Act 2: Reflection:

".. and therefore I think it's unreasonable for Sandi's mother to threaten to sue Lawndale high unless my daughter and Mrs Lane are removed."

The courtroom started talking. Mrs Morgendorfer sat next to Daria and crossed her arms.

Mrs Griffin stood up and began her reasoning. The more she talked, the more Mrs Morgendorfer grew resentful. Helen noticed she was using an old trick from the lawyer's handbook.

"I object your honour! Without concrete evidence, I don't see how Mrs Griffin can impose such blackmail!"

"I've heard you Mrs Morgendorfer, sit down.."

She sat down and turned her head to the jury; they seemed strangely familiar. They weren't work colleagues of Helen or friends of Mrs Griffin.

"As I was uh saying, I have a lot of superiority over..."

"Sorry! Excuse me! Mrs Morgendorfer!"

A loud receptionist stormed down the courtroom through the isles in a hurray.

"What is it, woman? Can't you see I'm busy! Tell them to rearrange my appointments!"

"So sorry miss, It's about your daughter..you might want to answer the phone at reception.

Mrs Morgendorfer, holding Daria's arm, stormed down the isles following the panicked receptionist out the courtroom doors. The judge rubbed his chin.

"Due to unforeseen circumstances, Mrs Morgendorfer has left. Therefore I have no choice but to postpone this trial." He slammed down his hammer.

A worried Helen picked up the phone,

"Hello? What is it Angela Li?! What about Quinn!? Haven't I had enough of you today!.. what?"

Daria looked up from her issue of Sick Sad World curious.

"What's wrong, mom?"

"Quiet Daria. Yes, of course. I'll be there as soon as possible."


"She is breathing, although she is unconscious."

"Why, is it bad?"

The doctor put his hand on Helen's shoulder, as they looked at Quinn's bruised head. The doctor directed Helen out of the ward.

"At the moment, we don't know how bad it is. We'll check again in a few hours, if she doesn't resume consciousness, then we'll perform some necessary tests."

"I want the best treatment for my daughter, understand?!"

"Yes, we'll inform you when we know more."

As Helen was about to walk out of the hospital. Three boys stumbled in.

"Excuse me, Mrs Morgendorfer, is Quinn here?"

"Why yes, room nineteen. Joel, isn't it?"

The boy sighed as another of the boys stepped forward.

"These flowers are for you, Mrs Morgendorfer."

She declined and the other two boys looked at him. Mrs Morgendorfer advised him.

"I'm doing just fine. Perhaps you should leave those for Quinn."

"Yeah dude, that was the whole idea dude. Stick to the idea, man!"

"Oh.. okay"

The boys then proceeded to wonder down the hall towards Quinn's ward. Helen sighed and made her way to the car, preparing to tell the news to Daria.


"I feel dead."

Daria was sitting upright on Jane's bed. Jane was sitting next to her, a collection of busted canvases on the floor. She put her hand on Daria's shoulder.

"I bet it's hard. You're very brave."

Daria was confused.

"Yeah, but it's not like she's dead or anything."

Jane stood up and positioned a new canvas, finding appropriate colours from her closet. Daria fell hopelessly on the bed like she did earlier.

"Even if she was, I doubt I would feel worse than I do, normally."

Jane got out the blue paint and began applying it softly to the canvas. She looked pensive.

"Yeah, well, I wouldn't say that if I was you. We suffered a lot over our Uncle Sal."

Daria looked across to Jane.

"I'm so sorry."

"Yeah well, it all happened so quick. You don't know who you're gonna loose. We were at a get together when it happened. An olive managed to get lodged through his eye patch. It was a rainy day that thanksgiving."

Daria reverted back to her sarcastic tone.

"Mom wants me to visit her in hospital. Like that's going to happen, I'd just be talking to myself."

"Daria."

Jane stuck her brush into the paint bucket. Daria sighed.

"Like I said earlier.."

"You wish Quinn was dead.."

Daria bolted up.

"I didn't say that! Out of everyone I'd expect you to be the most understanding."

Jane looked at her blue shaded canvas.

"I'm sorry Daria, I just thought you'd seem more concerned."

Daria laid back down and looked up to the ceiling. She spoke softer, and actually sounded personal.

"I don't want to feel the way I do, it's just like it is, okay?"

Jane went to get some more paints from the basement. Daria closed her eyes..


"Hey Daria!"

Daria found herself walking to school, she turned to see Jane catching her up.

"Hey Daria."

"Hi Jane."

After a long pause. Jane followed up.

"So.. that Sick Sad World marathon really tired me out."

Daria seemed distracted.

"Are you okay Daria, you see more distant than usual, and that's saying anything."

Daria rolled her eyes.

"I'm fine Jane. I wish you wouldn't say that."

Jane was took back.

"I'm sorry Daria.. you look exhausted. I'll leave you by yourself for abit. I'm sure my vigorous snoring kept you awake at night."

Jane ran up the street and out of sight.

"Hi Daria."

Daria looked around to find Quinn, her bunches of hair untouched like that morning. Daria didn't know what was going on.

"Um Quinn. I thought you were.."

Quinn looked at Daria. Daria scratched her head.

"You thought I was?"

Daria shrugged.

"I dunno."

Daria and Quinn walked together down the street. Quinn laughed awkwardly.

"Nice weather huh?"

"Yeah Quinn, it's nice"

Daria suddenly felt slight remorse for what she said earlier. Maybe what she thought about her sister was abit harsh. Daria took a deep breath.

"So Quinn, what's going on?"

Quinn's jaw dropped. She suddenly became suspicious.

"How much did mom pay you this time, Daria?"

Daria was taken a back. She struggles to speak. Quinn saw this.

"You really want to know?"

Daria nodded. Quinn beamed.

"Wellll. The fashionn club has resigned"

"Oh really?"

"Yeah, who would know that Sandi was sooo manipulative and negative. I mean, I wore jeans that I wanted to wear and all of a sudden the whole group disbands. What do you think about that?"

"Honestly, I'm very surprised."

Daria's monotone sarcasm made Quinn chuckle. Daria was surprised. She continued.

"Quinn"

"Yeahh Daria?"

"Do you want to know about my love life?"

"Yeah sure"

"Me and Tom aren't going out anymore. He turned into a jerk. I might have to start looking for other options."

Daria stopped. She approached Quinn directly.

"I'm not saying I'm ever going to look as perfect at you, but I'm willing to try. Don't tell anyone I said that, understand?"

Daria began to walk before looking back. Quinn was still stood.

"Daria."

Daria walked back into the position she was in.

"Yes."

"I have something to say."

Daria uncrossed her arms.

"What is it Quinn?"

Quinn closes her eyes, then opened them. She paused.

"Actually, I never get this far. I usually have a conversation with you, then around now, I wake up."

Daria's eyes widened.

"You mean I'm in your dream?"

Quinn put her arms up.

"It's hard to describe it. Especially when your a useless girl that nobody cares about.."

"Quinn"

"..when you wanna be good at something so you try really hard at it and everyone hates you for focusing on your beauty"

"Quinn"

".. when you're right, and I'm cold and empty and shallow and I don't know how to do anything else. Every decision I make is wrong and I have no life. I mean you're totally right. Did I mention you were right.."

"Quinn!"

Daria held Quinn's shoulders.

"Every decision you make is not always wrong, and you do have a life. You look beautiful, and your not shallow, empty or cold."

A tear fell to the floor.

"What were you gonna tell me, Quinn?"

Quinn looked into Darias eyes and took a deep breath.

"I just wanna say.. I love you."

Daria hugged a weeping Quinn.

"Please... don't.. hate.. me.. Daria."

"I will never hate you. I've never hated you.."


Daria sprung up from Jane's bed.

"Well look who fell out of the cuckoo's nest."

Jane had finished her painting and walked slowly out of the room. The easel was positioned in front of Daria so that the painting couldn't be ignored.

Two blue dolphins were swimming together. They were both smiling and had their tail fins up.

Daria sprinted out the door to the hospital.