Captivity and Careless Words

INT. STUDY ROOM- DAY


SYDNEY'S DAD hunches over his desk, reading 'Tess of The D'Urbervilles'. The curtains are drawn. SYDNEY enters. Sydney's dad adjusts his spectacles.


SYDNEY'S DAD
(gently)
Oh hello, dear. Did Helen send you up?

SYDNEY
(flatly)
Yeah.


Sydney's dad opens a drawer and tucks away his novel.


SYDNEY'S DAD
What shall I teach you today then?

SYDNEY
Can you tell me about the Nazis again?

SYDNEY'S DAD
Oh, I don't think I should... Helen didn't like that.

SYDNEY
(smirks)
Why not? Her and Hitler have common ground.

SYDNEY'S DAD
(scowls)
Sydney! Don't say that about your step-mother.


A pause. Sydney's dad sighs as his daughter bows her head.


SYDNEY'S DAD (CONT'D)
Look, sit down. Let's recap on your maths.

SYDNEY
(huffs)
I hate Maths.


Sydney's dad puts a jotter pad and Maths GCSE text book in front of Sydney. Suddenly, HELEN enters.


HELEN
The curtains are open in Sydney's room!

SYDNEY'S DAD
(tinged with anxiety)
I thought they're pinned to the walls?

HELEN
They are. Someone must've pulled them out...


Sydney's dad takes a step back as Helen moves around the desk. She plants her hands on the surface and lowers to Sydney's level.


HELEN (CONT'D)
(angrily)
What do you think you're playing at!

SYDNEY
(meekly)
It was dark in my room.

HELEN
(hisses)
You know you don't open the curtains, it's for your own good. Do you want to witness the evil of the world?

SYDNEY'S DAD
Alright, Helen I think you've-

HELEN
(interjects scornfully)
Shut up!


Helen forces Sydney's chin to raise, glaring into her eyes.


SYDNEY
(with summoned defiance)
Outside is more interesting than in here!


Helen slaps Sydney's cheek. Sydney's dad flinches and his daughter's jaw drops, holding her face with squeezed eyes.
Helen goes to a bookcase and grabs a bible. She pulls Sydney's head upright and thrusts the book in front of her. Helen flicks through some pages, then stabs her finger on a line.


HELEN
(viciously)
Read what that says.

SYDNEY
(quietly)
"I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak."

HELEN
Exactly.


Helen snaps the book shut in Sydney's face. She pushes the Bible into Sydney's dad's hands, then grabs Sydney by the hair and drags her out of the study.