Chapter Text
SCENE 1 – Number 13
Kevin is vacuuming the floor. There is a knock at the door. Kevin opens the door and Debbie walks in.
DEBBIE
Kevin Webster, cleaning the house? Who are you and what have you done with my brother!
KEVIN
Oh ha-ha. Sophie arrives this afternoon, I want it to be nice for her but Jack’s been trapsing through the house with his football boots on.
DEBBIE
Ooh I forgot that was today. Is she bringing that girlfriend of hers?
KEVIN
Skye? She’s arriving tomorrow. Spending a few days with her family first.
DEBBIE
I thought they were moving in together? So why the perfect domesticated man routine?
KEVIN
They are but next week. Sophie has to survive in this man cave Jack and I have built for 7 days.
DEBBIE
Lucky Sophie…
A taxi pulls up outside. Kevin smiles excitedly and they both walk toward the door. Outside Sophie is getting out of the car.
KEVIN
Sophie!
SOPHIE
Dad!
They hug.
SOPHIE
Aunty Debbie!
DEBBIE
Hiya love.
Sophie goes to lift her bags.
KEVIN
Here let me get them.
SOPHIE
Dad It’s fine.
Kevin grabs Sophie’s bags despite Sophie’s protests and they go inside.
SCENE 2 – Number 4
Sally, Tim and Sophie are sitting eating dinner together. Sophie is mid story.
SOPHIE
And despite the fact you’re sat between the humps, if you lose your balance you can in fact fall off! As I proved at least 3 times.
SALLY
Can’t you just cling on to the hump?
SOPHIE
(rolling her eyes)
No cause they’re all rounded mum. And let me tell you they don’t stop for you once you’re off. You have to run through the sand to catch up with them!
SALLY
Did Kate fall off?
SOPHIE
Oh no she’d left to visit Japan by then, it was just the two of us.
TIM
Well did Skye?
SOPHIE
No, of course she was a natural. She could somehow stay on and film me flailing at the same time.
Sally ignores this and lifts her shoulders up proudly..
SALLY
My daughter, bravely riding out on a camel across the desert!
TIM
More like being dragged along by the sounds of it…
SCENE 3 - Bistro
Kate is seated at the bar speaking to Steph who is working.
STEPH
So I hear Sophie’s new girlfriend is coming around here tomorrow.
KATE
I wouldn’t exactly call her new – they’ve been dating for a year.
STEPH
Yeah well, ‘new’ for us stragglers you all left behind. This street could use some fresh faces, some extra sources of gossip. Drama’s been a bit thin on the ground around here lately.
KATE
(muttering under her breath)
Yeah well, you’ll certainly get drama with Skye around…
STEPH
What was that?
KATE
Oh Nothing.
STEPH
(leaning across the bar with interest)
So… What’s she like then?
Kate smiles a quick avoidant smile.
KATE
Yeah, she’s great. Sophie’s mad about her. She’s mad about Sophie.
STEPH
(cocking an eyebrow)
Are you going to give me any actual juicy details? I could have guessed that the two people in a relationship like one another.
KATE
Look I don’t really know that much about her really. After they met, they spent a lot of time getting to know each other. I didn’t see much of Sophie either once Skye was on the scene.
STEPH
Well,
(raising her hands to show her palms)
If I was in your shoes that would proper piss me off. Weren’t the two of you supposed to be travelling together?
(she pauses)
Mind you, doesn’t sound like Sophie to abandon a mate. She’s usually old reliable.
KATE
(defensively)
Yeah, and she still is. Sometimes love just makes you... I don’t know, act a bit different. Besides it’s not like I never saw her.
STEPH
So how come you came back early?
KATE
I came back for the wedding.
STEPH
The weddings not for a month and you came back 2 months ago…
KATE
(avoiding Steph’s eye)
Yeah well Carla wanted me to help her plan. Apparently having two unsuccessful lesbian weddings makes you more qualified than having five successful straight ones.
Kate pulls her bag off the back of her seat and moves to stand up.
KATE
Anyway, I’ve got to go, I promised Carla I’d join them for dinner.
Kate quickly walks to the door, ignoring the fact that Steph is still speaking.
STEPH
(shouting after her)
Wait a minute, I can tell there’s something you’re not telling me!
Toyah, also on shift, comes over to Steph’s side of the bar.
TOYAH
Is she alright? Left in a bit of a hurry.
STEPH
(still looking at the door where Kate left)
I don’t think so. Something suspicious is happening there. She didn’t even finish her drink…