a Daria fanfic by
Mike Yamiolkoski
PART EIGHT
INT: HELEN'S OFFICE
Helen is on the phone, Marianne works feverishly, other assistants rush about. Helen's hair is in disarray and she looks a good deal more frazzled than usual. This is a woman very near the end of her rope.
HELEN: No, Mr. Royce, I assure you, we anticipated a development much like this and we are well-prepared for it! (pause) Yes, I know, but we're accustomed to dealing with expert witnesses that are advanced in years and it's not at all unusual for one of them to develop dementia over time! We have plenty of other sources we can turn to. (pause) The latest counter-offer? It's... (waves frantically at Marianne)
MARIANNE: Fifteen minutes!
HELEN: Yes, it'll be on its way in ten minutes, we're just punching the covers! (pause - then, through gritted teeth) No, Mr. Royce, you just enjoy your vacation. I hear the Bahamas are lovely this time of year. (hangs up) Arrogant son of a bitch!
Marianne looks up at that, then goes back to her typing. Helen starts to dig through some papers, most of which get knocked onto the floor. She reaches down to pick them up, and comes across a hard object, which she picks up from under her desk. When she turns it over, she discovers that it's her photo of her Commitment Ceremony, which she had knocked off her desk almost two months previous.
A teardrop falls onto the glass as she stares at the picture.
HELEN: Marianne?
MARIANNE: Yes, Helen! Ten minutes!
HELEN: Screw the ten minutes. Let them have it as it is.
MARIANNE: I'm typing as fast as I - what?
HELEN: Just send it off exactly the way it is. The offer is ludicrous anyway, it's not like it'll be accepted.
MARIANNE: Well... okay, I can do that.
HELEN: And after that -
MARIANNE: Yes?
HELEN: Go home.
The rest of the staff stops in their tracks and stares.
HELEN: What, have you all forgotten where you live? Finish what you're doing and go home! It's not like we haven't put in a forty-hour week already. Dear God, it's only Wednesday morning and we've already worked a full week...
MARIANNE: Helen, are you -
HELEN: Please! Don't ask me if I'm feeling all right. I don't think I could handle that question right now.
MARIANNE: Um... all right, I'll just send this off and then... go home.
HELEN: Thank you.
Helen puts her head down on her desk as everyone leaves. Marianne hesitates for a moment at the door, then steps timidly out.
After a moment...
ERIC: Helen?
Helen looks up with red, puffy eyes. Eric is standing in the doorway of her office.
HELEN: (flustered) Oh! Eric, hi! I was just, er, taking a moment to rest my eyes.
ERIC: (sympathetic) Helen, Helen. It's no shame to admit you're overwhelmed.
HELEN: Overwhelmed? Who's overwhelmed? I'm just as whelmed as I need to be, no more, no less!
ERIC: I just saw half our paralegals walk out the door after having signed out for the rest of the week. Now, I know you're having troubles at home, maybe you've bitten off more than you can chew.
HELEN: Really, Eric, I'm perfectly fine.
Eric closes the door.
ERIC: Helen. Please talk to me. I appreciate your dedication, but it won't do the firm any good if you work yourself into a straitjacket before the Pharmacon case is settled.
HELEN: (deflates) Oh, Eric. It's just been so hard lately. I thought it would be just a simple matter of filling out some paperwork and making it all legal, but everything's just become so complicated... and me, a lawyer! Why couldn't I just have taken care of it quickly and efficiently?
ERIC: Take it from someone who knows. Domestic issues are never quick and easy. I think they taught us both in law school that there's no such thing as a simple divorce.
HELEN: Oh, I don't even want to hear that word right now. It strikes a little too close to the bone, you know?
ERIC: I understand.
HELEN: Just a few more days and it'll all be legal, official, and over. (chuckles) My God, I've almost forgotten what it's like to have a quiet house.
ERIC: It'll be lonely from time to time, won't it?
HELEN: Believe me, there are certain people I won't miss one little bit.
ERIC: I hear that. It's incredible how those closest to you are the ones who can get under your skin the most. Listen, Helen, why don't you just go home for the day? Mr. Royce won't be calling again, the latest counter-offer is in the can, there's no need for you to stay around.
HELEN: (sighs) Home is the last place I want to be. You know, I really can't blame Jake for leaving.
ERIC: Helen, don't be so hard on yourself. You're a very attractive and desirable woman, and if Jake can't see that, that's his own lookout.
HELEN: (starting to cry again) You don't understand... I threw him out! How could I do that to my poor husband - oh, I don't even know if I can really call him that any more!
ERIC: Give it time, Helen. It'll sort itself out.
HELEN: Four days. Four days and it finally will be sorted out.
ERIC: That's the spirit.
HELEN: (stands up) You know Eric, I think I will go home. I'm certainly not doing any good around here.
ERIC: You know where to reach me if you need anything.
HELEN: Thank you, Eric. (sniff) You know, I have to admit I didn't expect you to be this supportive. I'm... sorry for doubting your compassion.
ERIC: (softly) I'm a very compassionate man, Helen. I can't always show it because I have to run this office. But I'm glad I was able to let the barriers down a bit when you needed it most.
HELEN: Oh, Eric...
Helen gives Eric a big hug, then turns and walks out. Eric is left with his eyes closed and his lips puckered. He opens one eye to see what happened to Helen and notices she's gone.
ERIC: (quietly) Drat.
INT: MORGENDORFFER LIVING ROOM
The atmosphere is a good deal more subdued than it has been. Ruth and Rita have taken to setting up on opposite sides of the living room. Erin sits on the couch watching TV, munching on a large bag of fried pork rinds. David Morgendorffer is slouched in a chair with a large ice bag over one eye, his foot propped up on what's left of the coffee table.
TV (SSW ANNOUNCER): Today on Sick Sad World - meet the woman who creates fantastic works of art out of common dried cattle dung!
TV (WOMAN): See, y'all stack two of 'em together like this, hold the top one up with some straws, and add a few horses cut from cardboard, and y'all got yerself a lil' ol' merry-go-round! Course you'll wanna add some sequins and lace to make it purty.
TV (SSW ANNOUNCER): Astounding!
TV (WOMAN): Lemme show y'all how to make a dinner plate!
Quinn comes downstairs, looking tired.
ERIN: Eww!! How can anyone watch this stuff!
QUINN: Erin, can we talk?
ERIN: Not now, I'm watching this.
QUINN: Erin, please, it's important!
ERIN: Oh all right, what do you want?
QUINN: (looks over at her Uncle David, and decides he's not listening) Um... remember back a couple of months ago when I told you about this whole thing going on with my Mom and Dad, and asked you not to tell anyone else?
ERIN: I guess so.
QUINN: Why did you go and tell your mother?
ERIN: Oh, was I not supposed to?
QUINN: (a bit angry) Well, that is what "don't tell anyone else" means.
ERIN: Well really, Quinn, you don't think I could keep something that good all to myself, do you?
QUINN: Yes, I expected you to keep it to yourself! It was supposed to be private!
ERIN: Then what did you tell me for?
QUINN: I just needed to talk to someone!
ERIN: Hey, just leave me alone, all right! I'm a pregnant woman!
QUINN: Ohhh!
Quinn gets up and stomps out, slamming the door.
EXT: LANE RESIDENCE
Quinn knocks on the door.
After a moment, Jane answers. She looks a little disheveled, as if she was sleeping.
JANE: Quinn? What do you want?
QUINN: I need to talk to Daria.
JANE: (a little peeved) Quinn, we've been through this. Daria doesn't want to see you or anyone else in her family right now. And I worked really late last night, so -
QUINN: Please, Jane, just let me talk to her!
JANE: No. She's not even here, she's at her internship.
QUINN: Then I'll wait 'til she gets back.
JANE: No, you won't. She's been through enough already.
QUINN: And I haven't?
JANE: From what I understand, this mess is at least partly your fault. Now please go away, I've only had four hours of sleep.
QUINN: You can't just -
DARIA: Never mind, Jane. I'll handle this.
The door opens wider and reveals that Daria is standing there. She looks very peeved.
JANE: Try to keep the blood spillage to a minimum, okay? We just hosed down the walk two summers ago. (Jane heads into the house)
QUINN: (deep breath) Please, Daria, I really need to talk to you. Could I come inside?
DARIA: No.
QUINN: Then will you come out?
DARIA: When I'm good and ready. And that won't be until you're long gone.
QUINN: I'm not leaving until you talk to me! I don't care if I have to stay out here all day and all night, I'm not going away until you stop being so damned stubborn and -
DARIA: I'm being stubborn? That's rich, Quinn.
QUINN: Yes, you are! You can't just turn your back on everyone in your family, you know!
DARIA: Watch me. (she turns her back)
QUINN: Very funny, Daria. This is all one big joke to you, isn't it?
DARIA: (not turning around) Do I look like I'm laughing?
QUINN: Do you ever?
Daria's expression goes from peeved to furious. She advances on Quinn, who suddenly looks frightened, and slams the door behind her.
DARIA: Goddammit, Quinn, are you ever going to learn when to quit? Let me put this into terms that can sink into that decayed mush you call your brain. I don't want to talk to you. Now, or ever! So why don't you save us both a lot of grief, and get the hell out of my sight!
QUINN: (trying to summon some remaining courage) No! We're sisters, Daria, we need to -
DARIA: DON'T YOU DARE!
Daria has finally been pushed right over the brink into full-blown rage.
DARIA: Don't you dare assume you have the right to call me your sister! You've spent your entire life denying that I even exist, and now you have the gall to stand there and appeal to my sense of sisterhood? You know what your problem is? You've completely surrounded yourself with shallow, worthless people and rejected anyone with the slightest hint of character. And now you expect me - me, the sister you never even wanted - to stand by you and be your friend? You have caused me more hurt and more pain than any other person alive. You are the bane of my existence. And you are the "sister" that I don't want anymore. I am granting your fondest wish, Quinn: you are now an only child. So turn around and walk out of my life, or I swear I'll grab a double-handful of your bouncy fucking red hair and drag you to the curb with the rest of the garbage!
Daria turns her back and heads back into the house, slamming the door once again.
Quinn stares with wide eyes at the door for a moment, raises her fist to knock, and then stops.
INT: LANE RESIDENCE
Daria stomps away from the door. Jane gets a little pushed aside.
JANE: Whoa!
DARIA: Sorry.
Jane watches Daria steam off into the kitchen, then starts to head back upstairs. Then she stops for a moment, and goes back to the door, looking through the peephole. Her expression grows concerned. She follows Daria into the kitchen.
Daria is sitting at the table, glaring into space.
JANE: Hey.
DARIA: I'd rather not talk about it.
Jane sits down quietly.
JANE: Daria, you're the best friend I've ever had. And you're my sister, by any measure that counts.
Daria's expression twitches slightly, but she doesn't respond.
JANE: There was a time when I was ready to throw that away, and never speak to you again. You know what I'm talking about?
Daria doesn't move.
JANE: If I had, I would have regretted it for the rest of my life.
Jane sits for a moment longer, watching for a response, and then gets up to leave.
DARIA: Is she still out there?
JANE: Curled up in a quivering, sobbing ball on the front porch. If you meant to get her attention, I think you have it.
DARIA: I meant to hurt her as badly as I could.
JANE: Then I'd say you succeeded there too. (sighs) Going by my experience with familial emotional breakdowns, I'd say you have less than five minutes before Quinn bolts. Daria, I'm not going to tell you what to do, but I think that if she walks away now, it really will be for good and forever. Are you sure - I mean really sure - that you want to burn that bridge?
EXT: LANE DOORSTEP
Quinn is, as Jane described, huddled up on the steps crying her eyes out. The door opens a crack. She doesn't notice.
Daria looks out at Quinn with an expression that's totally unreadable, even for her. For a short while, she watches her sister cry. Then, with a deep sigh, she steps outside and sits beside Quinn on the step.
QUINN: (sobbing) I... I c-can't take this anymore...
She cries some more. Daria begins to look distinctly uncomfortable.
QUINN: All I wah-wanted to do was t-talk to someone! (sniffs loudly) I can't handle this by muh-myself!
DARIA: Um... there must be someone you can talk to?
QUINN: (angry) Oh yeah, sure! Who the hell am I supposed to pour my heart out to? Mom and Dad have enough to deal with, all my friends are shallow and stupid, Erin just blabbed everything and made it worse, and you're so damn cold and heartless I might as well go talk to a snake!
Daria flinches - that one stung.
QUINN: I tried to talk to you, I t-tried so hard...
Daria looks like she might cry herself. Slowly, hesitantly, she reaches a hand over to Quinn's quivering shoulders. Quinn looks up with surprise, then throws her arms around Daria and wails.
QUINN: Waaahaaaaaaaah!!!
DARIA: It's... it's all right, Quinn.
INT: LANE KITCHEN, about a half hour later
Quinn's standing at the counter, her eyes red and her makeup streaked. She's done crying, and looks emotionally drained. Daria's sitting at the table, and though she shows no signs of having cried recently, she looks similarly drained. Jane pours a cup of coffee from a saucepan and hands it to Quinn.
QUINN: (softly) Thank you.
JANE: No problem.
QUINN: (staring into her coffee cup) I tried to make some coffee for Daria the morning after we found out everything. I hoped she might hang around and talk to me about it.
Daria looks a bit guilty, and puts down the coffee she was about to sip from.
JANE: Um... if it's all right with you guys, I wasn't kidding about having worked really late last night. I could use some sleep. I'll leave the two of you to sort the rest of this out.
DARIA: I'm sorry you got dragged into this, Jane.
JANE: Don't sweat it. When all my brothers and sisters lived at home, we had to file insurance claims after some of the more memorable clashes.
Jane walks out.
QUINN: I'm sorry I screwed everything up Daria.
DARIA: You didn't screw everything up. It's not your fault that our parents didn't take care of some stupid paperwork twenty-five years ago. You didn't invite the entire family over to blow everything out of proportion, and you didn't kick Dad out of the house or cause a major marital rift. All you did was reach out to someone for a little support. I should be sorry that I didn't recognize that you needed it so much.
QUINN: (laughs humorlessly) The most popular girl in town can't find a friend when she needs one. You were right about everything, including that. (sighs) I really do wish I had someone I could talk to about anything. You're really lucky to have Jane, you know? I mean, I've dissed on you guys a lot, but both of you are really a lot cooler than any of my friends. Or me, for that matter.
DARIA: Quinn, stop torturing yourself. That's my job.
Quinn looks up with a raised eyebrow.
DARIA: Sorry. Habit. You know, you were right about a few things too.
QUINN: Like what?
DARIA: Like how I can't just turn my back on my family. Like it or not, I'm stuck with you guys.
QUINN: And like it or not, we're stuck with you.
Daria looks at Quinn with a raised eyebrow.
QUINN: Sorry. Habit.
DARIA: (smirking) Touché.
QUINN: (puts down her coffee) I suppose I should be going. I've got to at least try to do something about this whole mess.
DARIA: Before you go...
QUINN: Yeah?
DARIA: Is there... anything you'd like to talk about?
QUINN: Like what?
DARIA: Whatever's been on your mind lately. I've got a few free hours, and a shoulder to cry on.
Quinn smiles, her lip trembles, and her eyes mist up.
QUINN: I thought I already did that.
DARIA: I've got another one.
Quinn sits down, a look of deep gratitude on her face, and starts talking.
Time passes...
INT: LANE KITCHEN
It's dark outside. Daria and Quinn are still sitting at the table, which now has the remnants of a pizza dinner between them.
DARIA: So... I guess that after spending my entire life looking forward to getting away from you people and going off to college, I came to realize that it wasn't an entirely positive thing after all. I'm actually going to miss this place a bit.
QUINN: Think you'll miss the family too?
DARIA: Um... sure... a little.
QUINN: You know what I think? I think you really are going to miss us. I think that the reason why you've been so nasty to me lately is because you thought that maybe if we hated each other again like we used to, it would be easier for you to leave.
DARIA: That's ridiculous.
QUINN: Is it?
Daria looks a little introspective for a moment.
DARIA: Okay, so maybe it's not that ridiculous. But I think I've had plenty of reasons to be ticked off even without that one. I mean, here it is, my last summer at home, and the whole thing is ruined for something that shouldn't even have been an issue in the first place. If only it hadn't all gotten out of hand, I could have fixed it at moment one.
QUINN: How?
DARIA: (sighs) It doesn't matter anymore. It's gone too far at this point.
QUINN: But, still -
JANE: Hey!
Daria and Quinn look up, and see that Jane has come into the kitchen.
QUINN: Hi, Jane! How was work?
JANE: Have you guys been sitting in here all this time? It's after midnight!
DARIA: Astonishing, isn't it?
JANE: Hm. I guess you had a lot of air to clear. So, what happens now?
QUINN: (sighs) Well, we've still got some of the same problems as before. You know, Mom and Dad, the wedding, the impending divorce.
JANE: It strikes me that they're not the problem. I mean, things only blew up when all the rest of the family started butting in.
DARIA: No wonder they just ran off and got married without them the first time.
Quinn stands up suddenly, knocking her chair over.
JANE: Hey, be careful! Those are really cheap and easily breakable chairs!
QUINN: (staring off into space) Of course... why didn't I think of it before...
DARIA: What?
QUINN: (shaking her head) Huh? Oh, no. I'm not telling. Look, I know how we can fix everything and it will work, but I'm going to figure out the details and make it happen myself. I'll prove to you I can.
DARIA: Quinn, you don't have to prove anything for me.
QUINN: Then I'll prove it to myself. There's still a big part of this that's my fault, and I want to fix it. I'll just need your help with one little detail, which I'll call you on tomorrow. And Jane, if you possibly can, I'll need your help too.
JANE: What the hell? I've got a day off coming anyway.
DARIA: Quinn, are you sure?
QUINN: Please, Daria. I need you to trust me. I've never asked you to just trust me before. Do it this one time.
DARIA: (sighs) All right.
QUINN: You won't regret it, I promise. Now I have to run, there's a lot to take care of!
Quinn runs out of the room.
DARIA: Um... excuse me a moment.
Daria gets up and runs out too.
Jane looks at the (empty) pizza box.
JANE: Damn. I wanted pizza.
EXT: LANE FRONT YARD
Quinn is hurrying across the lawn when Daria comes out.
DARIA: Quinn!
QUINN: (turns around) What?
DARIA: (a little uncertainly) Um... there's one more thing I need to ask you.
QUINN: What is it? Make it quick, I have a lot of things to do!
DARIA: Well... I'm going to need some new clothes for college, and... do you think maybe after all this is fixed, we could go shopping?
Quinn's jaw drops open.
DARIA: Never mind, it was a bad -
QUINN: I'd love to.
DARIA: Okay, then. See ya.
Quinn suddenly runs up and grabs Daria in an inescapable hug.
DARIA: Gah!! It's just shopping, Quinn! Let me go!
QUINN: It's not that. You said "after it's all fixed". You do trust me!
DARIA: I'll never do it again, I swear! Just let me go!
Quinn lets her go.
QUINN: Thanks, Daria. I mean it.
DARIA: (grimacing) I could tell.
Quinn grins, and runs off down the street.
Daria turns around and sees Jane standing there with a smirk.
DARIA: You saw nothing.
JANE: If you say so.
END PART EIGHT
(to be continued...)
DISCLAIMERS:
Daria and associated characters are the property of MTV which, in turn, is the property of Viacom. Characters are used without permission. The fact that MTV and Viacom are aware of Daria fan websites with fanfic content and choose not to take action against such sites is taken as implicit permission to use their characters in stories such as this one.
This story is Copyright 2002 by Mike Yamiolkoski and may be distributed freely only in its entirety and with the above notices intact.
Contact the author at MikeYamiolkoski@msn.com. Comments, reviews, and particularly ILLUSTRATIONS are always welcome!
