A grand Christmas ball. The room is bustling with people, dressed in fantastic gowns and suits with drinks in hand. ANDIE is stood with the choir, in her red dress, singing a solo.
Andie: Long lay the world in sin and ever pining til he appeared and the soul felt its worth.
THE CHOIR continue to sing with her.
Choir: A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices. For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn. fall on your knees, o hear the angles voices. Oh night divine, o night when Christ was born. A night divine, o night, o night divine.
Everybody claps. MRS LYNDE is most pleased. The choir dissipates. ANDIE is immediately caught by MRS LYNDE.
Mrs Lynde: Well done, fabulous. Fabulous.
ANDIE is flushed. She goes immediately to GILBERT and holds his arm, embarrassed.
Gilbert: That was fantastic, you were fantastic.
MAGGIE-MAY is crossing the space to approach them. MAGGIE-MAY says nice things but she isn't being particularly nice.
Maggie-May: That was...beautiful, Andraya. Well done, you.
Andie: Thank you. I thought you sang very well also.
Maggie-May: Oh, you could hardly hear me, I sang so quietly I'm sure.
MAGGIE-MAY does a sweep of the room with her eyes. She finds the person she is looking for in the corner, watching them: ELIJAH. ELIJAH averts his eyes when MAGGIE-MAY looks so as not to make eye-contact. MAGGIE-MAY turns back to ANDIE.
Did I tell you how wonderful you look in your dress?
Andie: Yes, Maggie-May. Three times. And three times I have thanked you. You also look wonderful.
Maggie-May: I wore this last year.
MAGGIE-MAY looks again at ELIJAH, now examining the wall, and sighs.
Well, I interrupted. I shall see you later in the evening.
MAGGIE-MAY leaves and ANDIE turns back to GILBERT, widening her eyes. She speaks quietly.
Andie: Fuckin hell.
Gilbert: She's harmless.
Andie: She thinks I'm trying to steal her man. Like, no thank you, I've not 99 problems and a guy ain't one.
Gilbert: What?
Andie: It's a song from...from the future. A rap song. Do you guys have rap?
GILBERT shakes his head. ANDIE has a lot of nervous energy. He puts two hands on her shoulders, she looks at him and takes a deep breath.
Thanks.
He hands her a glass of punch and she takes a sip.
Gilbert: Did you used to sing, before?
ANDIE shrugs.
Andie: Honestly...when I was little...I used to sing and dance all the time. Then I just...stopped.
Gilbert: What happened?
Andie: My - uh - my father died. I've never really thought about it like that but - it makes sense on the timeline.
Gilbert: You never told me about your father. I mean, you never talk about him. I just assumed you weren't close.
Andie: Well. We were.
YOU ARE READING
Anne with an E: Andie with an IE
FanfictionAndie: First option, I am in a coma and this is my coma-dream. Second option, I am already dead and purgatory is based in 19th Century Canada. I mean...that would make sense. Everyone here is god-fearing. But also you've got a heavy-duty patriarchy...
