Scene 5a – Part of Lucy’s backstory
It had been Richard’s idea to hire a Winnebago and take a trip into the Outback. Why would he want to put them all in danger like that, the snakes, spiders, dingoes, isolation and relentless heat? Rachel thought, but she’d seen the excitement of the adventure on Lucy’s face and had to agree, against her better judgement. She didn’t want to be the one who deprived her daughter of this experience and hated for it. That didn’t mean that she wasn’t worried, fussing about everything and preparing for the trip like it was a military operation. She let as many people as she could think of know their itinerary, stacked the van with enough food and water to keep an army alive for a month, far more than was needed for the week they planned, not to mention the mini hospital first aid kit and the litres of sunscreen.
The first day, as they left the city, she couldn’t keep her fears to herself and even mild-mannered, calm Richard lost it.
“For fuck’s sake Rachel, we’ve got enough fuel to take us way beyond our next stop, as well as a can in the boot for emergencies. This is the eighth time you’ve asked me in the last hour. Stop fussing and enjoy the drive.”
She sulked a little after that. She was only being cautious, prepared, like the guidebook said you should be. There was no need for him to go off at her like that and Lucy’s raised teenage eyebrows and sullen silence were unnecessary too. The urban sprawl gradually faded into miles and miles of dusty red earth, punctuated with small, gnarled bushes. From time to time a kangaroo hopped nonchalantly by, looking for food at the edge of the road, the occasional rotting carcass, a sign that some had ventured too close.
Scene 5b – Part of Lucy’s backstory
“Leave me alone. I can’t do anything without you poking your nose in. I hate it here,” Lucy shouted at her mother before storming out of the kitchen.
Agnes turned to her daughter.
“I’ll go and talk to her in a bit when she’s had chance to simmer down,” she said, watching Rachel brush away the tears from her cheek. “Now then, I’ll make us a nice cuppa and we can have a slice of that fruit cake I bought,” she said smiling, gently patting her daughter’s hand, as she made her way to the kettle.
“I don’t know what I’ve done wrong,” Rachel said sniffing, “She seems to hate me.”
“Nonsense, she’s young, that’s all,” Agnes replied, “it’s just hormones.”
Lucy hears a sharp knock on her bedroom door and without waiting for a reply, her grandmother comes in. Lucy loves her grandmother, she’s firm but fair, always knowing when to giver some rope and when to reel it back in, unlike her mother who always keeps her on a tight lead. She can see that Agnes is cross with her by the stern look in her normally, sparkling with fun, grey-blue eyes and the set of her jaw.
“What was that all about?” Agnes asks directly and to the point, “you’ve hurt your mother.”
“She deserved it,” Lucy replies coldly, “she’s always on my case, always there, smothering me. I can’t stand it.”
“She loves you, that’s all,” Agnes says softly, “you were so fragile when you were born, she thought she could lose you at any moment. You are the most precious thing in her life, and this is how you treat her. You need to stop being a spoilt bloody brat, young lady.”
Lucy looks at her grandmother, shocked, she’s never heard her swear before and she knows that she’s crossed a line, will need to eat some serious humble pie to get her ally back on side again.
Scene 5c – Part of Lucy’s backstory
Lucy stands close to the bar, chatting with some of the team, a white wine spritzer cradled in her hands. Important to be understated, look cool, demure she says to herself. Mustn’t drink too much, drunkenness means lack of control. Around her, the other members of the team are letting their hair down, dancing, laughing, letting go. Lucy envies them, but that’s not her, or is it? Shania Twain’s “Feel like a woman” fills the air. I love this song, the voice in her head says loudly, I’ve gotta dance, come on Luce. Lucy is drawn to the dancefloor.
“Let’s dance,” she says to Josie and Jess beside her.
Josie looks at her puzzled.
“Are you sure? You don’t normally.”
“We’ve just won the Championship, I’m celebrating. And, I love this song,” she replies, enthusiastically moving to the centre of the dancefloor, letting herself go, her body moving freely to the music. Way to go Luc, the voice says, that’s more like it. Around her, her friends watch, wondering what has happened to make her act with abandon, let down her guard. When the song finishes, she makes her way to the bar, pure joy on her face.
“Tequila slammers for everyone,” she orders for her stunned friends.
That’s more like the voice says, laughing.
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