If Only We Had Noticed

Act One, Scene Seven

SETTING: In the hallway of an apartment, where many doors are standing in a line.

AT RISE: CASSIA and HAZEL stand outside one of the doors, and HAZEL knocks on the door. The door opens, and JUNIPER ANDERSON rushes forward to hug the girls.

CASSIA: I know it's hard Mrs. Anderson, but could you let us in? We want to talk about Willow.

MRS. ANDERSON: (hesitates) Sure, come in.

SETTING: A messy living room. There are two couches placed across from each other.

(MRS. ANDERSON leads CASSIA and HAZEL to the couches. CASSIA and HAZEL sit on one couch, and MRS. ANDERSON takes a seat on the other.)

MRS. ANDERSON: So, what is it you want to ask me?

HAZEL: Well... (pause) One day we saw her arm and she had bruises and cuts. We were wondering if you know how she got them.

MRS. ANDERSON: It... (in a hushed voice) It's my husband. He...

(CASSIA gasps, loudly.)

CASSIA: He hit her?!

MRS. ANDERSON: Shhhhh! Please keep it down, he's home.

HAZEL: Did you ever report this to Child Protection Services?

MRS. ANDERSON: I-- I was too afraid. My husband isn't... (pause) ...the nicest man.

(MRS. ANDERSON picks up a photograph of WILLOW.)

So many things I should have done... My baby...

HAZEL: Your daughter's life was on the line and you were afraid to save her?!

MRS. ANDERSON: Nobody can hate me more than I hate myself... I regret so many things...

CASSIA: (angrily) Where is her father?

MRS. ANDERSON: Please, don't bring him into this...

CASSIA: HE ALREADY IS!

(SILAS ANDERSON storms out of his room.)

MR. ANDERSON: What's going on out here!?

MRS. ANDERSON: Ohh... n-nothing, honey!

HAZEL: Yes! Yes, there is something going on out here! You two call yourselves parents?! Willow is dead and you're not apologizing for what you have done? She felt the need to kill herself because she didn't think you loved her!

(MRS. ANDERSON weeps into her hands.)

MR. ANDERSON: (coldly) We did everything we could. Don't tell me I wasn't a good father to her!

HAZEL: You were not a good father; you abused her!

MR. ANDERSON: I did what a father should have done to discipline her! That's it, I'm done talking to you, now please leave.

(MR. ANDERSON begins to walk back to his room, but CASSIA's voice stops him.)

CASSIA: Did you love her?

MR. ANDERSON: Excuse me?

CASSIA: Did. You. Love. Her?

MR. ANDERSON: (carelessly) Of course I loved her.

(MR. ANDERSON walks off, and MRS. ANDERSON continues to sob.)

HAZEL: (to MRS. ANDERSON) Do you mind if we look around in her room? We're trying to figure out what happened.

MRS. ANDERSON: (sniffling) Yes. Yes, of course. And thank you, girls... for being such great friends to Willow.

(HAZEL and CASSIA nod, and walk down the hall to WILLOW's room.)

(END OF SCENE)