KINTRA CLATTER

By Ethan McLucas

KINTRA CLATTER

CONTENT WARNINGS

-       Mutilation

-       Abuse

-       Assault

-       Sexual assault

-       Implied non-consensual sex

-       Harming of children

-       Violence against women

THIS LIST IS BY NO MEANS EXTENSIVE, DISCRETION ADVISED

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CHARACTERS

Verveine - teens (16+) - a mute and scarred maid of the Prixe family

Sunny - any - Verveine’s protector

Archibald “Archie” Prixe* - mid 20s - the eldest son of the Prixe family

Canada Prixe - mid 20s - the eldest daughter of the Prixe family

Penelope Prixe - early/mid 10s - the youngest child of the Prixe family

Owen McCorran - mid 20s - the third son of the McCorran family

Mandarin McCorran - mid 20s - one of the eldest daughters of the McCorran family

Beau McCorran - early/mid 10s - the youngest child of the McCorran family

Cast size: 8

*Although gender specified in the text, gender blind casting is encouraged

*Prixe is pronounced “Pree”

PROPOSED STAGING

The stage is a back garden with a conservatory.

USR there is a flat resembling a glass door with an ornate table and chairs in front of it.

DSR there is a tree stump

Around the stage by the audience there are flowers

On the floor of the stage is green astroturf

Act 1

Scene 1

(SFX, pre-recorded, the sound of rabbits chewing and squealing)

(SFX, pre-recorded, the sound of rabbits chewing and squealing cuts off)

(cloudy blue green wash, 70% across the stage)

(SXF wind blowing quietly)

(USL, there is a flat resembling a glass door. In front of it, still USL, there is an ornate small table surrounded by four ornate chairs)

(DSR there is a tree stump)

(across the stage there is a green astroturf)

(around the stage there are flowers in bloom)

(Verveine, on her knees, tends to the flowers DSC)

(Verveine’s breathing can be heard through a microphone)

(Vervain is dressed in a dull and slightly worn plaid dress and has a deep scar running vertically down her face)

(Sunny, sits on the tree stump casually, they watch Verveine work)

(Sunny is in plaid too but theirs appears to be pristine)

(Sunny speaks through a microphone)

Sunny: I think loudly, you know?

(to Verveine) You are doing well, Verve. You are doing well. The masters will be proud of you, this garden has not looked so pristine all year.

That is Verveine. She has been the maid of the Prixe’s all her life, just as her mother was. She is a fine maid, I think so at least. She cannot speak.

(Sunny gestures to their face and traces a scar)

Sunny: The cause for that is not for me to tell but for her, when she is able.

If she will be able.

I am Sunny. I am Verveine’s friend. I am here for her and currently, I talk for her.

(Vervain stands, smiles and nods at Sunny and tends to the flowers DSL)

Sunny: I love her.

I want to do everything I can do to protect her. She is a good person, you know? And she works very hard! And, she has a hard life…

Will you help me? Will you help me help her?

I am scared that I will never be enough to truly do it.

Her name is not really Verveine. That is the name the masters gave her. It is a plant that makes you cry. I know her name but I cannot tell you. Again, that is for her to tell.

(Verveine stands and looks over at Sunny, who looks back at her)

(Sunny gestures to their clothes)

Sunny: She made me this, you know? I love it!

Archie: (off-stage) (loudly) Vereine! Verveine!

(Verveine and Sunny’s eyes go wide)

(enter ARCHIBALD “ARCHIE” PRIXE from USL and comes to stand DSC)

(Archie is dressed in a fine suit with a cravat. The suit is slightly too big for him)

(Verveine and Sunny stand to attention as soon as he enters)

Archie: Clean the afternoon room again. It needs to be so clean it could be something out of a painting. Understand?

(Verveine nods)

Archie: Good get to work.

(As Verveine goes to leave, Archie spanks her)

(Verveine exits USL)

Sunny: Animal. A Charybdis.

(Sunny exits USL after Verveine)

Canada: (off-stage) Archie? Archibald?

(enter CANADA PRIXE from USL)

(Canada is wearing a loose summer dress. Too loose on her and only held on by a belt)

Archie: Is Penelope ready?

Canada: Yes.

Archie: Are you sure?

Canada: Yes-

Archie: Are you positive?

Canada: Would I have been trying to find you if she wasn’t? She’s ready. I’m ready. Are you?

Archie: Of course I’m ready. I’ve been ready for hours.

Canada: Keep cool.

Archie: Like winter.

Penelope: (off-stage) Candy? Archie?

Canada: In the garden!

(enter PENELOPE PRIXE from USL)

(Penelope is wearing a frilly dress, one overtly girly like a princess, with a bow in her hair)

Penelope: This dress is itchy!

(Canada walks over to her and hugs her close

Canada: I know, I know. But we have to dress up for the next couple of days. Mummy and Daddy are working so hard for us and our family and we need to do our part too. You’re being such a big girl and I’m very proud of you. Now come on, let’s join your brother.

(they move DSC and the three stand together)

Archie: You look very pretty Penenelope.

Penelope: Really?

Canada: Like a princess!

(the three hold hands)

Archie: We’ve certainly been through a lot, haven’t we? Well, it's all been leading to this. A weekend to work our magic.

Be enticing. Be a Prixe.

I know you’ll be great. Especially you Penelope.

Penelope: I can’t wait to make new friends! Oh, I should get Xiu Xiu!

Xiu Xiu! Xiu-

Canada: In a bit, I’m sure he’s enjoying the garden.

Penelope: But-

Archie: You heard your sister. You can show him off in a bit.

(enter Vervain and Sunny from USL. Vervain has a rag in hand cleans the tables and chairs USL. Sunny watches)

Penelope: Okay.

Canada: A hug for good luck?

(Archie, Canada and Penelope all hug one another)

Archie: Penelope, do you want to do something really important and make sure all the tables are set and the water carafes are all full?

Penelope: I’m on it!

(Penelope rushes off USL)

Archie: Remember, we can’t fail. We can’t show any weakness either.

Canada: We may have to compromise, you know?

Archie: No. No compromises.

Canada: We barely have any cards to play.

Archie: They aren’t as untouchable as they think. If they do think that, then they’re the fools.

Canada: Or merciless.

Archie: Lions and tigers dine together.

Canada: But what do they dine on?

You think I should have more of my chest on display?

Archie: It might come off as whoreish.

Canada: Maybe we’ll get lucky and they’ll all want me.

Archie: Hmph.

 I’d hoped the weather would have cleared up. Not important. I’m going to wait inside.

(Archie goes to exit USL)

Canada: Archie. You know this could very well be it, right?

Archie: Of course. Do you?

Canada: Just…best foot forward, yeah?

Archie: Take your own advice.

(Archie exits USL and Canada watches him go)

(she spots Verveine cleaning)

Canada: Were you listening in? You little fox?

(Vervain freezes and Sunny stares at her concernedly)

Canada: Face me.

(Vervain turns to face Canada, Sunny walks to Vervain to hold her hand)

(Vervain casts a glance towards Sunny, which Canada notices)

Canada: I said face me.

(Vervain faces Canada and Canada takes a step towards her)

Canada: What do you think, Verveine? Should I show myself off? Hmph? Should I just take off all my clothes and present myself like a piece of meat? Would they like that? Would you like that?

(Canada reaches out towards Verveine and takes her hands. Canada slowly falls to her knees and presses Verveine hands to cup her face before taking part of her thumb into her mouth and biting, all while making eye contact)

(she visibly makes Verveine uncomfortable before giggling)

(Canada releases Verveine and stands)

Sunny: Trollop. A Scylla.

Archie: (off-stage) Canada! Penelope! Come here! They’re arriving now. Verveine! Have some glasses ready!

(Canada exits USL)

(Verveine stares at Sunny in horror who hugs her as they exit USL)

Scene 2

Archie: (off-stage) Welcome, please this way! Come right through! I think this spot is the very best place of the whole estate.

Penelope: (off-stage) It’s really pretty! You’ll love it!

(enter Archie and Penelope from USL guiding OWEN MCCORRAN, MANDARIN MCCORRAN, and BEAU MCCORRAN)

(Owen wears a fine suit with the neck exposed. It is slightly too big for him)

(Mandarin wears a summer dress, a winter scarf and carries a handled sun parasol over her shoulder)

(Beau wears a tiny waistcoat)

Mandarin: Oh wow.

Beau: It’s so big!

(Beau runs off, moving DSR and hopping onto the tree stump. He turns and waves back at the group)

Mandarin: Careful Beau!

Owen: He’ll be alright. (to the Prixes) Apologies, he can get quite excited.

Archie: I was the same at his age.

(he holds out his hand)

Archie: Thank you for coming.

Owen: Thank you for asking.

(Archie and Owen shake hands)

Archie: Is Daniel arriving later?

Owen: I’m afraid Daniel couldn’t make it.

Archie: Oh, um. What about…Tobias? Good old, Toby?

Owen: I’m afraid not. Busy as well.

(Archie sucks his teeth)

Archie: Forgive me, I don’t think we’ve properly met. You are?

Owen: Owen. The third son. You’ll have to contend with me instead I’m afraid. This is my sister, Mandarin.

Mandarin: A pleasure.

(Archie kisses her hand)

Mandarin: And that’s Beau. Beau!

(Beau runs over from the stump and shakes Archie’s hand quickly)

Owen: (to Beau) Aren’t you going to introduce yourself to the little lady?

Beau: Oh!

(Beau clumsily reaches out and kisses Penelope’s hand)

Beau: Hello! Great to meet you!

Penelope: It’s nice to meet you too! I’m Penelope!

Mandarin: Hello Penelope.

Owen: Yes, hello. (to Archie) Is it just the two of you?

Archie: No, I have a sister who should-

 Canada: (off-stage) (sing-song) Be here already. Yes, I know.

(enter Canada from USL)

Canada: Late as usual. Please forgive me.

(she offers her hand to Owen, who kisses it)

Owen: I’m sure I can find a way.

Canada: Canada or Candy if you like?

Owen: Owen.

(Canada lightly hugs Mandarin)

Mandarin: Mandarin, and I love your dress.

Canada: A fruit and a sweet! Oh and thank you it's an old thing!

(she extends her arm down for Beau, who kisses slightly embarrassed)

Beau: B-Beau.

Canada: (to Beau) Well don’t you have just the most excellent manners! (to the others) A drink? Verveine! Bring some refreshments out to the garden? Please, take a seat.

(Archie and Owen sit, Mandarin stands)

(Canada kneels down to Penelope and Beau’s level)

Canada: Penelope, would you mind showing Beau around the estate?

Penelope: Of course! Come on, I’ll show you all the cool stuff!

Beau: Yeah! (to Mandarin and Owen) If I’m allowed to?

(Mandarin takes in Canada for a moment)

Mandarin: Yes, go on. It’s fine.

Beau: Yes!

(slightly embarrassed Penelope holds out her hand. Embarrassed, Beau takes it)

(they run off USL)

(Verveine enters USL, with a tea pot and tea cups, Sunny close behind)

Canada: (to Mandarin) Is everything okay?

(pause)

Mandarin: Yes. Divine.

(both Mandarin and Canada sit down at the table)

(Verveine places the cups on the table)

Sunny: Verve and I had heard about this meeting for weeks. The McCorrans, a rival family, coming here to try and broker a deal.

You see, the Prixes are in financial distraught. So much so their very status and very being is at stake.

Archie: Milk? Sugar? Honey?

Mandarin: I’ll just have mine black, thank you.

Canada: Yourself, Owen?

Owen: I’ll take sugar. A lot if you mind.

Canada: Not at all.

(Verveine serves their tea)

Sunny: The Prixes are a family that have been powerful for generations, practically minor royalty. But in recent years their influence has waned drastically. The whole family is currently doing everything it can to barter and make deals, all across the continent.

Even with enemies. Even their worst enemy. Even new money.

Canada: Now, I know Archie is familiar with the McCorrans but alas, I am not. It’s all fathers and first borns who get to meet everyone but us seconds, thirds, fourths and so ons are left to fend for ourselves! Because of this, I would love it if this could be a place where we all could act without the inheritance of our last names.

Mandarin: Well said.

Canada: (satisfied) I’m a poet.

(Mandarin raises her cup)

Mandarin: Cheers!

(they cheers and sip)

Mandarin: A beautiful sentiment.

Owen: But impossible.

(pause)

Archie: Pleasant journey I hope?

Owen: Very much so.

Mandarin: (sarcastically) Aside from the driver!

Archie: Is he a speed demon?

Owen: Very much so.

Canada: (laughing) Oh my. How dangerous.

Would you like Verveine to collect your luggage from your vehicle?

Owen: No need. We’ll move it ourselves but thank you for the offer.

(Mandarin shivers)

Archie: Are you cold? I can have Verveine fetch a blanket for you if you’d like?

Mandarin: Oh I’m fine. Never happy you see. I’m either always too hot or too cold-

Owen: Or sick with headaches or the flu!

Mandarin: I’m a fragile thing, what can I say?

(suddenly serious) So how do we want this to go?

Canada: What do you mean?

Owen: Don’t you want to talk business straight away?

Archie: Why hurry? We have a whole weekend! Let us enjoy it for a bit.

Canada: Let’s catch up from a beginning we never had!

Sunny: The McCorrans only found wealth at the time Owen, Mandarin, Beau and their siblings were born. Before then, they were not even a dot on the Prixe’s map. Not even piss in the wind. Here and now, they are the Prixe’s best chance at survival.

Owen: Shall we at least make the basics clear of what we want to accomplish with this meeting?

Mandarin: My brother and I share the same opinion on this. We’ve done the hi’s but now…hmph, let me say this:

We don’t like elephants in the room, we feel they add an air of deceit that we all have to choke on.

And myself especially, I deplore deceit.

Canada: Very well.

We wish for your financial support.

Mandarin: And we wish for partial ownership of your industries and holdings.

Owen: There. Now we can smile at each other as we twist the knives in!

(they all laugh)

Archie: Verveine! Bring out something to eat!

Sunny: I cannot stress how infamously poor the relationship between these two families has been. One trampled the other underfoot. The other has reached up to rip that foot from its socket. However, with any luck, these may be the people to mend that relationship? Or at least to begin the conversation?

Please. Please do not let them be the ones who turn it to cinders.

(Verveine curtseys and her and Sunny exit USL)

Act 2

Scene 1 (3)

(there is a moment of intentional awkward silence as each character drinks their tea or looks at each other or around as they wait to see where the conversation will go)

Owen: You know, Daniel talked about you a lot, Archibald.

Archie: Archibald? Archie is fine, and did he? Really?

Owen: Yes, both of you. Archie. You and him went to the same school for a few years? Isn’t that right? (to Canada) And you were there for a year while he was as well?

Canada: Yes, a while ago now.

Owen: Maybe, but he still reminisces about it fondly.

Archie: As he should, it was a fun time. He’s a good man. What is he up to at the moment?

Owen: He’s in Monaco with his fiance, planning their wedding and no doubt celebrating till morning every night.

Archie: (laughing) That does sound like him. How’s Toby?

Mandarin: Toby’s good. Toby the Traveler! He’s cycling around Vietnam at the moment, in between business, of course.

Archie: A clever guy! But with a bit of eccentricity to him! I remember that!

(enter Verveine and Sunny with a plate of sandwiches from USL)

Canada: Is anyone allergic to anything?

(Mandarin slowly, casually, holds up her hand)

Owen: (sarcastically) Is there anything you’re not allergic to?

Mandarin: I’m allergic to milk and wheat. I’m a vegetarian and I just don’t terribly like eggs - that one is a texture thing. I’m difficult to prepare food for, I’m aware and my friends and family like to remind me of that fact. Please, go ahead without me, I already ate.

Canada: Oh, well is there anything you do particularly like and we could try and have it prepared for later?

Mandarin: I don’t know…maybe-

Owen: She’s a big fan of fish. If it was in the sea at one point, even passingly so, she’ll eat it.

Mandarin: (annoyed) Thank you, Owen.

Archie: Verveine! Prepare something with Salmon! And be quick!

(Verveine and Sunny exit USL)

Archie: I like fish too. I have even caught a good amount myself.

Canada: He likes to get up early in his dungarees and trudge out into the rivers. It's far less swashbuckling and far more lumbering than you imagine

Owen: I’m sure it's swashbuckling enough. What’s the biggest fish you've ever caught?

Archie: Am I allowed to just hold up my hands and say: “this big?” It’s a hobby but not one I do so calculatedly. I like the quiet of it all. But there is one hobby I do enjoy doing calculatedly and ever so measuredly.

(Archie taps his nose)

Owen: Now this is a conversation I like. I too am very calculated in that subject matter.

Mandarin: (sighing) Boys and their toys.

Canada: Mandarin, would you like a tour around the garden?

Mandarin: I would love one.

(Canada and Mandarin rise from the table and move DSR to the tree stump)

(Owen watches Canada go)

Archie: Go on, you must have a good story or two!

Owen: Well there was this one time in London. One of my first times there actually. We’d booked out a place at the top of the Shard. It was usually a restaurant but with the amount we’d given them, we could do whatever we wanted with the place.

Mandarin: What happened here?

Canada: Hmmh?

Mandarin: The tree?

Canada: Oh that. It was a shame.

Archie: Go on.

Owen: Well we lined up the tables from glass wall to glass wall, it’s the top of the Shard, there’s glass everywhere.

Archie: Glass fucking everywhere.

Owen: Glass fucking everwhere. We start off with a big meal in the traditional sense, there were about twelve of us you see, well, perhaps with a bit more alcohol than most. Once the meal was over and the alcohol had a dent in it, the lads and I cleared the table, then and only then, did we empty our pockets and set about creating what must have been one of the longest lines of cocaine known to man. Let me tell you, you have never seen a more brotherly experience of friends pooling their drugs together to get absolutely destroyed.

Canada: It was an ash tree that Archie and I used to play in when we were Penelope’s age but, well it's funny actually, when Penelope was born mushrooms started sprouting on the thing.

Mandarin: Heart rot?

Canada: Yep. It just popped up overnight.

Mandarin: We had that with a couple trees in one of our places, did you try cutting off branches? I mean more than one or two?

Canada: We were being liberal, don’t worry. We were amputating left right and centre but alas, it’s called heart rot for a reason. It was a nice tree.

Mandarin: Did you know how old it was?

Canada: Close to two hundred years I think.

Owen: I didn’t sleep for three days afterwards and I had to walk around with a nasal stick for a fucking week!

(Owen and Archie laugh)

Archie: That’s good, that’s very good.

Owen: Of course, you do your best to snort all of it. But one of the waiters found some and called the police. The fucker. But hey, they were paid off easily enough. What about yourself?

Arche: Let me wrack my brain. Ah!

I was in Amsterdam for…well what all young men go to Amsterdam for. And red lights are all well and good on their own but I wanted to turn up the brightness shall we say? So I snorted a good deal of the fun stuff off the sizable derriere of a blonde Swedish girl who at the time was employed on the night shift. She most definitely was good at her job.

Owen: Employee of the month?

Archie: Employee of the year! A fantastic pair of lips. I gave her a little too of course, made her work for it but don’t say I’m not generous, and words of my generosity got around and…are you familiar with Islam?

Owen: Couldn’t say I am.

Archie: (with joy) Well they have a concept called “houris.” Beautiful maidens who will reward faithful Muslims when they die. I’m no Muslim, but I met houris. I got a gaggle of them. I had the divine fuck. Not even paradise could compete. I mean, have you ever had not just pillows, but a bed of breasts because you had so many women in the room with you?

Mandarin: Even still, this place is picture-esque. I’d love to have it as a backdrop for drawing my models in.

Canada: You draw?

Mandarin: Nothing more for a sick girl to do. Do you?

Canada: I can barely hold a crayon. Penelope’s a better artist than me.

Mandarin: That bad? Oh no, surely not.

Canada: It’s true. You mentioned models, do you often do life drawing?

Mandarin: Yeah. Acrobats are especially fun to draw, they’re excellent at holding some really unique poses

Canada: Well, I’m no acrobat but I can try. I would love to be in one of your drawings. 

(she closes the distance between Mandarin and herself and gestures to the belt of her dress)

Canada: I can try and pose any way you like.

Mandarin: Oh, very funny. Don’t worry, I prefer if my models are covered. I find it more challenging and more fun to pick them out underneath layers.

Canada: Even me? Sweet as Candy?

(Mandarin puts a formal hand on Canada’s shoulder)

Mandarin: Especially you. Canada.

Owen: Do you have any others? Any good stories?

Archie: Not coke related but something good did happen last month

My friends and myself were driving along the countryside by the coast. We were having a friendly race. I won, naturally. Although apparently, I may struggle against you if Mandarin is to be believed.

(they laugh)

Anyway we stopped off in this small town in the middle of nowhere for lunch and the meal was pleasant enough but there was this teenager who was staring at us the whole time. We were a sight to behold, well dressed, well spoken and everything else and this boy, clearly, was not. Judging by his joggers. When we’re leaving and getting into our cars, he comes running out and he goes, and this is exactly how he sounded: “Misters! Misters! Can I come with you? Can you teach me how to be like you? Please?”

Now this teenager was spotty, red faced, more sweat than boy, from nowhere, and he thought he deserved to be like you and me? Like our lovely sisters? Like us? Of course not. So I say to him. “Fine. You can come with us but the cars are full, open the boot and hop in. But its going to be bumpy.” Now he leaps at the chance and jumps right in, lying in my boot amongst my spare tires. My friends are looking at me confused but then I tell them my idea and their faces all light up.

Owen: What was the idea?

Mandarin: Is there something in the bushes?

Canada: Oh that will be Penelop’s rabbit, Xiu Xiu. She’s been looking for him all day. You can pet him if you like, he doesn’t bite.

Xiu Xiu! Xiu Xiu!

I’ve not got his attention, I’ll have to do better.

(knowingly, Canada gets on all fours DSC in the eyeline of both Mandarin and Owen)

(Owen stares unabashedly)

Canada: Xiu Xiu! Xiu Xiu, over here-

Mandarin: It’s fine I’ll meet him another time. I’m not very good with animals.

(Mandarin gets Canada to her feet)

Canada: (muttering) Of course you’re not.

Mandarin: Excuse me? Did you say something?

Canada: Oh nothing! Shall we rejoin the boys?

Archie: We drive to the very edge of the coast, you see there’s no beach, just a long drop into the sea. And I back up the car and then I say, “Okay, now get out” and he says, “Okay! Whatever you say Mister!” And the boot pops open-

(Canada and Mandarin rejoin the table USL)

Archie: I’ll finish it another time.

Mandarin: What are you two talking about?

Owen: (chuckling) Oh nothing you’d like.

Canada: It seems they’ve founded a club without us already, Mandarin.

Mandarin: Always the way.

Owen: (to Canada) Do you mind if I ask why you were bent over a second ago?

Canada: Oh, I was trying to get the attention of our pet rabbit.

Mandarin: (tersely) Yes, that’s exactly what you were doing.

Owen: (to Mandarin) Shall we unpack? Before we get too tired?

Mandarin: Ooh yes, let’s get it done now.

(they all stand)

Archie: I’ll get our maid to show you to your rooms. Verveine! Verveine!

Owen: We’ll be out front getting things from our car.

Archie: Not a problem, I shall get her to meet you there. Food should be ready soon as well.

Owen: I'm excited. (to Mandarin) She doesn’t eat but I certainly do.

(Owen and Mandarin exit USL)

(Archie and Canada watch them go)

Scene 2 (4)

(Verveine and Sunny enter from USL)

Sunny: No screaming and no blood yet. That is a good sign.

(Archie and Canada do not pay any attention towards Verveine)

Archie: How’s it going on your end?

Canada: She’s a prude. You?

Archie: He thinks he’s bigger than he is. But we’re getting along. He seems interested in you.

Canada: Excellent.

Archie: Try to be subtler.

Canada: You try and work on Mandarin. See if you can get through that thick orange skin of hers.

Archie: (finally acknowledging her presence) Food better be fucking ready!

Sunny: Oh no.

(Archie storms up to her)

Archie: Were you as useless as always or is food ready to eat?

Sunny: Verve, Lie! Lie!

(Verveine slowly shakes her head, she flinches)

Archie: Wait-that’s perfect!

Canada: How so?

Archie: The McCorran’s seem to like a display of labour. They like to act as though they are the working man, to take that aesthetic while they’re feet get rubbed and their backs are massaged. I’ll serve us dinner and impress them.

Canada: Hmm. Not a bad plan. Try not to poison us.

Archie: (to Canada) Only you. (to Verveine) Go to the front of the house, show our guests to their rooms.

(Archie exits USL, shoving Verveine roughly as he goes)

(Canada walks USL to Verveine)

(she cups Verveine’s face and pats it as she speaks with the force of more than a tap but less than a slap)

Canada: (mocking) So well behaved. We’ll have to reward you one of these days.

Now go.

(Verveine turns and exits USL)

(enter Penelope and Beau, running in and laughing)

(Canada’s demeanour completely shifts)

Canada: You two appear to be having a lot of fun?

Penelope: Yeah!

Beau: Lots!

Canada: What are you doing back out in the garden?

Penelope: Well, I’ve shown Beau everywhere inside, I figured I have to show him outside too!

Beau: This garden looks really cool!

Canada: Yes, it is very cool indeed. Play safe out here, I’m going to head inside. Oh and Penelope, Mandarin and I spotted Xiu Xiu out here a few minutes ago.

Penelope: You did? Xiu Xiu! Xiu Xiu!

(Canada turns and exits USL)