The entire Lloyd family is now in the living room. Mrs. Lloyd lies on the loveseat with a moist towel over her forehead while Mr. Lloyd is standing with a pipe in his mouth. Rhonda leans on the wall next to the doorway and glances at her older sister Rima, who is calmly sitting on the sofa across from her mother.
Mr Lloyd: So..I, uh....ahem...you look well. So, um...tell me, how have you been?
Rima: Pretty good. Can't complain.
Mr. Lloyd: Mm-hmm....(takes a puff from his pipe)....well, I've noticed that your change in style has changed quite a bit...any reason?
Rima: Uh, no...not really. I just thought a change of pace would be appropriate...
Mr. Lloyd: Hmm...I see....
Mr. Lloyd takes yet another puff of his pipe. He starts to loosen up a bit and begins walking around slowly in the living room.
Mr. Lloyd: Well...it's nice to hear that you've been doing well. How are things in college?
Rima:(nervously) Uh, college?
The tension quickly returns to the living room as a sense of dread covers her face. Mrs. Lloyd turns her head slightly so that she may see her daughter.
Mr. Lloyd: Yes. The last time we called you, you told us that you were doing exceptional in your courses. How are you doing now?
Rima: Uh...(laughs nervously)...actually, I've been meaning to talk to you about that. You see, I...sorta dropped out of college...six months ago..
Mr. Lloyd is speechless. His jaw drops and the pipe falls to the floor. Mrs. Lloyd sits up and stares at Rima in astonishment. Rima keeps her gaze on the floor, avoiding the eyes of her mother.
Mr. Lloyd: WHAT??!! Why, that's preposterous!! The last time we heard from you was six months ago!!
Mrs. Lloyd: You mean to tell me that you've been out of school for SIX MONTHS?? Just when were you planning to tell us, young lady??
Mr: Lloyd: What have you been doing with yourself during that period?
Rima: Well, I've been travelling with a group who call themselves "The World's Workers".
Mr. Lloyd: Good heavens, Rima! You've joined a cult?!
Rima: No, it's an activist group. It's really cool, and the people are totally awesome. Our last project was the "Save the Scorpions" campaign in Albequerque, New Mexico. When I heard that we were coming here for a peace concert, I thought it would be the perfect oppurtunity to tell you personally about my new life.
Mrs. Lloyd: What "new life"? Surely they don't PAY you to be an activist?
Rima: Of course not, mother. That's why I took a course in the dramatic arts - so I could perform in local productions for money as we travelled across the country.
Mrs. Lloyd: Acting? Well, that's a relief - at least you're still doing that. Rhonda here is a natural on stage. She was going to play Juliet this year in her class, but she refused to wear that ridiculous excuse for a costume in front of the entire school. Of course, I certainly don't blame her - that costume was simply atrocious!
Mr. Lloyd: Yes, it looked more like a tattered dishrag than a dress!
Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd laugh among themselves. Relieved by the change in subject, Rima smiles and stands up.
Rima: Will you excuse me for one moment while I go to the washroom? I've been in that van for hours, and since it's electric, we can't afford to make a lot of pit stops. I'll be right back.
Rima walks past Rhonda and down the hall to the bathroom. Rhonda gives Rima a dirty look behind her back and approaches her parents when she is out of sight.
Rhonda: How can you two sit here and laugh at a time like this?! This is serious! This is dreadful! This is a disgrace to the Lloyd family name!
Mrs. Lloyd: It's true; we are very concerned about Rima's new choice of lifestyle, but we're just so happy to see her face again. It's been so long, hasn't it, dear?
Mr. Lloyd: Oh my, yes. Rima has spent quite some time at boarding school in London, and even after she graduated, it was off to Wellington College, not even a month afterwards. You were only 4 the last time she was here, Rhonda
Mrs. Lloyd: Your father's right, dear. Try to look at the bright side of things like we're doing and just be thankful that Rima's home.
Rhonda: But mother, she's a hippie! She's uncouth, uncivilized, and totally out of control! She didn't even use a coaster for her teacup! I say we throw her out and disown her while we still have a chance!
Mr. Lloyd: Oh, sweetie, don't you think you're overrecting just a tad? She's your sister!
Rhonda: Sister? HA! No sister of mine devotes her life to being a sandal-wearing, tree-hugging nutcase!
Mrs. Lloyd: Rhonda Wellington Lloyd, I'm surprised at you! You should be ashamed at the way you're carrying on! Now, your father and I are just as upset by this ordeal, but that's no reason to have a fit over it. Rima may dress and act different than she use to, but she is still our daughter, and still YOUR sister, and expect you to give her the same upmost trust and respect that you give us. Do I make myself clear?
Rhonda grumbles something under her breath
Mrs. Lloyd: What was that?
Rhonda:(coldly) I said, "Yes, mother"...
Mrs. Lloyd: Good.
Rima returns from the bathroom with the two suitcases in her hand. Rhonda slumps down next to her mother on the loveseat.
Rima: I almost forgot...(singsong)...I've got gifts!
Rima sets the suitcases down and opens one of them. She takes out three wraped boxes and hands one to Mr. Lloyd, one to Mrs. Lloyd, and one to Rhonda.
Rima: Go on, open them!
Mrs. Lloyd opens her gift first. Her eyes light up when she discovers what's inside.
Mrs Lloyd: Oh! An album collection of "The Monkees"! They used to be my favorite band when I was in high school - thank you, Rima!
Rima smiles proudly as Mr. Lloyd opens his gift next. He chuckles at his gift.
Mr. Lloyd: A smiley-faced necktie! How amusing! Topnotch, Rima - thank you!
Rima: Your gift is the most special of all, Rhonda! Aren't ya gonna open it?
Rhonda: Maybe later...
Rima:(slightly disappointed) Oh...well, that's alright; you don't have to open it now...
Mrs. Lloyd: Come on, Rima - you must be exhausted. Let's go to your room and we'll help you unpack. Your father will handle the suitcases.
Mr. Lloyd picks up Rima's suitcases - which are a lot heavier than they look - and follows Mrs. Lloyd and Rima out of the living room. Rhonda looks at the box containing her gift with little interest and makes a face. She then tossses it onto the loveseat and exits the living room
At the Pataki house, Helga sits in the living room and watches "Wrestlemania" while Miriam cooks in the kitchen and Big Bob argues with an angry customer.
Big Bob:(on the phone) Hey, listen, buddy, you signed an unbreakable contract, that's it! The ink's dry and that ship has sailed....what do you mean it's my fault the beepers don't work? Look, mac, all I do is sell 'em - I didn't make 'em or ship 'em or...(holds phone)...hey, Miriam! You mind keeping the flames down to a minimum?!
Miriam takes out a fire extinguisher and sprays the stove in order to put out the flames. Big Bob coughs as a blanket of smoke fills the kitchen.
Big Bob: For cryin' out loud, Miriam, how hard is it to make spaghetti and meatballs?!...(on phone)...Alright, now where were we? You were calling me a jerk...hey! You better watch who you're calling a jerk, you moron!
As Big Bob argues with the man on the other line, Helga rolls her eyes and turns up the volume on the tv.
Helga: Criminy! It's impossible to listen to anything in this forsaken house! Big Bob is ranting on like a rabid bear with some clown on the phone, the smoke detector is ringing off the hook thanks to Miriam's "culinary expertise"...how can things possibly get any worse?
The doorbell rings.
Helga:(yells) Door!
Miriam: Helga, I'm a little preoccupied right now. Could get the door for me, please?
Helga:(muttering) Fine!
Helga gets up and walks to the door. The doorbell rings a second time.
Helga: I'm coming, I'm coming! Hold you horses! Criminy...
Helga grumbles as she opens the door to the familiar face outside.
Olga: Hello, baby sister! I'm SO glad to see you again!
Helga: OLGA?! What the...?!
Miriam: Hel-lo, Olga! It's so nice of you to visit!
Miriam walks past Helga and hugs her.
Big Bob:(on phone) I'll talk to you later...(hangs up)...Olga, where have you been? We've been waiting all day for you!
Big Bob pushes past Helga - knocking her to the ground - and hugs Olga.
Olga: Hello, Mummy! Daddy! It's great to be home!
Everyone begins talking at once. Everyone, that is, except Helga, who stomps her foot loudly on the ground to get their attention.
Helga: HEY! Could someone PLEASE tell me what the heck's going on here?!
Miriam: Didn't we tell you, Helga? Olga's come to stay with us for a while!
Olga: Yes, it's true; I left my job as a teacher to pursue other things. The children were so distraught when I told them I would be leaving...they even sculpted a life-size replica of me out of snow as a token of their gratitude. I have a photo if you'd like to see it.
Olga hands Big Bob a photograph of her and the little children standing next to the snow-Olga with wings and a crown
Big Bob: Remarkable! Those eskimo kids got you down to very last detail - crown and all!
Helga:(rolls her eyes) Oh please. Give me a break...
Helga turns and walks away.
Big Bob: Where do you think you're going, missy?
Miriam: We haven't told you the best part of all!
Olga: Mummy told me about the presentation you have to give tomorrow, and I would more than happy to assist in making your "Perfect Family Project" the perfect treat for your class!
Helga stops dead in her tracks.
Helga: WHAT?!
Olga runs up to Helga and literally crushes her with a hug.
Olga: That's right, baby sister. Tomorrow, you and I will be spending the entire day together! Isn't that wonderful?
Helga tries to free herself from Olga's embrace, but fails. She sighs hopelessly and reluctantly accepts the hug.
Helga:(sarcastically) Oh yes...I can HARDLY wait....
End of Chapter 2!