[ACT 2: SCENE 3]
[SCENE: Daria's room. DARIA is sitting on her bed, crosslegged. She is playing on an old guitar
(small, cheap looking, looks like it was meant for a child). In front of her is a notebook
filled with what looks like musical notations and DARIA's notes. ZOOM to show that the notes are
actually lyrics. At the top of the sheet is the words: 'Lullaby']
[Hesitantly, DARIA plucks out the tune. It is very simplistic, just a simple tune - very much
like a lullaby]
[A banging noise is heard against the wall]
Quinn [voice only]: DA-RIA! Could you stop playing so *loudly*? It's - like - really annoying and
grating and stuff!
[DARIA ignores her sister and continues playing]
Quinn [voice only]: *Mu-um*! Daria keeps *playing* and you can hear it straight through the walls
and it's really annoying and I'm *trying* to do my maths homework and I can't concentrate - and
if I concentrate more I'll get those nasty frown lines -
Helen [annoyed]: Daria can you just do like your sister says - I'm *trying* to do my work and -
[DARIA abruptely stands up and walks to the open closet. At the back, hidden in the shadows, we
can see a vent. She stuffs her jacket against it and goes back to playing. The sounds from
outside the room are a little bit more muffled now.]
Quinn [voice only/muffled]: Finally!
[DARIA ignores her and continues playing]
Daria: [undertone, monotone voice. She's speaking along to the music in a way to keep time
rather than actually singing] Hold me close/Hide the world/From mine eyes/Keep me safe [beat, she
stops and pulls off her glasses and wipes her eyes vigorously. Without putting on the glasses,
she continues playing, obviously from memory] From the times when I must cry. [beat; DARIA
stumbles slightly over the tune, it's getting more complicated. She whispers the next words
rather than sings/hums them] The blade is sharp/glinting in the night/outside the cars
rush/uncaring through the dark -
[SCENE SWITCH: Jane is at the door staring at a surprised JAKE]
Jake: Hiya Jane-o! I thought Daria was at your house!
Jane: No. Can I go see her?
Jake: I guess so. She must be in her - [stares in shock as JANE runs up stairs straight past
him. Shrugs and yells] *Daria*! Jane's here to see you!
Helen [voice only; yelling]: Would you keep it down Jake? I'm *trying* to do some work here!
Quinn [at the same time; voice only]: Da-ad! I'm *trying* to finish this stupid maths homework
you and Mum made me do!
[JAKE cringes and goes back to watching the television]
[SCENE SWITCH: JANE is standing outside DARIA's room, she has the door half open and is listening
to DARIA]
Daria: By my side/My hand in yours [voice lowers to barely a whisper] Partner [voice breaks]
Lover/Safe within your arms. [she looks up. VIEW: through DARIA's viewpoint. Jane is a red
blur with black edging at the top. DARIA looks down and continues playing]Techno colours
flashing/Cold and bitter a wind that blows/taking ripping cutting through my bones. [DARIA stops,
wipes her eyes and picks up her glasses. She doesn't look up from the guitar however] It
was suppose to be a surprise. [beat] For Trent. He's been trying to get lyrics to the tune so I
- [shrugs]
[JANE walks over and picks up the sheet to read. Her eyes widens as she finishes. She puts it
down carefully.]
Jane: I'm sorry Daria.
[JANE closes the door and sits on the floor in front of DARIA]
Daria [flat]: It doesn't matter. [beat] I was going to break up with him anyway.
Jane: Yeah but you were going to do a Monique on him.
Daria [flat but with a touch of bitterness]: Nothing like the original to beat a replacement.
[beat; flat, no emotion] At least its definitely over now.
Jane: But -
[DARIA glares at her, hurt and dispair and anger in her eyes. JANE closes her mouth]
Daria: It's over.
Jane [nodding]: Bishonen anime males parading with a decidedly lack of upper apparel video night?
Daria: Pizza, bishonens and jolt cola. [beat] And something I can practise gratuitous violence
on.
Jane: And I shall act the part of best friend with no connection at all to the unmentioned
ex-boyfriend. [beat] Next time I try to play the yenta act on you, hit me.
Daria: [V/O: (last chords of song she was singing previously, this time with full backup from
Mystic Spiral: "uncaring idiocy/cynicism
screwing hope and justice/dreams of a better tomorrow/Lover in shadows/Take my hand tomorrow/Lead
me into eternal darkness/Take me from this living hell/Holder, guardian, trusted-saviour/The
blade it gleams/The blade it sings/The blade it bleeds."] [deadpan] Next time you try and play
the yenta act I'll practise gratuituous violence on *you*.
[FADE: to black]
[END ACT 2: SCENE 3]
[SCENE: Daria's room. DARIA is sitting on her bed, crosslegged. She is playing on an old guitar
(small, cheap looking, looks like it was meant for a child). In front of her is a notebook
filled with what looks like musical notations and DARIA's notes. ZOOM to show that the notes are
actually lyrics. At the top of the sheet is the words: 'Lullaby']
[Hesitantly, DARIA plucks out the tune. It is very simplistic, just a simple tune - very much
like a lullaby]
[A banging noise is heard against the wall]
Quinn [voice only]: DA-RIA! Could you stop playing so *loudly*? It's - like - really annoying and
grating and stuff!
[DARIA ignores her sister and continues playing]
Quinn [voice only]: *Mu-um*! Daria keeps *playing* and you can hear it straight through the walls
and it's really annoying and I'm *trying* to do my maths homework and I can't concentrate - and
if I concentrate more I'll get those nasty frown lines -
Helen [annoyed]: Daria can you just do like your sister says - I'm *trying* to do my work and -
[DARIA abruptely stands up and walks to the open closet. At the back, hidden in the shadows, we
can see a vent. She stuffs her jacket against it and goes back to playing. The sounds from
outside the room are a little bit more muffled now.]
Quinn [voice only/muffled]: Finally!
[DARIA ignores her and continues playing]
Daria: [undertone, monotone voice. She's speaking along to the music in a way to keep time
rather than actually singing] Hold me close/Hide the world/From mine eyes/Keep me safe [beat, she
stops and pulls off her glasses and wipes her eyes vigorously. Without putting on the glasses,
she continues playing, obviously from memory] From the times when I must cry. [beat; DARIA
stumbles slightly over the tune, it's getting more complicated. She whispers the next words
rather than sings/hums them] The blade is sharp/glinting in the night/outside the cars
rush/uncaring through the dark -
[SCENE SWITCH: Jane is at the door staring at a surprised JAKE]
Jake: Hiya Jane-o! I thought Daria was at your house!
Jane: No. Can I go see her?
Jake: I guess so. She must be in her - [stares in shock as JANE runs up stairs straight past
him. Shrugs and yells] *Daria*! Jane's here to see you!
Helen [voice only; yelling]: Would you keep it down Jake? I'm *trying* to do some work here!
Quinn [at the same time; voice only]: Da-ad! I'm *trying* to finish this stupid maths homework
you and Mum made me do!
[JAKE cringes and goes back to watching the television]
[SCENE SWITCH: JANE is standing outside DARIA's room, she has the door half open and is listening
to DARIA]
Daria: By my side/My hand in yours [voice lowers to barely a whisper] Partner [voice breaks]
Lover/Safe within your arms. [she looks up. VIEW: through DARIA's viewpoint. Jane is a red
blur with black edging at the top. DARIA looks down and continues playing]Techno colours
flashing/Cold and bitter a wind that blows/taking ripping cutting through my bones. [DARIA stops,
wipes her eyes and picks up her glasses. She doesn't look up from the guitar however] It
was suppose to be a surprise. [beat] For Trent. He's been trying to get lyrics to the tune so I
- [shrugs]
[JANE walks over and picks up the sheet to read. Her eyes widens as she finishes. She puts it
down carefully.]
Jane: I'm sorry Daria.
[JANE closes the door and sits on the floor in front of DARIA]
Daria [flat]: It doesn't matter. [beat] I was going to break up with him anyway.
Jane: Yeah but you were going to do a Monique on him.
Daria [flat but with a touch of bitterness]: Nothing like the original to beat a replacement.
[beat; flat, no emotion] At least its definitely over now.
Jane: But -
[DARIA glares at her, hurt and dispair and anger in her eyes. JANE closes her mouth]
Daria: It's over.
Jane [nodding]: Bishonen anime males parading with a decidedly lack of upper apparel video night?
Daria: Pizza, bishonens and jolt cola. [beat] And something I can practise gratuitous violence
on.
Jane: And I shall act the part of best friend with no connection at all to the unmentioned
ex-boyfriend. [beat] Next time I try to play the yenta act on you, hit me.
Daria: [V/O: (last chords of song she was singing previously, this time with full backup from
Mystic Spiral: "uncaring idiocy/cynicism
screwing hope and justice/dreams of a better tomorrow/Lover in shadows/Take my hand tomorrow/Lead
me into eternal darkness/Take me from this living hell/Holder, guardian, trusted-saviour/The
blade it gleams/The blade it sings/The blade it bleeds."] [deadpan] Next time you try and play
the yenta act I'll practise gratuituous violence on *you*.
[FADE: to black]
[END ACT 2: SCENE 3]
