Act 3: Normality
Nearly all the public had left the courtroom as Helen burst through the doors. She had a doctor's note in her hand. The judge and jury were still present, though were getting ready to go before Mrs Morgendorfer went back to her seat.
Mrs Griffin was sat comfortably. She was chatting to her friend about her new living room extension, using a very advanced mobile phone.
"Order, order. Mrs Griffin, can you please put your phone away until after the case?"
Mrs Griffin looked to see Helen, impatiently sat in her seat. She chuckled and made a witty remark.
"Bet you can't afford this kind of mobile, Helen. It's the best with everything, clear voice, automatic voicemail, a sophisticated ring. Wish you were in my situation, don't you?"
The bragging and nastiness was too much for Helen, who already had assumptions about what happened to her daughter.
"Your honour, my daughter Quinn has suffered severe head trauma today."
She handed the note to the judge, who began to read it.
Mrs Griffin angrily remarked.
"What does that have to do with anything?"
Helen looked at Mrs Griffin piercingly.
"As you can see it doesn't look good, and I believe Mrs Griffins daughter is accountable.."
The judge looked down from his seat at Helen.
"And where's proof of this, Mrs Morgedorfer?"
"Yes Helen, the proof!"
The judge looked to Mrs Griffin with distain. He looked back at Helen.
"Well, actually.. I just know, okay. She's always attacking my daughter.."
Mrs Griffin fired back.
"Objection your honour! My daughter merely likes to mentally attack.. not physically."
The judge gave the note back to Mrs Morgendorfer and came to a verdict.
"As I'm sure your aware from your expertise, Mrs Morgendorfer, we have no evidence to assume that neither Mrs Griffin nor her daughter have done anything concerning. Now, back to the topic at hand, due to the fact that Mrs Griffin has recently had the money to change Article Forty Six of the book of law, I have no choice but to authorise Mrs Griffin's choice that Daria Morgendorfer and Jane Lane be expelled permanently from.."
In the hospital ward, Mrs Morgendorfer lifted up her feet onto a nearby chair to fix her laces.
She looked over Quinn with the doctor. She weeped into her handkerchief. Three boys were also there; this time with boxes of chocolates and stacks of get well soon cards, as well as additional bunches of flowers.
"Why did you call me? I've just come out of a stressful court meeting! Have you got any further information concerning my daughter?"
The doctor read and checked through the scans before answering.
"I'm afraid she's in a deep coma. Although there's no telling when she'll wake.."
Mrs Griffin's phone started to ring. She struggled, trying to turn it off. It was a sophisticated ring.
It stopped.
The judge proceeded.
"As I was saying, I have no problem.. no legal problem, with authorising the expulsions of both Jane Lane and Daria Morgendorf.."
Mrs Griffin's pocket began talking. Clear voice.
"Uh mom. I'm sorrry. I can't stop thinking about it. I was with uh Quinn in the uh, playing fields.. and I uh... hit her in the head with a football.."
Automatic voicemail.
Mrs Griffin wrestled with the mobile, at last resorting to trying to break it in two. She hated losing.
"Uh.. we.. mustn't tell anyone uh mother. It's a secret between you and uh me.. like when you told me about.."
"Shut up! Shut up!"
Finally, the mobile broke, and Mrs Griffin gave a sigh of relief.
The judge looked confused.
"Erm. We seem to have some new evidence."
Mrs Morgendorfer thought the woman would be trying to come up with a new remark or excuse. Instead she had her head down, her hair covering most of her face. A small smile emerged.
"It wasn't Sandi's fault.. It was mine. I paid her."
After a long pause of shock, the judge looked at her sternly, coming to terms with the new found information.
Helen looked at the jury and began to remember who they were. Mrs Morgendorfer used to take part in kickboxing tournaments to ease her stress, and all the middle aged woman in the stands along used to be instructed with her.
Helen has her head up.
"Excuse me, your honour.."
She stood up and walked around Mrs Griffin and the jury.
".. Martha, Ethel, Christina. Do you remember the little class we had?
The woman squinted, but eventually understood with excitement.
"Yes, Sansei Morgendorfer. Very much so."
"And do you remember the little lessons we used to give to the weaker fighters that couldn't beat us?"
After a while, the whole jury began whispering and talking. They eventually all turned to face the judge. Mrs Morgendorfer had a wide, violent grin.
She walked up to the judge and whispered in his ear.
She then walked to Mrs Griffin.
"Do we have the honour.. Your honour?"
The judge smiled.
"Yeah, Helen. Go ahead. Case dismissed."
He hit his small hammer down. Mrs Griffin stood there silent.
"What's going on? What are you going to do to me? What are you doing with your feet.."
Bam
The three boys were standing over Quinn, their gifts in hand.
"What now, Joey?"
"Yeah Joey, what's the plan?"
Joey looked worried.
"I don't know dudes, I guess wait for her to wake?"
Jamie looked at Jeffy and Joey with distain. He snapped angrily.
"Y'know, I'm sure Quinn wouldn't like us arguing. Why don't we focus on Quinn."
"Whatever Jam..."
Quinn yawned and slowly stretched her arms, before touching her hair.
"Ahhh! My bunches!"
The boys smiled.
"Quinn is that you? Are you there Quinn? Oh Quinn! Can it be true?"
Quinn opened her left eye scanning the room. She looked at Jamie and smiled.
"Oh hi, Jamiel!"
Jamie sighed but then smiled. He was quite happy with that.
Mrs Morgendorfer ran to her daughter, bent down and gave her a hug. Her handkerchief fell on the floor.
Daria stormed in. However, after seeing Quinn fine, walked slowly to her mom's seat, slowly sitting down and slowly opening her issue of Sick Sad World to finish the last few articles.
After confronting everyone, receiving the many gives from the boys. She peered over at Daria.
"Daria? You came?"
Daria didn't look up, but, nodded slightly.
Mrs Morgendorfer looked at Daria angry.
"Come on Daria! Just for once give your sister a hug we can all see."
Daria sighed heavily and got up, striding slowly to her sister.
As they hugged, Quinn began to flinch.
"Ooh! Get her away from me!"
Daria laid on her bed. She had a paper in her hand, the other holding up a phone to Jane.
"So Jane, have you heard the mediocre news?"
"We're allowed back in Lawndale High? Why yes Daria, everyone in the goddamn school knows."
Daria paused.. then spoke.
"Do they know what my mom.."
"Yeah Daria. Like I said, everyone's heard."
Daria got up and sat.
"I almost feel sorry for Quinn. Hey, I didn't see your mom in courtroom."
"Yeah well, she was really eager for me to get in that art school. Funny how we think differently from each other but still get on so well."
"Yeah."
Jane put down her phone and smiled. She looked at the dolphins.
"What? Is that right? She payed you to do that to me? How much did she pay you, though? Oh Sandi, stop crying! Of course I'm not angry at you.."
Daria came to Quinn's door where she stood.
"She made you do what? All her laundry for six months? You what? Even her handkerchiefs?"
Quinn saw Daria from the corner of her eye. She knocked.
"May I come in?"
Quinn nodded, still on the phone.
"Okay Sandi, just a minute.. What do you want Daria?"
Daria walked up to Quinn and gave her the paper.
"I did your maths homework. Don't worry, I was bored."
"Thanks. You no how much I hate putting wrong answers.."
Daria walked to the door. She smiled slightly. So did Quinn.
Daria laid on her bed. The phone began to ring.
"Hello?"
"Daria. We don't need to go to school incognito. You'll never guess the latest headline."
"Kevin's gay?"
"Hands on buzzers, well done you. Who told you?"
"I believe I read it in a fanfiction."
Daria sighed heavily and got up, striding slowly to her sister.
As they hugged, Quinn began to flinch.
"Ooh! Get her away from me!"
Staci and Tiffany were by the door. Both looked shocked.
Tiffany muttered sleeplessly.
"Are you... like... hugging your long lost cousin?"
Daria smiled.
If everyone is thinking alike, then somebody isn't thinking.
The End
