Find the illustrated version here.
Christmas
Page 1
Scene: A father is preparing a meal in a kitchen while his child (an adult) is at the table wrapping presents in wrapping with a pattern of holly.
Young adult 1: Dad! Who are these ones for?
Father: Who have we got covered so far?
Young adult 1: Hm, well, we have something for Ethan and Susan and their kid. Jam for Elaine and Jeff. Oh and Anya and that guy she’s with can have the wine.
Father: Ok. The cheeseboard can be for Sal and her husband. What was his name again?
Young adult 1: No idea.
Father: Well anyway. Cheeseboard for them. The Aldi chocolates can go to Zaid and Jonah and the last of the booze to Al. Oh and this one’s for you. Try not to look while you’re wrapping it.
Young adult 1: I’ll practise my surprise face.
Father: You do that… I think that’s everyone. God. I haven’t done this in so long. It was just always Emily’s thing.
Young adult 1: Yeah. She loved christmas.
Father: Shit! I can’t forget. There are some gifts in the back that Emily had already bought before she got too sick to… well, you know, before everything just stopped. Shoes for Annie, a coat for Jen, and some toys and things for the kids. I think it’ll mean a lot to them. Like a last gift from her.
Page 2
Young adult 1: I think it will as well.
Father: You are coming today?
Young adult 1: Dad, I’m here to help. So if you want me there then I’ll be there.
Father: Well. Good.
Scene: Both exit and get into a ute and drive through city streets. A church in the background. They drive with the windows done, the younger of the two hangs an arm out the window. The father drives, wearing sunglasses.
Father: I don’t want to stick around there too long.
Young Adult 1: Works for me. In and out.
Father: We’ll swing by and get your brother on the way. I want to get back mid-afternoon to avoid peak hour. Are you coming back with me or seeing your mother after this?
Young Adult 1: I’d like to see her. I said I would.
Father: Does Dorothy still make Brandy Alexanders for christmas lunch?
Young Adult 1: Ha! Yeah, she does. Since Grandma and Grandpa died, Mum does christmas at a friend’s place out in the suburbs. She’s already up there. Anyway, apparently it’s pretty hard to get to, but I can get a lift with Ann if I’m at her place by 11. She’s all intense about Christmas Day traffic, so she won’t wait past 11:15.
Father: Well, I’m not giving you a ride.
Young Adult 1: I didn’t ask for one!
Father: I hate to break it to you, Sweet Chops, but your going to have a hard time getting to the other side of the city by 11 a.m.
Page 3
Young Adult 1: Yes, Dad. Thank you. I’m aware of that.
Father: Just saying!
Young Adult 1: I’ll just have to try and get there on time. The one hour drive turns into three on the bus if I miss her.
Father: An hour in the car with your aunt. That’ll be fun.
Young Adult 1: Ha!
Father: Yeeeah.
Young Adult 1: Mum said Ann really wants to get to know me while I’m in town. That she’s been having a rough Covid. Things haven’t been going so well with Andrew.
Father: They’ve been married a long time.
Young Adult 1: Maybe not for much longer.
Father: That’s too bad. I always liked him.
Young Adult 1: Me too… and obviously, I care about Ann. But I’m not here for very long and I’m really just here to hang out with you. Part of me feels like she’s had 30 years to show an interest in knowing me.
Father: Exactly.
Young Adult 1: The last time I spent any time with her was when Mum was getting surgery, Grandpa had just died and I had flown over to help. We were trying to clean Grandma and Grandpa’s house out. It was all pretty grim.
Father: Do they still have those brown shag carpets through the house.
Young Adult 1: They did, yeah–
Scene: While speaking, they rest their arm out the window, their hand riding the air rushing by the car.
Young Adult 1: We were cleaning out 60 years worth of stuff. It was just such a huge job. So anyway, Ann wouldn’t let us touch anything. I have this memory seared into me of her and Mum yelling and crying about it while standing at opposite ends of the kitchen. When things finally calmed down, Ann referred to us as “a family of very emotional women”. I just remember feeling in that moment like I was the only adult there.
Page 4
Young Adult 1: I was thinking, OK great. If I needed it before, this is confirming the reasons I decided to move away.
Father: Well, it certainly sounds like she hasn’t changed at all.
Young Adult 1: Haha, Dad, you bitch!
Father: What!?
Scene: They pull up at the station, a figure is sitting on a bench out front.
Father: Alright, there’s Dan… Look. I wanted to say, I’m glad you’re here. It’s been– things have been hard with the family. Certain people in the family. I really didn’t think I was going to go today.
Young Adult 1: I’m not surprised you didn’t want to go, considering how they treated you after Ann. I’m actually pretty pissed off about it.
Father: Don’t mention anything when we get there! That’s the last thing I wand to deal with.
Young Adult 1: Dad, obviously I won’t say anything. I just feel defensive of you.
Father: It isn’t fair to your brother that I keep holding on to all that anger. He’s already lost his mum. He has been through enough. Just know that I’m never going to let you kids go through any of that with me.
Young Adult 1: Any of what?
Father: Well, I still have all of Ann’s pain meds. If I get sick, I’ll get it over quickly.
Dan [from outside the car]: Merry Christmas!
Young Adult 1: Wait. What?!
Page 5
Scene: Dan (young adult) gets into the ute. He had headphones loose around his neck and slumps in back seat.
Father: How are you doing there sweetie?
Young Adult 1: Hey Dan.
Father: OK kiddies, buckle up. We need to get going. It starts at 11. Dan, I’m only staying for an hour, so if you want a ride home you have to leave with me.
Dan: Yeah Dad, that’s fine. I need to finish some work later and–
Father: SHIT. Fuck, we need gas. I don’t have time for this.
Scene: Father puts his hands over his face. He pumps gas while the kids stay in car.
Young Adult 1: He’s really not OK, huh. He’s practically vibrating with stress.
Dan: No, he’s not okay. He’s still in that house just reliving it all every day.
Young Adult 1: And how about you, how are you?
Dan: Oh you know, up and down. I got hired at that intense place right after everything with Mum. Honestly that’s really helped keep me distracted.
Young Adult 1: Yeah.
Dan: It’s weird. I’m fine but then it all just hits me out of the blue. How are you?
Father [getting back into ute]: So my bloody card wasn’t working. I had to transfer cash from another account and pay inside. Now we’re really going to be late!
Page 6
Scene: Driving into a less dense area. Passing powerlines, billboards, a macdonald’s and trees. A tree’s branches fork on either side of the powerlines.
Father: I don’t know why anyone would choose to live out here. It’s just depressing.
Young Adult 1: I dunno Dad, I guess it’s cheaper. And look at those trees, it looks like they’re doing handstands! That’s pretty cool.
Dan: Oh true, I see it.
Father: They’re pruned like that so the branches don’t interfere with power lines.
Young Adult 1: Oh right. That makes sense.
Scene: The ute pulls up in front of a house. Another car is there, bins, a ladder, a motorbike, and trees in the background. The kids get out of the ute.
Young Adult 1: I knew it! We’re basically the first people here.
Dan: Are you ok, Dad?
Father [sitting in ute still, with hands on the wheel]: I’m fine, sweetie. You and your sister go ahead. I just need a few minutes.
Dan: We’ll sit with you until you’re ready.
