ONE OUT OF A MILLION

GEORGES
FOR START
TAKE A LOOK.
MY GIRL'S ONE OUT OF A MILLION.
SCRATCH THAT, A BAZILLION!
TALK ABOUT YOUR DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH.

(This time, GEORGES gives OPHÉLIE an affectionate squeeze.)

OPHÉLIE
Ick! Let go!

GEORGES
WILD AT HEART.
AN OPEN BOOK.
MULTI-LAYERED LIKE AN ONION.
ONE SMART APPLE, THIS ONE;
THOUGH NOT SO GOOD AT MEMORIZING STUFF.

SHE NEEDS A SCHOOL
THAT CAN KEEP UP.
SHE SPEAKS UP
WHEN SHE SEES
INJUSTICE AT PLAY.
SHE PLAYS BY RULES
ALL HER OWN.
SHE'S NO DRONE.
AND SHE'LL OWN
THOSE WHO GET IN HER WAY.

DREAM, PLAN, DO.
THE GIRL CAN DO.
SHE'S HAD IT HARD, BUT PAIN IS FUEL.
CHILDREN CAN BE CRUEL.
THAT WHICH MAKES US TEARFUL MAKES US TOUGH.
WHEN IT COMES TO MY OPHÉLIE
I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH.

(Music vamps under the following.)

GEORGES
Well, what do you say, eh? You think your teachers’ll be able to handle her?

CATHERINE
That remains to be seen. I take it this is not the first time Ophélie has changed schools.

GEORGES
Christ, no!

WE'VE BEEN
SCOUTING ABOUT,
BUT IT'S TOUGH TO FIND A SCHOOL
THAT SUITS MY LITTLE JEWEL.
SAME OLD STORY EVERYWHERE WE GO:

THEY TAKE HER IN,
THEY KICK HER OUT
ONCE THEY REALIZE HER TALENTS.
THIS ONE NEEDS A CHALLENGE.
HER GENIUS DISRUPTS THE STATUS QUO.
AT FIRST THINGS SEEM FINE
THEY ACT MINDFUL
AND KIND
JUST AS LONG AS SHE'S DEMURE, NAIVE.
BUT THEY TURN ON A DIME
RIGHT WHEN SHE FINDS HER VOICE,
AND WE HAVE NO CHOICE
BUT TO LEAVE!

SO HERE WE ARE.
AND I'VE NO DOUBT
THAT FATE HAS SMILED UPON HER.
OF COURSE, IF YOU DON'T WANT HER...

(Music vamps under the following.)

CATHERINE
Well, I didn’t say we don’t want her, Monsieur Crier. But tell me, what kind of specialist does Ophélie see?

GEORGES
Specialist? Hey, she’s got problems, sure, but what kid doesn’t?

MONSIEUR FIENNES
(with a significant look to CATHERINE)
I don’t think we need to inquire any further. Of course Ophélie is welcome at Summerhaven, Monsieur Crier.

GEORGES
(ecstatic)
Fantastic!
HEY, MY PET,
DID YOU HEAR?
WE'RE FINALLY ON A ROLL.

OPHÉLIE
I'M NOT GOING TO THIS SHIT HOLE.
FUCK THIS, DADDY, COME ON, TAKE ME HOME.

GEORGES
(forced laughter)
HER SENSE
OF HUMOR
IS QUIRKY! SHE'S PERKY.

OPHÉLIE
You irk me!

GEORGES
(taking her by the arm, gritted teeth)
I'M SURE YOU UNDERSTAND.
SHE MEANS NO OFFENSE.
IF YOU KNEW HER
YOU'D SEE.
SHE’S FEISTY,
BUT GENTLE AS A LAMB.

OPHÉLIE
Bleah!

GEORGES
THAT'S MY PEARL.

(GEORGES presses OPHÉLIE'S shoulder as she tries to protest.)

PAPA'S GIRL.
(to the others)
SHE GETS ORNERY WHEN SHE'S NERVOUS.
AS FOR ME, I'M AT YOUR SERVICE.
YOU WON'T REGRET THIS. LOOK AT HER,

(He gestures toward OPHÉLIE, who has her arms crossed, scowling.)

SHE'S CHUFFED.
WHEN IT COMES TO MY OPHÉLIE,
MY ONLY CHILD, MY OPHÉLIE,
MY PRECIOUS LITTLE...

ONE OUT OF A MILLION

reclinerland hq

Powered by Squarespace