(The Silence That Follows excerpt)-

INT. GIRLS' ROOM 1 - NIGHT

Gracie's bed is the one next to Luce's, and she is lying there when Luce walks in. There are no other girls in the room, and their things have been moved out.

LUCE

Where are the other girls?

GRACIE

I pulled in a favour. I can't stand their incessant chatter- and with just you I won't be too lonely. So, I kicked them out, so we could be alone.

LUCE

(raising an eyebrow)

Should I be scared?

GRACIE

Only if you don't like pedophiles.

LUCE

I don't?

GRACIE

Then, in that case, be afraid. Be very afraid.

LUCE

(whilst laughing)

Yeah, yeah. I don't know which is actually more scary, you're words or your dress sense.

GRACIE

(pulling her hand to her chest in mock hurt)

That hurt, Luce. (beat) About as much as getting poked with a feather.

Luce laughs again and takes her jacket off, dropping it beside her bed. She sits down, leaning back against her pillow and the wall.

LUCE

So, why are you dressed like that? As far as I'm aware it's not... Well, people don't dress like that any more? Especially not girls.

She blushes, but instead of being offended or annoyed Gracie laughs.

GRACIE

I used to wear clothes like this when I worked. I did a cheap job of re-enacting boys during the Second World War. I suppose I just got used to it, and when the rest of my clothes are dirty, I'll switch.

LUCE

Why the hair oil then?

GRACIE

Well, you got one item on the list, why not go to the supermarket and get them all ticked off? Besides, it looks weird if I leave my hair.

LUCE

Weirder.

GRACIE

Yeah, okay.

LUCE

I like you're logic.

GRACIE

Why thank you. I've had twenty-one years to perfect it, and iron out all those wrinkles that everybody else calls flaws.

LUCE

Your logical sounds more solid than mine; mine's becoming more and more instable as time goes by. It was my logic that got me into this mess in the first place...

GRACIE

Ah, a minor wrinkle. (she grins a wide, toothy grin)

LUCE

Yeah. Minor.

Luce gets out a hairbrush from her back and combs it through her hair.

GRACIE

So, how did it go with Heno? What's he like? Romantic? Dangerous? As handsome up close as he looks from far away?

LUCE

(she snorts and puts her brush away)

That man's an arse. He's arrogant, insulting, definitely not romantic, and about as dangerous as a bubble in a plastic container. I hate him.

GRACIE

Really? Do you really hate him?

LUCE

Yes.

GRACIE

Okay. (beat) Why? What did he do?

LUCE

Oh, you know. We talked, we walked, and apparently Gabe had bet him that he wouldn't kiss me. He accepted the bet. For a fiver.

GRACIE

(mocking)

No! He didn't!

LUCE

He did! So I told him where he could shove that!

GRACIE

Good for you! (beat) So, did he?

LUCE

(puzzled)

Did he what?

GRACIE

Did he kiss you?!

LUCE

No! (she swings her pillow at Gracie but she is laughing) No he certainly did not! I wouldn't have let him. He wouldn't have dared.

GRACIE

Oh, alright. I just thought you might have taken advantage of the situation, that's all.

LUCE

No. That man's an arse. And, he's not that handsome, really. Close up he looks sort of like a frog.

They burst into laughter