Scene: A small bungalow in the suburbs just outside of Boston, mid to late 1990’s. Two teenaged brothers, Lex and Angus are sitting in the kitchen. They are home alone, and are eating an instant dinner.

Lex: So how does the pizza taste? I’m not sure if it cooked well.
Angus: Yeah, it’s a bit doughy, but it’s fine.
Lex: Cool. (he takes a bite of his pizza slice)
Angus: Ugh. (winces) When’s Dad coming home?
Lex: (rolling his eyes) I’m really not sure. So, you don’t like the pizza, eh.
Angus: I told you, its fine.
Lex: Whatever.
Suddenly, the front door swings open, and in marches Moira Dubh, a single mother and friend of the family. She appears both flustered and upset, and is cursing profusely under her breath. The boys rise to greet her, but are cut off by the woman’s ranting.  
Moira: Where the HELL is she? I swear to god, I don’t understand that girl of mine. She makes me sick. Sick, do you hear? SICK.
Angus: Um…
Lex: (addressing Moira) Uh, hey. What’s going on? It’s been awhile--
Moira: (continues ranting) …I do everything that I can to see that she gets the best in life, and this is how I’m repaid? A cold slap in the face, that’s what it is! I don’t know why I bother with her…
Angus: (timidly) Moira, what are you going on about?
Moira: (turning to Angus angrily) My spoiled brat of a daughter, that’s what! She ran off on me. It’s not normal. (she pauses for a moment to catch her breath) Can I use your phone?
Angus: Sure thing. I’ll go and get it now.
(He exits, glad to remove himself from the madness for a moment)
Moira: (sadly) I just can’t believe it. What did I do wrong?
(She collapses onto a nearby couch)
Lex: (kneeling down beside Moira) What is it that Ceara did, exactly?
Moira: (pulls Lex closer, lowering her voice somewhat. The side of her mouth is noticeably bruised, and has swelled a purplish colour) Now listen, I can’t have any of this being repeated. You understand?
Lex: Alright, alright. I’m not going to tell anyone. Just, tell me what the big deal is.
Moira: That little, ungrateful bitch of mine smacked me in the face.
Lex: (winces at the sight of the bruise) Yikes, you’re all marked up--
Moira: (cutting Lex off) Now you listen to me. Your dad is a real loudmouth, and if he finds out about this, the whole city will know.
Lex: I told you once, already, that I won’t tell him.
Moira: I want your word.
Lex: (through gritted teeth) Fine, you have my word.
Moira: (nodding in approval) Alright. Remember, I’m trusting you.
Lex: (motioning to Moira’s bruised face) So, how did this happen?
Moira: So I came by after school to pick her up, and I saw her making out with that Joey character. You know that Joey character?
Lex: No, actually.
Moira: Oh, come on! That tall creep with the beard- You must have seen him around the school.
Lex: I don’t go to that school, anymore. I’m in University now.
Moira: (shaking her head) Anyways, while she was taking her sweet time, I was running late for an appointment. She should try to learn some consideration for others, especially her own mother!
Lex:  So did she end up going with you?
Moira: (raises an eyebrow) I got out of the truck and dragged her by the arm. She can screw around on her own time. As I was driving her home, though, she started flipping out and was getting verbally abusive. So what did I do? I stopped the car, that’s what. I wasn’t going to take her anywhere while she was bitching out at me.
Lex: (looking a bit uncomfortable) Yeah, that’s completely understandable…
(He trails off)
Moira: I made one crack about her sleazy boyfriend, and she whacked me across the face with her purse. Can you believe it? Do you know what kind of damage she could have done? These teeth weren’t cheap, you know.
(She smiles, showing off her dental implants)
Lex: Yeah, but you’re okay, right--
Moira: …and then she ran off. The little slut ran off after beaning me in the face like that! Where the hell is that damned phone, already? I’m going to call up Joey’s mother and give her a piece of my mind. Ever since my daughter started hanging out with her son, she’s become a total pain to deal with.
Lex:  One second. (shouts) ANGUS, you jerk! Bring us the phone, already!
Angus re-enters, huffing and puffing, phone in hand. He smiles sheepishly, handing the phone to Moira.
Angus: Heh, Heh. Sorry ‘bout that! It was stuck under the couch in the basement, so it took me a while to find.
Moira: Give me that. I’ve got to make an important call.
(She snatches the phone from Angus’ hands)
Angus retreats to the couch, where Lex is now sitting, fidgeting with a throw pillow.
Angus: So what’s the story?
Lex: Shh. I want to hear this.
Moira digs into her pockets, finding a scrap of paper. She uncrumples it, and thumbs in a number onto the portable phone from off of it. As she paces back and forth, waiting for a response she lights up a cigarette, not particularly concerned if the smoke will offend anyone.
Moira: (coolly) Yeah. Hello, Donna? It’s Moira. (pauses) I’m fine. I’m just calling to let you know that my daughter is not to step foot in your house anymore. (disgustedly) Why? She whacked me in the face, that’s why...Listen here, ever since she started going out with your son, she’s become a nightmare...She’s started lying to me, swearing at me, talking back, and has been running out of my house at bloody two o’clock in the morning!
You don’t believe me? Heh. I thought that letting her go to the same high school as your son would help her stay focused, because she’d have a social life...Her grades have gone straight to hell, and she’s even been suspended. She’s started to get violent with me, her own mother! Your son has turned my little girl into a monster. (another brief pause) How DARE you say that! Hah. I can see where your creepy son learns from.
Angus: (quietly, looking rather cross) I can’t believe her. She waltzes in here like she owns the place, smoking, and using our phone. I’m really getting pissed off.
Moira: (continuing phone call, getting increasingly louder) Look, I don’t care what your little devil tells you! He’s not half as innocent as he lets you believe. He’s leading my daughter down a path of corruption. You know something? I wouldn’t be surprised if the two of them are screwing each-other, already. Do you want both of our kids to go to hell? Will THAT make you happy? No, of course it wouldn’t. (she falls silent for a moment, listening) Uh-huh. Uh-huh… Okay, look; I understand that normal teenagers should be able to have healthy relationships with each-other, but this is dysfunctional! This is NOT the kind of relationship that I want my daughter to be a part of. (another pause) Commitment?! What planet are you from, lady? These kids can go steady over my dead body. My daughter deserves someone much better than your hoodlum son. (she grits her expensive teeth angrily) Do I want to speak with her? Oh, so she’s there. I knew it... Yeah, sure- put her on the line. (she leans against the kitchen counter, waiting) Ceara? You’d better get yourself dressed. I’m coming over RIGHT NOW to pick you up. Don’t defy me, Missy, or I’ll stick you in boarding school, next! (begins breathing heavily, in anger)
Hello? HELLO?!(appears rather disillusioned) She… She hung up.
Moira turns back to couch, to find a very shocked Lex and Angus. They both state at her blankly, mouths agape, and an awkward silence fills the room. Taking one last puff of her cigarette, Moira then extinguishes the butt, using Angus’ cup of juice as an ashtray.
Lex: Gods, Moira. What did you expect?
Moira: I EXPECTED my daughter to listen to me.
Angus: (hesitantly) Was...that all really necessary?
Moira: You’re DAMNED RIGHT it was. I demand respect, and I certainly deserve it. No child of mine should be allowed to do the crap that Ceala gets away with. I’m going to go and straighten her out, once and for all!
With that, Moira gathers up her belongings and storms out, slamming the front door behind her as she hurries off, much to the horror of the two brothers.
Lex: (pointing at Angus’ unfinished meal) So, you really don’t like that pizza, huh.

                                               End Scene