Jack

SCENE 22

22. EXT JACK'S GARDEN, THE AVENUE DAY 07:00 DAY 4

JACK HAS BEEN SLEEPING FOR THE PAST EIGHT HOURS. HE FINALLY WAKES UP TO THE NOISE OF A WHISTLE. JACK STRUGGLES TO WAKE UP BUT OPENS HIS EYES ONLY TO FIND THAT HE IS STILL THREE INCHES TALL AND LYING IN A BED OF MUD.

JACK:

Oh, I was hoping this was all a very bad dream.

BERTY IS LOOKING DOWN AT JACK.

BERTY:

Fraid not kid, I thought the very same thing when I woke up and saw you cuddling my tail.

JACK:

Oh sorry about that Mr Slug, I thought that felt rather strange.

BERTY:

As long as you weren't trying to eat me. Plus I kicked you off. You must have really been tired because you didn't wake up.

JACK:

Yeah I was pretty tired.

BERTY:

Well I have to get ready for work, lady will be here to pick you up.

JACK QUICKLY JUMPS UP OUT OF THE MUD BED AND WALKS OVER TO BERTY, WHO IS NOW SLIDING OFF TO ANOTHER SECTION OF THE ROOM.

JACK:

(Surprised)

Wait a minute, you work?

BERTY:

Yes I work, why don't you? You don't think all this came free. Ha if only!

JACK:

No I don't work, not yet anyway, but my dad does.

BERTY:

You got it easy kid, at the age of two I was working with my dad night and day.

JACK:

Wow, at two I could barely talk, and I could just about walk.

BERTY:

(Chuckles)

And they say you're the smart ones. You sure do know how to make me laugh kid, I give you that.

JACK:

So what will I be doing, can you get me back home to my family?

BERTY:

Kid that is going to take us some time to figure out. For now just get used to the place, don't touch anything and don't eat anything either, except what Lady brings you. Otherwise you will get very sick and I don't think the doctors we have here will be able to operate on you.

JACK:

So what will I be doing?

BERTY:

You'll be with lady, she will keep you occupied. She'll be doing her rounds. You can keep safe with her.

JACK:

But I want to stay with you, you can take me to work. I'll be good honest!

BERTY:

I don't think that's such a good idea. The insects are not really welcoming down here to people they don't know or haven't been introduced to yet. It's going to take a while. It's best you stay with Lady for now, she likes you, though I can't see why. She'll bring you back later and that's when I will introduce you properly to the community. We have a meeting twice a week.