It is morning in DANDELION'S room. She is asleep once again. There is a knock on the door. It is DANDELION'S FATHER, 40, who is desperately in love with her.
FATHER
Dandelion?
(knocks again)
Dandelion!
DANDELION
(she stirs from her bed, sitting up)
Yeah?
FATHER
It's Sunday morning!
DANDELION
(with a sudden burst of energy)
Yes!
(she rises and goes to the door, he opens and enters with a bag, puts it down to embrace his daughter)
DANDELION
Look, daddy!
(she leads him to the wall above her bed, there are six tally marks on the wall but the seventh is an X)
I've been keeping track of when Sunday is.
FATHER
(looking at the wall)
Are those tally marks? How did you make them?
DANDELION
I used that old ring you gave me to scratch them in.
(over his shoulder, pointing)
Look....one, two, three, four, five, six and Sunday! So I can always keep track of our special day.
FATHER
(pleased)
That's good, little flower.
DANDELION
(she's beaming in her father's praise)
I did good.
(turning)
And look!
FATHER
(he is following her hand)
What is it, flower?
DANDELION
I finished my book!
(waving the book in his face)
The book you gave me last Sunday.
FATHER
(looking at the book)
Wow. Look at you. You get faster every week.
(turning the book in his hands)
Did you like it?
DANDELION
I loved it! The lion was my favorite. Do you know why?
FATHER
Why, little flower?
DANDELION
Because it sounds like my name. Dande-LION!
FATHER
You're so smart.
(kisses her cheek)
Did I ever tell you the story of your name?
DANDELION
(groaning)
Oh please not again.
FATHER
Eighteen years ago!
(he takes on a dramatic voice)
When I was looking for the loveliest flower to pick!
DANDELION
(half-hearted plea)
Daddy! Stop!
FATHER
A flower, unlike any other in the land.
DANDELION
(hiding her face on her hands)
Goodness gracious.
FATHER
(he prances around the room for dramatic effect)
I searched high and low!
(he goes high and low)
DANDELION
(through laughter)
Please stop.
FATHER
But I couldn't find a flower pretty enough to match my needs.
DANDELION
(giggling)
Your needs?
FATHER
Yes! My needs.
(standing on the bed for emphasis)
Yes you see, I needed the prettiest flower I could find so I could be proud of my flower and I could show it off to the whole world!
DANDELION
(stopping)
What?
FATHER
I cried and cried for many nights, wondering where my flower could be.
DANDELION
(monotone)
I'm here.
FATHER
(pausing)
Yes, but not in the story, love.
(patting her head)
But just as soon as I thought all hope was lost, I found you!
(getting off the bed and showering her in affection)
DANDELION
(ignoring his love)
The prettiest flower?
FATHER
The prettiest flower!
(looking into her eyes)
A beautiful, perfect, little Dandelion.
DANDELION
(pushing him away, numb)
You changed the story.
FATHER
How's that?
DANDELION
(pouting, going to her bed)
You changed the story.
FATHER
I did?
DANDELION
You did.
(crossing her arms)
FATHER
(concerned, his flower is upset and he must fix it)
What did I say, love?
DANDELION
You said you chose me so you could show me off to the world.
(FATHER isn't catching on)
You don't do that. You keep me in here.
FATHER
(realizing what he'd done, careful in choosing his next words)
Flower, y-you...
(trying to laugh it off)
You're too smart for me sometimes.
DANDELION
(unamused)
Mhm.
FATHER
(trying to cover it up)
I only meant that-
DANDELION
(standing up)
You said you were going to show me off to the world.
(disappointed)
You don't do that.
FATHER
Flower, it's an expression.
(going to her)
I don't want to share you with the world.
(sitting her down again, caressing her face)
I'm selfish in that. I have the most precious thing anyone could ever dream of having.
DANDELION
(she blushes, she is easy to please)
But-
FATHER
But I made a mistake. I want you here.
(almost serious)
You must be here.
DANDELION
(turning it over in her head)
I don't really want to go outside. But I would at least like to see it....
(this displeases him)
.....just once.
(she and him are both relaxed now)
You say it's really bad and ugly out there and-
FATHER
It is, my love.
(falls to his knees, almost begging her to believe his words)
The world is dark and full of meaningless people who want to bring you harm. The outside is not your friend. Strange and evil things take place out there. You, my precious flower, stay here because I don't want you out there. I don't want you exposed to that kind of meaningless and nasty existence. Do you understand?
DANDELION
(afraid of his words, finding comfort in her restriction)
I understand.
FATHER
Good.
(kisses her hands then stands with excitement)
Now look what I've got for you today!
DANDELION
(watches him get the bag, she's flooded with excitement)
What is it?
FATHER
(pulls a box of chocolates out of his bag)
I have sweets for you!
DANDELION
(squeals and runs over to him, looks at the box and embraces him)
I love you, daddy.
FATHER
And I love you, flower.
End of scene
YOU ARE READING
Garden Of Weeds
Short StoryDandelion has never left her room. Her father wants to protect her from the monsters outside. Feather tells her the world is beautiful. Window tells her the world is ugly. Dandelion wants to see for herself.
