Red Riding Hood

Scene 13

(Scene fades to later in the day. Rachel is seen still picking flowers in the forest without a care)

Rachel: There, I think that's enough. Now I should really... (looks around and notices that it's well into the afternoon. She gasps) Oh no! Look how late it is! I gotta get to Granny's house NOW! (stands up, grabs her basket and flowers and runs back onto the path)

(Scene cuts Rachel running across the bridge later and she practically jumps over the metal gate. But as she gets closer to Granny's house, she stops and notices that the windows are dark and the front door is standing open)

Rachel: (sees the open door and silently gasps, then shivers) Something's not right. Is someone else here...? (shakes her head, walks to the house, and knocks on the door four times, but there's no answer. She knocks again and the door opens a bit wider before she pokes her head in through the open door and looks into the house. The curtains are drawn and there are hardly any lights on) Hello? Granny? Are you home? (cautiously walks into the house and looks around) It's me, Rachel. Is everything okay? (grabs a nearby vase, walks into the kitchen, fills it with water, and adds the flowers she picked. She then hears a bed creaking and turns her head towards the bedroom door. She turns the water off and sees the bedroom door opened a tiny crack) First the front door, now this? (slowly walks towards the bedroom door and stops right in front of it) Granny?

Mason (in Granny Lucy's voice): Come in, my deary.

(Rachel slowly opens the door and carefully walks into the bedroom to see her Granny. But instead of Granny, Mason is seen lying in bed wearing Granny's nightgown, nightcap, and glasses with his body completely covered by the quilt. The curtains are all closed and there aren't any lights on, so Rachel could hardly see)

Rachel: (looks at the bed, sees the dark figure lying in bed, and softly sighs in relief, thinking it's her Granny) There you are. How are you feeling, Granny?

Mason (in Granny Lucy's voice): Simply awful, I'm afraid. (coughs)

Rachel: You sound awful, too. Poor thing.

Mason (in Granny Lucy's voice): Yes, I know.

Rachel: But you don't need to worry. I brought you some food, juice, and flowers. Oh, I almost forgot. I'd better go put this vase down so I don't drop it.

Mason (in Granny Lucy's voice): What? Oh, no, no. Never mind about that, dear.

Rachel: I'll only be a minute. (feels around the area until she finds the dresser) Aha! (gently sets the vase down on the dresser. She sniffs the flowers) There, see?

(Mason growls at her in annoyance, which causes Rachel to shoot up straight)

Rachel: What was that? Did you just... growl at me? (turns her head to face the bed)

Mason (in Granny Lucy's voice): What? Oh, no! No, of course not. Don't be silly. (grabs a nearby shawl and wraps it around his shoulders)

Rachel: Then what was that noise?

Mason (in Granny Lucy's voice): Noise? Oh, that was... my stomach! Yes, yes. It's my tummy, I'm just really hungry. (rubs his stomach)

Rachel: You're hungry? Oh. Why didn't you say so? (walks over to the bed with her basket, sets the basket on the nightstand, and opens the basket) I brought you some chicken noodle soup. I hope it's still hot. (starts digging through the basket) I know how much you like Aunt Bree's cooking.

Mason (in Granny Lucy's voice): Chicken noodle soup? Oooh, goody!

Rachel: And... ah, there it is. (takes out the insolated bowl of soup, takes the top off, and takes a sniff) Mmm, still warm. Here you go. (sets the bowl in Mason's lap)