: Has dad been drinking again? He’s just had another go at mom. They’re always arguing. I can’t put up with it any more.
Louise: Oh, don’t worry! Everyone’s parents argue! It will all be forgotten in the morning.
Melissa: You always say that, but then there’s another argument after Dad’s been down the pub all day.
Louise: You worry about it too much, they’ll be fine, don’t worry! I’ve seen it all before!
Melissa: But I do worry, It stresses me out, I’m always listening to them going on and on.
Lights go down with just one single light on Melissa.
Melissa: Mom and Dad are always arguing. I can’t cope any more, I can’t sleep at night, and I can’t get up in the morning. I’m normally lively but now I’ve become antisocial, and I’m losing all my friends. I can’t concentrate at school or anything, and I think I even hit her the other night. I’ll ask my sister about it.
Lights come back up
Melissa: What about that bruise mom’s got? He hit her didn’t he!
Louise: No he didn’t, he’d never go that far!
Melissa: I don’t believe you, I think he did, I hate him!
Louise: Whatever.
Melissa picks up a book and begins to read.
Louise turns music up.
A few second later Melissa slams the book down.
Melissa: I’m so stressed, I just can’t concentrate. You don’t care; you’re not even listening to me!
Melissa leans over the side of the bed about to pick up the bottle.
Louise gets up, turns the music down a little and starts walking towards her wondering what she is doing.
Louise: What are you doing?
Melissa picks up bottle.
Louise: You had that under the bed all this time, where did you get that from, and it’s open as well.
Melissa unscrews the bottle and takes a swig.
Louise grabs her wrist.
Louise: You don’t have to resort to that!
Melissa throws her arm off
Melissa: Just get off my case, Ok?
Louise: Look I just don’t think it’s a good idea, I know it’s hard but there’s no need to do that!
Melissa: Just leave me alone, everyone’s always telling me what to do; if it’s not mom or dad then it’s you. I don’t care any more, I’m gonna get completely out of my head! This’ll make me feel better.
Melissa takes another swig from the bottle.
Louise grabs the bottle.
Louise: Look, I told you before, don’t do it! You complain about dad drinking and having a go at mom, but look at you now, you’re doing exactly the same. Drinking you’re sorrows away and having a dig at everyone around you. Don’t be stupid.
Melissa throws a book
Melissa: GET LOST!
Louise moves away, somewhat afraid and disappointed.
Louise: You’re really pathetic! Drinking doesn’t solve anything!
Lights dim and a spotlight is upon Louise.
Louise: I can’t believe she’s drinking, she’s seen what dad’s like. Actually, I feel the same way; I’m glad I’m leaving. I don’t want to leave her on her own, but I can’t stand it any more. At least I can escape; Melissa’s still got a few years left. I don’t like the situation but I would never go so far as to start drinking.
Pauses
Louise: I know dad hit mom the other night, but I can’t tell her that! I need to tell her that I’m there for her.
Lights come back up
Louise turns the chair around and sits on it.
Louise: Mel, look. Mum and dad have been having a lot of arguments lately and if anything drastic should happen, then I want you to know I’m here for you.
Melissa: How are you here for me? You’re leaving for Uni. in three weeks, and I can’t see they will have stopped arguing by then, they’ll probably be separated. You’re not going to leave me like this, if you’re going, then I’m going too.
Melissa gets up and begins to stuff clothes into the sports bag.
Louise: What?
Melissa: I’m leaving, I’m gonna run away!
Louise: Where are you gonna go?
Melissa: I don’t know, and I don’t care.
Louise: You won’t do it!
Melissa: Wanna bet?
Louise: Don’t be so stupid!
Louise grabs the bag and throws it off the bed.
Melissa: What do you care anyway? You’ll be happy in your Uni. While I’m stuck here, you must be joking!
Louise: That’s not fair! I worked hard to get that place, and no one, not even you is going to stop me. I know it’s hard, I’m having a hard time too...
Melissa: Interrupts Yeah, but you’re getting out of it!
Louise: You know your problem, you’re too spoilt, you think you can have your own way every time, and that life’s perfect. Well I’ll tell you something, life isn’t perfect and you’re not going to stop me doing what I want to do, not this time. I’m not going to stay here just to please you.
Melissa: Leave me alone you stupid cow!
Louise: Don’t talk to me like that! I’ve tried to help you but you think that you’re the centre of the universe!
Louise picks up a picture.
Louise: Look at you here, what happened? How come you’ve changed so much in the past few years? You’ve turned into a selfish spoilt little brat! You get everything, but not anymore. Why should I put my life on hold, just for you!
Melissa: What are you going on about? What do you expect? Everyone grows up, I’m not seven any more and you’re not perfect so don’t yell at me.
Oh, yeah, It really looks like I’m getting my own way, I really want mom and dad to split up ‘cause we both know that’s what’s gonna happen eventually. I really want you to leave me, and I really want my schoolwork to go downhill, but most of all, I’m really glad I’ve started drinking, do you think I enjoy it? So, there you go, aren’t I lucky, I get everything I want!
Louise: Oh God, don’t be such a drama queen! You always have to be number one, any trouble, you just go running to mummy and it’s solved. And I didn’t tell you to start drinking so stop moaning about dad, when you’re doin’ the same! As for mom and dad, well you can put up with the hassle, ‘cause this time, I’m getting what I want!
Melissa: If you’re going, then I’m going too!
Louise: No you’re not!
Melissa: Who’s going to stop me?
Louise pushes Melissa
Louise: I am!
Melissa pushes Louise
Melissa: Don’t push me!
Melissa turns around and Louise grabs her hair.
Louise: Don’t turn you’re back on me!
Melissa: Get off my hair!
Melissa gets free, turns around and slaps Louise.
Louise: Don’t slap me!
Louise slaps Melissa back
Melissa: Owww!
Melissa pushes Louise and she falls on the floor.
As Louise gets back up the lights go down, she sits on her bed. Melissa moves upstage and a single light comes up on her.
Melissa: She’s not going to go and leave me here, I can’t cope. I need help or my drinking problem’s never gonna stop! Why is she so selfish? What’s her problem? Leaving me here while she prances off to University, I don’t think so! She’s my older sister, she’s meant to take care of me; at least my friends take care of me!
You can choose your friends but you can’t choose your family, pity, ‘cause it looks like I drew the short straw! Well I’m gonna go, forget her, I’m not being cooped up in this shit hole of a bedroom while she’s floating around at Uni.
Lights come up. Melissa goes to pick up the bottle, takes a swig, picks up the bag and continues to pack it.
Melissa: Right’ I’m off!
Louise: You can’t go!
Melissa: I can and I am, Goodbye!
Melissa Exits
Louise: Oi! Get back here!
Father enters holding a beer bottle, completely drunk
Father: What’s all the shouting about?
Louise: Melissa’s gone!
Father: Gone where?
Louise: I don’t know, she’s just gone, ran away!
Father: Why for?
Louise: Why? Well why do you think? Look at the state of you, drinking ‘till dawn. She’s gone and soon I will be too and I’ll tell you something, I can’t wait!
Father: Don’t talk to me like that!
Father Pauses
Father: I love you you know! Staggers towards her.
Louise: Well, you’ve got a funny way of showing it, just leave me alone!
Father: Ok love, whatever you say!
Father Exits
Lights go down to a single spotlight on Louise
Louise: I can’t believe she just did that! When did she start drinking? I wish I’d found out about her drinking problem sooner. I bet it’s those friends of hers, especially Sarah, she’s such a bad influence! That’s probably where she’s gone, to Sarah’s, she practically lives there! I just wish mum and dad would get a divorce or something, then we wouldn’t have to put up with dad! Mind you, Melissa’s in year ten, she’s only got three years left before she leaves home. I just can’t cope with the stress anymore and Melissa isn’t helping with her problems on my mind as well. Pause. Well I’d better start looking for her, ‘cause it doesn’t look like he’s going to.
Lights come up slightly as Louise get up and go down again as she exits the stage.
