Scene 1.
Maddie West is sat at her usual table, with her boyfriend, Earl Gibbs, and her best friends, Jon Harvard and Sammie Mattwell.
MADDIE
(To Earl) What time are the others getting here?
EARL
(Running hand through his hair.) I don't know, but if they don't get here soon, we'll miss the bus.
MADDIE
What time's it now, like?
JON
(Glancing at watch.) Five to twelve.
SAMMIE
And it's leaving at...?
JON
Twelve.
SAMMIE
(Slaps table.) Damn it! I need to talk to Matt and make sure his parents are OK looking after Bryan while we're away.
MADDIE
(Raising an eyebrow.) Bit late now, isn't it?
SAMMIE
No, it's all arranged, but I don't know if they've got all his stuff, I didn't go with Dad to drop him off at Matt's Mom's.
MADDIE
Does your Mom still want you to put him up for adoption?
SAMMIE
(Angrily) Hell, no! She keeps acting like it was my idea!
MADDIE
(Laughing.) Sounds like Auntie Gemma.
EARL
(To Jon.) Who's Bryan?
JON
(Lazily.) Oh, just Sammie and Matt's kid. They had him in the 8th Grade, I've never seen Principle Newman look so scandalised.
EARL
(To no-one in particular.) Why didn't I know that?
MADDIE
(Leaning over the table to kiss him.) Because you only came last month, and you've never asked.
Enter Matt and Jessa Smith in time to see Maddie and Earl engage in a little game of tonsil hockey.
MATT
Ugh. Gag me.
JESSA
(Pushing him.) Shut up, Matt.
(To the others.) You guys ready?
EARL
(Standing up.) Yeah, where've you been? We've been waiting here for fifteen minutes!
MATT
(Glaring at Earl.) That's funny, because we've been waiting by the bust stop for that long.
They start to square off.
SAMMIE
(Tentatively.) Matt, is Bryan at your Mom's?
MATT
(Still glaring at Earl.) Yeah, baby, your Dad dropped him off this morning.
MADDIE
(Standing up and grabbing Earl's arm.) Earl, come on. If you start anything now, we really will miss the bus.
JON
(Lazily, enjoying scene.) Or you could put in on hold until we get on the train.
JESSA
(Angrily.) Jon!
JON
(Innocently.) What?
MADDIE
(Laughing, tugs on Earl's arm.) Come on. We need to get going. Like, now.
MATT & EARL
(Shortly.) Fine.
Exit all, Maddie pulling Earl in the lead and Sammie trying to calm Matt down at the back.
End Scene.
