[ACT 1: SCENE 2]

[SCENE: Jane is staring at her easel a brush at the ready though she isn't painting. DARIA is
lying on the bed, staring up at the ceiling]

Jane: - worried about Trent. I mean - this is the worse I've ever seen him. [beat] Aren't you
worried at all?

Daria [rolling over onto her side and proping up her head on her hand]: Trent doesn't seem the
sort of person to beat himself up over this for too long. I mean, if Mystic Spiral's been
breaking up and getting back together regularly, then things should be fine -

Jane [cutting off DARIA as she viciously dips her paintbrush into some red paint and attacks the
canvas]: You don't get it! *Jesse* and Trent fight *yes*. *Nick* never says anything - I mean,
he's usually the one who helps make Jesse apologise or gets Trent talking with Jesse again.
*Nick* never argues! He never really says much. [beat] Nick was the only one in the group that
actually graduated you know?

Daria: Go figure he was the one that ended up with a baby to support.

Jane [sigh]: Mystic Spiral might have broken up for good this time. [dejected]

Daria: Which means *what* precisely? Why are you so worried Jane?

Jane: Trent barely stays awake for anything except the gigs and practising now of days. Without
the band how often do you think he's going to move? [sighs and steps back from canvas. The
painting is streaked with a mixture of red, black and blue. It screams 'anxiety, worry, anger'
at anybody who looks at it]

Daria: So find him something else to keep him occupied.

Jane: [arching an eyebrow] You volunteering?

[DARIA flushes and glares at JANE who smirks]

Daria: One day, when you least expect it - I'll

Jane: Thank me for all I've done for you and Trent? Well, you're welcome in advance. [grins]

Daria: With torture thrown in free of charge.

Jane: When friends kill friends. *Next* on Sick Sad World. [sighs] Nope. The usual bantering
isn't lifting my mood. Still worried about Trent. [stops painting and sits down on bed, facing
the door rather than DARIA] Trent wasn't always like that you know.


Daria: [sitting up cross-legged on the bed] Like what?

Jane: You know - a narcoleptic-like person. Back when I was in middle school he use to - [trails
off]

Daria: Stay awake more often?

Jane: Yeah. And other stuff. [beat] The school counselor said that Trent fell asleep because he
was a high achiever.

Daria: *Trent*. [incredulous]

Jane: [not really listening to DARIA] When he can't meet his expectations, he gets frustrated,
tries harder and when he still can't meet them, he gets depressed and goes to sleep.

Daria: [still shocked] *Trent*. [beat] We're talking about your older brother here - tends to
sleep a lot and has a bohemian approach to life, time and personal hygene - *Trent*?

Jane [still not really listening]: Mum laughed at the counselor - but it sorts of fits doesn't
it? And Trent's problems with sleeping just sort of - increased - since then. Every year it gets
worse. [trails off dejectedly. Undertone] I miss my older brother. We use to *talk* about
stuff other than how he should wake up so I can get a lift somewhere.

Daria [surprised]: You really are worried aren't you?

Jane [turning around, slightly angry]: Of course! He's my older brother! It's not as if we're
like you and - [pause, sighs] Sorry. I - just - [sighs and stands up] I'm going for a run.
[runs out of door]

Daria [stares after JANE worriedly]: I - didn't know it was this serious.

[The downstairs door slams shut as JANE leaves. This is followed by a large thump from TRENT's
bedroom. DARIA looks alarmed and quickly stands up and runs out of JANE's room to see what
happened]

[END ACT 1: SCENE 2]