Introduction

Black screen 

Evangeline: my life began when I was nine years old. Before that, all is blank and empty. I used to be afraid, in the dark of the night, that perhaps I really was nothing from nowhere. Lori always told me that ‘if I ever got lost’, mentally or physically, ‘just follow the moon back home’. I never knew what home was, so I never thought I’d turn on the moon. 

Title screen: Turning on the Moon

Blank screen

Subscript: Vrin, Switzerland August 15, 2008

Act One - Evangeline's Punishment

Amelia and Evangeline in the bathroom, at home. Amelia powdering Evangeline’s black eye. 

Evangeline: Get off! It’s not helping! (Pushes Amelia away)

Amelia: Ian’s gonna kill you!

Evangeline: I don’t care anymore. It’s not like it hasn’t happened before. 

Amelia: Your knees are gonna be permanently damaged if you don’t get over your anger issues!  

Evangeline: (shrugs her off and turns to open the door. Ian is standing in the doorway. They have a stare down. Evangeline peers around Ian to look at Zooey. Zooey smiles back and Evangeline lunges at her. Ian grabs her by the shoulders and holds her back.) 

Ian: Solitude room. Three hours.

Lori: Can’t it wait till after dinner?

Ian: (Turns around, holding Evangeline shoulders and begins to march her out of the room) She doesn’t deserve food. 

Everyone: (stands in awe as they watch Ian march Evangeline out of the room.) 

Lori: (sighs) Dinner’s on.

Act Two - Dinner

Everyone but Evangeline at the dinner table. Meatloaf, courtesy of Skyler’s meatloaf cooker (cooks in less than 5 minutes). 

Ian: How was everyone’s day?

Skyler: My meatloaf cooker worked as you all can see! (Excitedly)

Everyone but Zooey: (words of congratulations) Congratulations!

Zooey: It’s a little burned. (All the encouraging words stop.)

Skyler: (points her knife at Zooey) Shut Up! I meant for it to be well done!

Ian: Okay who’s next? Zooey. (Skyler gives Zooey dark evil stare as she puts her knife back on the table.) 

Zooey: I got a 100 on my math test today!

Skyler: (gets cup up to drink and coughs the word) Nerd.

Zooey: It’s not like your any better! (Yelling) 

Skyler: For your information I…

Ian: (cuts Skyler off) back to dinner. (Very menacing) 

Whittney: Well now that that’s over (glances at Zooey and Skyler then continues) I proved my science teacher wrong today when I pointed out that his chemical equation was unbalanced. (Then continuing more quiet) then he yelled at me for pointing out in front of the class that he was wrong. 

Everyone: (looked at Whittney weird) 

Ian: Good job, Whittney!

Everyone: (everyone looked at him weird and Whittney smiled happily to herself) 

Isabelle: I tricked my math teacher into thinking I already took the test. (shrug) apparently I got a 100. (Zooey glares at her, Ian just stared blankly at her. Not knowing what to say.) 

Ian: That’s great Isabelle.

Amelia: My history teacher and a student were arguing and I totally solved the problem. 

Isabelle: How come you can’t do that when Skyler and Zooey fight? (quietly, mostly to herself, but Zooey over hears.)

Zooey: We (gesturing between her and Skyler) don’t need any help!

Skyler: I agree with Zooey, nobody her needs help but her!

Zooey: I do not!

Whittney: Do you hear yourself?

Ian: (pushes away from the table and stands up) I’m done with this! (angrily said) (He walks out of the room). 

Amelia: Well I guess Evangeline will get her lecture after all. 

Lori: (Sighs and gets up from the table) 

Everyone: breaks out into Chaos. 

Act Three - Solitude Room

Ian and Evangeline in the solitude room. 

Ian: (opens the door and enters) Evangeline Lane Malkozich, do you know what ‘solitude’ is?

Evangeline: (biting her lip) I know what it means

Ian: to be in ‘solitude’ is to be in a place where you are alone, to have no one. You are in the solitude room, Evangeline. But your solitude does not remain in this room, does it?

Evangeline: I am not alone.

Ian: whether you will admit it or not, you are alone – at home, at school, everywhere you go you are desperately alone. You know this.

Evangeline: (a single tear streaks down her cheek) I am not alone. I just prefer to be by myself. So why don’t you do us both a favor and go away?

Ian: (looks mad) You may come out in two hours. And if you try to get out, it will earn you more time. 

Evangeline: (Glares at him as he exits the room) 

Act Four - About The Fight

Everyone but Evangeline is in the bedroom. Lying in their beds. 

Ian: (opens the door and pushes Evangeline in. She falls to the ground.) Good night girls. (He shuts the door) 

Skyler: (jumps up to help Evangeline) Are you okay?

Amelia: (grabs a plate of food out from under her bed and goes over to Evangeline. 

Everyone: (everyone moves over to Evangeline, but Zooey) 

Evangeline: Do I look okay? 

Skyler: (she slowly helps Evangeline to Amelia’s bed, where she will sleep for the night because she cannot climb the ladder to her own bed.) What did he tell you? 

Evangeline: nothing new. 

Amelia: Are you hungry?

Evangeline: Yea. (Amelia handed her the plate of food, then she continued) Thanks. (She begins to eat, not knowing how hungry she was. 

Everyone: (everyone goes back to their own bed and lies down) 

Skyler: So, Evangeline, what happened today at school? 

Evangeline: Some punk called me a dork and said I have no friends, so I had to take care of him. He turned out to be tougher than I thought.   

Act Five - Dance Prep

Zooey, Amelia, Whittney doing Evangeline’s Hair. E’s eyes are covered with something. 

Evangeline: Guys what are you doing? (looking around but can’t see anything) 

Skyler: (Giggles)

Evangeline: Skyler what are they doing to me? (No Answer) If I guess right will you tell me? 

Zooey: No!

Skyler: (Hysterics) 

Evangeline: (Rips off cover) (Gasp) (In furious calm) You guys are so mean to me!

Isabelle: (Came running in) He’s Here!

Evangeline: Who’s here (Turns to bathroom entrance and Isabelle) 

Isabelle: Wow – you look so pretty!

Evangeline: Who’s here?

Zooey: Your date!

Evangeline: My WHAT?

Skyler: Date. 

Evangeline: What? I don’t want a date! What do you mean you got me a date?

Zooey: We got you a date for the dance and he’s here! So you better go answer the door!

Evangeline: I’m not gonna answer the door!

Whittney: Its rude keep him waiting! Go get the door, E!

(All fighting, ends up with Evangeline getting pushed to the door. She throws it open.) 

Evangeline: CRAP! (She whispers to herself) 

Connor: (his jaw drops as he looks Evangeline up and down) 

Evangeline: (Smiles – forced – at Connor) Hello Connor (hostile) 

Connor: (Weird look to hostility) Hey Evangeline. Are you ready?

Evangeline: One moment please (Slams door in Connor’s face. Turns to find all heads poking around the corner.) Connor Davis! How could you do this to me? (Yelled so loud, Connor could hear) 

Zooey: You couldn’t go to the dance without a date, besides he asked you out.

Evangeline: You’re right. I wasn’t planning on going at all! Date or no Date! And he didn’t ask me!

Zooey: I know, he asked me instead. And I agreed for you. 

Evangeline: Well, I am not going. 

Isabelle: Well it is not your decision to make, you already said yes. 

Evangeline: You mean Zooey said YES!

Isabelle: You are going. 

Amelia: Evangeline this is an experience you cannot pass up. 

Evangeline: Watch me. (Determined look on Face.) 

Zooey: My work will not go to waste! (She pushed E to the door) You are going to the dance. 

Evangeline: (Walks to the door and opens it.) Come on Connor, We’re leaving. (Grabs shoulder, turns him around + drags him towards the car) 

Everyone: (Runs to window to watch her get into the car.) 

Evangeline: (Hey eyes meet theirs) When I get back you are dead! (she mouthed) 

Everyone: (Smile and Wave) 

Evangeline: (They drive away) 

Everyone: (moment of silence while watch her leave. wait a moment) 

Skyler: Okay – Let’s go!

Everyone: (run out of the room and pile into the car. Sky starts the engine.) 

Act Six - The Dance

Connor, Evangeline, Skyler: (Connor and E sitting on bench doing nothing. E looks determined and tortured. Skyler standing behind them.) 

Skyler: Have you danced with him yet? 

Evangeline: Nope.

Skyler: That’s what I thought.

Announcer: Excuse me. (Music turns off) it’s time to announce the 2008 King and Queen. (Crowd cheer)

Evangeline: (Turns to Connor, who is clapping and smiling) Stop clapping, your embarrassing me. 

Connor: (Slowly stops clapping)

Announcer: Connor Davis and (Evangeline doesn’t show any surprise) Evangeline Malkovich. (Evangeline’s jaw drops and eyes widen.)

Evangeline: (She gets up and strides to the door and walks out of the building, Siblings following.) 

Zooey: Wait! Where are you going? You have to dance with him!

Evangeline: (stops and looks hard at Zooey) Lets just say you make me go in there and dance with Connor Davis. When is ended, I would make you wish you’d never been born. (Continues to the car) Skyler, I need a ride home. 

Everyone: (All other girls pile into car and they drive off.)

Act Seven - Arguments

In the Malkovich home, in the kitchen, with Lori and Ian. Car Ride: absolutely silent all the way home. Everyone walk into the room. The door shuts loudly. 

Evangeline: (Turned and Yelling at Sky) I hate you – how could you do this to me? 

Skyler: Oh – so this is my fault now? (Astonished) 

Evangeline: You laughed – You went – You didn’t stop them. (Stuttering) I hate you! (Pulls back arm/fist to punch Sky in the Face) 

Ian: (Grabs Evangeline’s arm before she punched Sky) 

Everyone: (No one moves, staring at Evangeline) 

Evangeline: This doesn’t concern you – you’re no better than her! (Ian loosens his grip. Evangeline yanks arm away. Stalks out of the room.) 

Everyone: (Room remains frozen for a moment)  

Skyler: (Turned to Zooey) Why do I always get blamed for your mistakes! (Walks out of the room, in the opposite direction from Evangeline.) 

Everyone: (Moment of Silence) 

Amelia: Okay (says in a voice where she is not sure she just understood everything she heard and saw) (Walks out of room) 

Whittney: I have a headache (walk out) 

Isabelle: (Opens mouth to say something, then stops, walks out silently) 

Lori: (Glares at Ian) I’ll take care of this (walks out of the room and up the stairs to the door of Sky’s invention laboratory. Knocks on the door. Suddenly a bunch of noise comes from inside the lab.) 

Skyler: You’re gonna have to wait, cause I can’t get to the door. (Angrily) 

Lori: (nervously) what are you doing?

Skyler: (Rummaging through stuff) how could she do this to me? ‘I hate you!’ (in voice mimicking E’s) Well you know what? I hate her too! (Pauses for effect) No … I abhor her! Stupid, stupid, stupid! (Mumbles) I know what I’ll do! I’ll build a brainwashing machine! Yes, now I will rule over her! (Pauses) and Zooey (adds quietly) (Pauses one more time, sighs, and sits down) I’m going mad. But brainwashing – good idea! Then I’ll show her! Yes! (Gets to work) (Stops rummaging and gets sad) I wonder if (sniffs) if … she really does hate me. 

Lori: (Doesn’t respond, walks away. Finds E on the porch in a rocking chair. Walks up to her and sits in the big chair next to her.) (Silent) 

Evangeline: I hate my life. I’m running away. 

Lori: Well, before you can leave, let me leave you with one piece of advice. (she pauses as she smiled at E, who was avoiding eye contact with Lori.) When life gets hard and you feel – when you know you’re lost, don’t forget that you can always follow the moon back home. 

Evangeline: (Frustrated Sigh) 

Lori: (Leaves) 

Act Eight - Apologizes

S in lab, W in chair. S standing over her.

Skylar: In what part of the brain are memories stored? (Whittney doesn’t answer) Hey! I’m talking to you! (Angry)

Whittney: Leave me alone – I’ve got a headache!

Skylar: I need you to answer my questions now!

Whittney: It can wait!

Skylar: Science doesn’t wait!

Evangeline: (cracks door open.)

Whittney: (groans)(agonized face)

Evangeline: Hey – what you doin’? (nervously) (No answer… S turns with hostile glare) Uh… can I come in?

Skylar: Uh… NO!

Whittney: Shut up Skylar (turns to E and smiles) Come on in!

Evangeline: (steps in)

Skylar: (turns back to Whittney) Where in the brain is the memory locked?

Evangeline: What’s this?

Skylar: (turns around and reaches beginning to tell her to stop) Don’t touch tha…

Evangeline: (had picked up invention and it crumpled in her hand)

Skylar: (looks crestfallen)

Evangeline: (Mumbling) I’m sorry Skylar, I don’t hate you.

Skylar: (Mumbling) I don’t hate you either (Awkward hand shake) (she steps away from hug and reaches out to touch crumbs of her invention) Well – that was a waste of my time – wait – no… (whisper) Zooey. 

Evangeline: (gives Skylar a confused look and closes door)

Act Nine - Dress

Evangeline in room with everyone except Skyler. Lori in kitchen. Everyone dressed but Evangeline.  

Ian: (In distance, stomping up stairs) You all better be dressed!

Everyone: (Girls line up dressed, except Evangeline who is on the bed playing guitar)

Ian: (Enters) Evangeline! (Infuriated)

Evangeline: (turned to Ian casually) Oh, it’s you.

Ian: Put a dress on, now!

Evangeline: Well, if I was going to, I’d do it after you left. So you can just leave now. 

Ian: But you won’t.

Evangeline: Nope. 

Ian: Put. The dress. On.

Evangeline: Sorry, not gonna happen. (Ian looks somewhat scared. Skyler motions ‘stop’ behind him.) 

Amelia: (pats on Ian on back) It’s okay. She wasn’t going to wear it anyway.

Ian: (turns around) You, too (to Skylar. She steps out of way)(Ian storms out angrily)

Amelia: (Hold up dress to Evangeline) It’s not that bad.

Isabella: You’ll have to go to the Solitary Room again if you don’t, and I don’t think your knees can take much more of that.

Evangeline: (pauses, then grabs dress) Give me that. (Walks to the bathroom) 

Act Ten - Introductions

Ian and Randolph Howard in foyer. Lori in kitchen. Everyone upstairs in room. 

Ian: (Climb ½ way up stairs. In a voice not yelling, but loud.) Kids (awkwardly), our guest has arrived, 

Everyone: (walk down stairs in single file line in age order – oldest first and youngest last. Skyler walks down, Ian gets flash of surprise than glares at Skyler. Stand in line at bottom of stairs.)

*(Awkward!)* – Camera Spans over us - 

Ian: Okay (Points to S) this is Skyler and she is good with mechanics (point to Z) this is Zooey, she’s gifted in Math. (Point to W) This is Whittney; she was always good at science. (Point to I) This is Isabelle, she’s good at history – (pause) – uh… yes, uh, this is Amelia (Point to A + E) And Evangeline, they have a way with words.                                                                            (Turns to man standing behind him) This is Randolph Howard – a business partner (turns to E) a very important business partner. 

*Awkward Silence*

Evangeline: Can I call you Randy?

Ian: (Turns around to hide his face) Well! The dining room’s just down this hallway!

Everyone: (girls and RH file after him, Whittney turns to RH)

Whittney: Is Randolph your middle name?

RH: No… (She turns/walks away) Dummes Madschen. 

Evangeline: (Over hears, interprets and glares at him) 

                                                                                                                                  

Act Eleven - The Visitor at Dinner

Kitchen Table. Everyone at seat. Randolph Howard in Lori’s seat. Awkward silence (Camera spans different faces) Lori brings in food. (Plates already dished up) Asks Skyler to help. 

Everyone: (Taking small bites and making weird faces. RH eats quickly and enjoys. Ian eats but more slowly.

Evangeline: (Look at food. Didn’t try it)(motions for Lori to come over. Lori bends over) Can you put some chicken nuggets in for me? (medium loud voice)

Ian: (Glares at Evangeline) 

Lori: (nods, glances at Ian) Okay. (Whispered tone. Walks out)

Ian: So … What have you kids been up t today?

Zooey: Well – 

Ian: Actually, let’s start with Evangeline today.

Evangeline: I had a chat with the president today.

Randolph: You know the president?

Evangeline: Well, Sort of. A couple of phone calls and a few hundred bucks and you’ve got yourself conservation with the president of Switzerland. He’s actually a pretty cool guy. 

Ian: Where did you get said money?

Evangeline: I memorized your pin number from that one time you sent me to the grocery store when I was 10. And really your wallet is not very well hidden. 

Ian: (Glares, then moves one) Amelia, How about you?

Amelia: You know old Mr. Ivan down the street? I showed him the disadvantages of smoking and the benefits of quitting and he has agreed to stop smoking.

Ian: That’s great! I’m very proud of you. Isabelle, you’re next.

Isabelle: I researched the Cold War and learned about many of its underlying causes. Did you know that the Soviet Union still exists today?

Ian: Really?

Isabelle: Yeah, but they’re supposedly in hiding.

Ian: Interesting… (He and RH make eye contact) How about you, Whittney?

Whittney: I didn’t really do much actually. I had a really bad headache. 

Ian: (stares at W for a moment before turning to make eye contact again with RH.) We’ll look into that later. Zooey, now it’s your turn.

Zooey: I read five chapters in my calculus textbook and worked the problems. It was so easy!

Ian: Very Good! Calculus… I’m impressed. Skyler?

Skyler: I’m working on a new invention.

Ian: What is it?

Skyler: I uh... (Uncomfortable under RH’s stare) can’t tell you yet. It’s not ready.

Ian: Well, alright then.

Lori: (sets small plates of chicken nuggets in front of Evangeline) 

Everyone stares, longingly

Evangeline: (Eat one) (look up) You didn’t ask (crumple up napkin – hand cut off while setting it on stack. – camera zooms out and you see giant stack of napkins!)

Act Twelve - The Conversation

Everyone in bedroom. Lights out. Late. 

Zooey: So, Evangeline, what was up with your behavior today?

Evangeline: What do you mean? I thought it was fairly average

Zooey: You knew Mr. Howard was an important guest.

Evangeline: All the more reason to act the way I did.

Zooey: What would you have against him?

Evangeline: Let’s just say I overheard some unpleasant comments directed at certain people I feel obligated to be concerned about. 

Zooey: (starts to ask about previous statement)

Evangeline: Look it up.

Whittney: He looked familiar (casually).

Zooey: Well, I’ve never seen him before in my life.

Evangeline: Nobody wants your input.

Amelia: He seemed nice.

Evangeline: He’s a jerk.

Skyler: and a stalker.

Everyone looks at S

Skyler: He stared at me all night.

Evangeline: Trust me, that guy is no good.

Room falls into silence… Sky’s stomach growls…

Skyler: (Small noise while climbing out of bed)

Zooey: Where are you going?

Skyler: None of your business. 

Evangeline: Where are you going? 

Skyler: Downstairs.

Evangeline: (Crawls out of bed) Okay. 

Walks out of room slowly and down the stairs. 

Ian: (arguing) How do you expect me to get them there? I can’t cover something that big!

Official 1: I don’t care how you get them to DC, just get them there.

Official 2: Tell them it’s an educational fieldtrip.

Ian: They’re not gonna fall for that – you don’t give them enough credit.

Official 1: Get them there by September 1^st (ignoring his statement).

Randolph: Secondly, we need a new one…

P.S. These are the closest translations I could fine (used http://www.freetranslation.com/)

Ian: (Yelling) Die einige wir haben bist werktätig Bußgeld (That some we have are working fine - The ones we have are working fine!) 

Skyler: Whatever (when German starts) (tiptoes into kitchen) 

Evangeline listens to German, understanding

Randolph: Was etwa dem einer mit den Kopfschmerzen? (What about that one with the head ache - What about the one with the head ache)(Voice slowly raising) (Pause in complete silence) Sie hat mich erkannt (It recognized me - She recognized me) 

Ian: (glared, upset) Ihre Tochter erinnerte sich gut, wie zu die Maschine rekonstruieren (Her daughter remembered well how to reconstruct the machine/Your daughter remembered fine just how to reconstruct the machine.)

Randolph: Kümmern Sie sich nicht um das Erhalten von einem neuen einer, es schon sind arrangiert – sie wird hier morgen sein (If do not attend to the receiving of a new one, it already are arranged – it will be here tomorrow /Don’t worry about getting a new one, it’s already arranged – she’ll be here tomorrow.) 

Official 2: Was werden wir mit dem alten machen?  (What will we make with the old/ What will we do with the old one?)

Ian: Nun wir können nicht loszuwerden ihre (Now we cannot to get rid of its/ Well we can’t just get rid of her) 

Randolph:  Lassen Sie sie vorläufig, aber wird von befreit ihr in Washington DC (Let it provisionally, but is freed of its in Washington DC/ Let her be for now, but get rid of her in DC)

Ian: (Ian glares at RH) 

Should they be in German? I included them anyway

Randolph:  Etwas sonst? (Somewhat otherwise? /Anything Else?)

Ian: Ihrer Tochter ist sehr gescheit (Your daughter is very bright [or clever] /Your daughter’s very bright.)   

(They stand up)

Randolph: September 1^st, (optional: Maxime)

(Leave)

Skyler: (comes back with food) What did they say?

Evangeline: (eyes widen as she turns to Skylar – like she has seen a ghost – she shakes her head, turned around and walks up the stairs)

Act Thirteen - Emmalee

E staring at the door, Amelia reading dictionary, Izzy reading American newspaper. Whitney upstairs sleeping, Lori in kitchen, Ian in his room, Skylar in inventing room (lots of noise), Zooey upstairs.

Zooey: (Comes down stairs. looks at E weird) What are you doing?

Skylar: NO! (some mysterious object rolls down stairs.)

Zooey: (turns to object, looks at weirder)

Evangeline: Shhh… watching the door (holds up left hand. whispers)

Zooey: Alright then. (walks around corner into kitchen)

(Door Bell)

Ian: (sticks head out of room) Evangeline, get the door. (weird look cause of staring)

Evangeline: You. (hasn’t moved)

Ian: (Looks authoritively at E) (Walks back into room)

Evangeline: (gets up, kicked mysterious object out of way, opens door) (looked at people and slammed the door)

Ian: (Comes back in, curious) Who is it?

Evangeline: No one of consequence. (sits back down and resumes staring) 

Ian: Are they still there?

Evangeline: I dunno.

Ian: (walks to door, holding back anger)(opens it) Sorry about that, my daughter is disturbed.

Man (officer 1): (Shoves girl through doorway, Ian moves aside.) Here it is.

Evangeline: (Got up, walked toward the door)

Man: (Caught Evangeline’s eye) Straight from Zurich, just like I told you she would be (I added cause thought might be good. What do you think?), she arrived at the orphanage last night. (Hesitant and Stumbling)

Ian: Maniacally) Well take good care of her (quieted) this time. (Angry) Well, Thanks.

(Man Leaves)

Ian:  (Almost slams door, then turns around to E staring at girl) Glad to see you’re back to normal. (slaps back twice and hard)

Whittney: (Walks down stairs) (Smiles big) Who’s at the door, Ian? (sees girl) Oh hi! Are you new? I’m Whittney! It’s so great to meet you! (Starts shaking hand hard and doesn’t stop!) I always wanted a sister that wasn’t completely off her rocker! I can tell you and me are going to be best friends!

Everyone: (looks at Whittney weird) 

Ian: Whittney, I thought you weren’t feeling well?

Whittney: (Still shaking hand) Well, I feel great now!

Evangeline: (clears throat) Isabelle, why don’t you take Whittney upstairs (Should E receive glare from Ian here?)

Isabelle: (Detaches Whittney’s hand from the girl’s and starts steering her upstairs.)

Whittney: (Burst out crying!) What did I do wrong!?! (at top of stairs) I always hated you Isabelle… (voice fades)

Ian: Okay then, I guess you’ve already met Whittney, (turns back to already assembled group) Guys, this is Emmalee. (Turns back to Emmalee and points to every person in turn) This is Skylar, Amelia, Zooey, Lori, myself – Ian, and Evangeline (Ev glares). Their all adopted just like you. (He tried to smile) 

Whittney: Izzy, where are you going?

Izzy: The bathroom!!! (Half yelling)(Door slams)(Walks down stairs and into awkward silence, everyone staring at her)

Ian: And that is Isabel (pause), Well get to know each other. (He leaves and Lori wanders away) 

Amelia: I’m absolutely euphoric to meet you! I’m Amelia! What’s your name, again?

Girl: Emmalee.

Zooey: (pushes Amelia out of the way) I’m Zooey. I’m good at math. And (sounding superior) what are you gifted in?

Skylar: (pushes Zooey out of her way) Don’t scare the girl, Zooey. I’m Skylar. Don’t worry about Zooey; you learn to ignore her. 

Isabel: Where are you from? (Pause) any interesting historical facts? (rushed and erratic) 

Emmalee: Uh… I don’t remember.

Zooey: Then, how do you know your name?

Skylar: (Smacks Zooey)

Emmalee: They told me…

(Awkward Silence, creeping/chilling silence)

Amelia: Hey, Evangeline, she’s just like you!

Evangeline: Don’t compare me to that monstrosity! (stalks away!)

Act Fourteen - The Memory

Dinner, Emma in Lori’s chair. Lori didn’t eat with them, but served.

(Awkward silence *forks hitting plates silence*)

Evangeline: (cough, cough – hinting toward Izzy)

(Everyone look at Evangeline weird)

Evangeline: Izzy, why don't you share with the group about what you've been
learning so... ardently of late? (Frustrated by Izzy not getting hint!)

Isabel: Oh, well, you will never understand pure and exciting history until you’ve studied Washington DC’s history…

Whittney: (interrupting) DC… DC… that’s where I’ve seen him!

Amelia: Seen who, Whittney?

Whittney: Mr. Gustav…

Zooey: Who the heck is that?

Ian: No one you’ve ever met!

Lori: (Drops something, shocked)

Whittney: No, we all met him…

Ian: (almost yelling trying to cover up Whittney’s last few words) I’m sure you don’t know what you’re talking about! 

Whittney: I’m not making this up – why would I lie about some German brainwashing…

Ian: (Stands up) You are all dismissed to your bedroom!

Whittney: (stood up with sisters)

Ian: Whittney Meredith Malk…

Whittney: (Black out, crashing to the floor)

Act Fifteen - The Incident

Whittney on the floor by Lori’s chair. Evangeline stood up by her chair but didn’t move. Ian standing at his chair… hears footsteps running up the stairs. 

Ian: (moves towards W, but E gets in the way) Step aside, Evangeline. 

Evangeline: (stands protectively in front of W) Don’t touch her.

Ian: Evangeline, I am perfectly capable of handling – 

Evangeline: Are you even going to take her to a hospital?

Ian: She’s fine.

Evangeline: She is NOT fine! She’s unconscious on the ground! She’d die before you’d get help from anyone!

Ian: (snaps) That’s it! Up to your room. NOW!

Evangeline: I’m not going anywhere! Leave you alone with Whittney? I don’t think so! Not now!

Ian: (grabs her by the arm and starts dragging her up the stairs.)

Evangeline: (various protests) Let me go!

Ian: (opens door and shoves her in. Glare. Slams door and locks.)

*Setting Change: All girls in bed room lounging around, generally calm.*

Evangeline: (breathing heavily, banging on the door) Ian! Let me out! (turns to Skyler) Sky, open the door! Invent something quick!

Skyler: Why? (a little bit concerned) What’s the big deal?

Evangeline: You don’t understand! He’s gonna hurt her! We have to help!

Zooey: Evangeline, he’s not the bad guy – he can only help her here.

Evangeline: He’s and insane, evil psychopath who uses weird machines on people!

Amelia: Maybe you should lie down for a bit, Evangeline.

Evangeline: This is no time for sleeping! Whittney’s in trouble.

Isabel: What exactly is he doing to her, E?

Evangeline: I don’t know, but it’s not good! There’s some weird German stuff and something about a mind machine! And you! (pointing at Emmalee) Your replacing something or someone!

Ian: (Door knob shakes and it opens. Ian tries to force a smile before gently pushing Whittney in to the room.) She hit her head and has a slight concussion, so don’t be surprised if she has forgotten a few things. (Leaves. Shutting door.)

Zooey: (Looks at E) See, She’s perfectly fine.

Act Sixteen - Skyler's Inventing Room

 Evangeline: (grabs Skyler and Whittney by the arms and drags them out of the room) Skyler we’ve got some inventing to do. 

Skyler: What are you talking about?

Evangeline: (Through clenched teeth) Just come on!

Skyler: (pulls keys out as she toggles the knob out of habit. The door is unlock.) (Freeze’s with hand on the lock)

Evangeline: What’s wrong?

Skyler: It’s unlocked (turned to E) It’s always locked.

Evangeline: Maybe someone was in there…

Skyler: (go in startled. looks around. Zeros in on machine and eyes bulge.)

Evangeline: (pulling Whittney walks in) What is it?

Skyler: Someone used it… (Turns) Someone used my machine.

Evangeline: What machine?

Skyler: It’s a brainwashing machine and someone used it.

Evangeline: (avoiding eye contact) Well… (goes to close the door and locks the knob lock) It was probably just an accident.

Skyler: (Shakes her head and locks door with thousands of locks and keys) Evangeline, (turns) don’t lie to me, you know something!

Evangeline: Alright, fine. But we gotta deal with her (pointing to Whittney) first. (Waves hand in front of Whittney)

Whittney: What are you doing, E?

Evangeline: Just checking. Who is that? (Pointing to Skyler)

Whittney: Uh. Skyler… What is wrong with you, E?

Evangeline: Oh, nothing. Sorry. What room are we in?

Whittney: (Getting aggravated) Well, I don’t know. I’ve never been here before in my life.

Evangeline: (surprised look)

Skyler: You have too!

Evangeline: (pause) When’s your birthday?

Whittney: July 18^th, 1998.

Evangeline: What are you talking about? That’s not your birthday.

Skyler: No, (thoughtful look) That’s the day she came home.

Whittney: (confused)

Evangeline: Where was she before that?

Skyler: (psskt) How should I know?

Evangeline: If you’re not gonna help, you can leave! (turns to Whittney) Whittney, are you positive you have not seen anything in this room before?

Whittney: (pauses and looks around) Well – This (points to machine) looks like something I’ve seen… (reaches out to touch machine).

Skyler: uh… Don’t touch tha… (reaches out to grab Whittney’s hand)

Evangeline: Shh! (gets between Skyler and Whittney. Completely blocking path to Machine)

Skyler: (pushes against E)

Evangeline: (Turns back to Whittney) Really? Do you remember how to work it?

Whittney: (Nodded as she turned and touched the Machine)

Skyler: (Scowls at E)

Evangeline: (smiles) you’ll thank me later.

Whittney: (works machine, explaining how to do it. Suddenly it roars to life)(Grabs head piece and holds up) Then Ian put it on me like this… (silence + stares) 

Evangeline: What were you talking about at dinner? 

Whittney; What are you talking about? I haven’t had dinner yet.

Skyler: Whose Mr. Gustav? 

Whittney: Oh, him! You’ve met him, but he said his name was Randolph. I don’t know why. 

Sklyer: (Turns machine off and puts cover over it) Uh, this is so frustrating!

Evangeline: This is serious, Skyler! 

Whittney: Why is this so serious? Whats going on?

Evangeline: There is something you should know. First of all, Ian is working with Randolph or Mr. Gustav.

Skyler: Of course - they’re business partners!

Evangeline: Let me finish! I have reason to believe that Ian tried to brainwash Whittney minutes ago, but he didn’t fully succeed! The real question - what was he trying to make her forget? 

Silence

Skyler: Thats the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard!

Evangeline: (Pats S on the arm and slyly steals S’s keys) Think about it. 

Skyler: She took my keys (mumbles...) 

Act Seventeen - The Explosion

Whittney wanders into another room and sits at a computer desk. E sits across from her and shines a bright light.

Whittney: What are you doing? 

Evangeline: I’ll ask the questions here! Where were you before you came here? 

Whittney: That other room. 

Evangeline: (indignation) not that! Before your birthday? 

Whittney: Not Switzerland... not Europe... I was in America... in... in Pennsylvania (Comes slowly)!

Evangeline: Not very impressive... What were you doing there... in Pennsylvania? 

Whittney: (Flashback) I don’t know... there was a loud noise and she fell... then they took me. I don’t remember why. 

Evangeline: What else do you remember (excited to be getting somewhere)? 

Whittney: Please, No! I don’t want to talk about it! 

Evangeline: Whittney, I’m sorry, but I need to know. 

Whittney: (almost continues talking)

**Explosion**

Skyler: I need a fire extinguisher! ...But its all good! Nothing to worry about! No fires! 

Ian: (walks by W and E’s room angrily) Skyler...

Whittney: (gasp) Maxime! (drops under desk) 

Evangeline: Shut up! (Kicks W) 

Ian: (turns back and peeks into the room, looking suspiciously) 

Evangeline: (pulls a nearby book open quickly) “Maxime! It’s you! How I’ve longed for this day!” Oh Ian? (Acts surprised) I’m just practicing! Did you hear? Im in the school play, because... I’m just really popular! 

**Another crash and Skyler screams!** 

Ian: (looks skeptical but moves on) 

Whittney: (pops up) It’s a good thing you’re such a good actress! 

Evangeline: (Elbows W) No thanks to you!