Abduction of Innocence

Robert Steves:
[on the phone, at dinner]... I really can't believe this, Al. When I left, the Canadian said all outstanding issues had been resolved. All of a sudden, they get cold feet? [He scoffs; Clare comes in] I know it's a lot of money... [Clare greets him with a kiss]... but it's a good deal for everyone! Yeah - you tell McKenzie to call me at home tonight. Right - any time up till midnight. If I can't do this by phone, I'll have to come back tomorrow. [He rings off and turns to his wife]... I don't know what happened. When I left, everything was done. Now the whole deal's falling apart. I may have to go back to Seattle in the morning. [He turns to their daughter]... Hi, honey. How are you? Anything exciting happen while I was gone?

Helen Steves:
Clare got an "A" in math.

Robert Steves:
That's fantastic! See, didn't I say you could do it?

Clare Steves:
It was a cakewalk, really... I also got offered the role of "Emily" in OUR TOWN. I didn't even audition; the director just came up to me during lunch and...

Robert Steves:
[sighs, cutting her off] I thought we talked about this.

Helen Steves:
[half-joking] Or at least *you* did.

Robert Steves:
[nods, serious] That's what I mean.

Clare Steves:
I just felt so lucky to receive this role. It'd be awkward if I had to...

Robert Steves:
[cutting her off again] I thought we all agreed - no extracurricular activities this semester. S.A.T.s are coming up. *That* should be your focus.

Clare Steves:
Is that what we all agreed on? Or did you agree on it for all of us? Two different things.

Robert Steves:
Not around here, young lady. Not as far as you're concerned.

Clare Steves:
Well, YOU haven't needed to explain that *repeatedly* for my classmates. Heck, most of THEM find time for extracurricular stuff... and even jobs. If they can juggle that kind of load, so can I.

Helen Steves:
[to her husband] Honey, the play only lasts a couple of weeks.

Robert Steves:
I'm sure there'll be rehearsals every night - no. Next semester, we'll see; but right now, your top priority should be making a good college.

Clare Steves:
[deflated] Meaning you think I don't care about that at all, just because it isn't all I *do* care about! [She excuses herself from the table and storms out of the dining room]

Robert Steves:
[his voice dripping sarcasm] Well... I'm glad I rushed home to be with my family. [He excuses himself from the table as well. Helen sighs]

Helen Steves:
[the morning after Robert orders Clare to drop out of the school play; he is now going back to Seattle] I wish you didn't have to leave so soon.

[She kisses him]

Helen Steves:
Have a safe trip.

Robert Steves:
All right. I'll call you later.

[Clare emerges from the house and runs after him]

Clare Steves:
Dad!... I'm sorry about last night.

Robert Steves:
Well, just make sure it never happens again, okay?

Helen Steves:
Bob, you *could* be more gracious.

Robert Steves:
That's what she could've been, too.

Clare Steves:
You're right, as always - I quit the play, told the director exactly what you told me. I lost some face in the process, but... well, that's one lucky understudy.

[Her father nods approvingly]

Clare Steves:
So when are you coming back?

Robert Steves:
Late tonight - Well, more likely tomorrow... or maybe the next day, if not the day after that.

Clare Steves:
[smiles] In other words, you have no idea. That's okay, Dad; I'm used to it.

[They hug]

Clare Steves:
Well, see you whenever I see you.

Robert Steves:
Maybe we can go to a movie this Sunday, or something.

Clare Steves:
[half-joking] Gosh, I don't know; is that gonna cut into my SAT-prepping time?

Robert Steves:
[smiles] That's my girl.

Helen Steves:
[in the kitchen, shortly after Robert has left for Seattle; Helen is working on her laptop computer]... So did you two patch things up?

Clare Steves:
I gave in and did as he said, if that's what you mean.

Helen Steves:
...Clare, how do I reset the paragraphs on this thing?

Clare Steves:
You have to click "format."

Helen Steves:
I knew that.

Clare Steves:
Mom, my friends are throwing me a belated birthday party tonight...

Helen Steves:
Clare!

Clare Steves:
Laura promised, behind my back, that I would come. I can't just not show up, or none of them will ever speak to me again.

Helen Steves:
No, no - you know how I feel about *deceiving* your father like this.

Clare Steves:
It's better than all-out defiance, isn't it? I tried passive resistance and that didn't work, so... Can't you talk to him?

Helen Steves:
Honey, I don't believe that would do any good. You know how he is. I mean, once he makes up his mind about something... [sighs]... Look, I know you think he's too strict, but...

Clare Steves:
You're calling him *strict?* That's like calling the K2 a molehill! All the other kids in my class are being what, and who, they really are... you know, normal teenagers. He makes me feel as if I froze in time at age 10, without even telling me when or where I've gone wrong.

Helen Steves:
And sometimes you *behave* like you're 10 years old.

Clare Steves:
Well, I picked the wrong shoulder to cry on, didn't I? [laughs] He let me have more fun when I *was* 10 than he lets me have now. I'm the only girl at my school who doesn't go to dances or have dates - the Odd Lady Out, as it were.

Helen Steves:
There are more important things than dates and dances. It means a lot to your father that you get into a good college.

Clare Steves:
Other girls my age get into fine colleges. They aren't nearly as wealthy, and they don't live like nuns in the meantime.

Helen Steves:
[laughs] Oh, Clare! It's not that bad!

Clare Steves:
How would you know? Did your parents raise you the same way?

Helen Steves:
[grins and shakes her head]... Touch?, Clare. Go on, have fun at the party.

Clare Steves:
Seriously? Thanks a lot, Mom!

Helen Steves:
Just see to it that you're home by 11 sharp. And pray to High Heaven your father doesn't get back before you do!

Robert Steves:
[on the phone, at dinner]... I really can't believe this, Al. When I left, the Canadian said all outstanding issues had been resolved. All of a sudden, they get cold feet? [He scoffs; Clare comes in] I know it's a lot of money... [Clare greets him with a kiss]... but it's a good deal for everyone! Yeah - you tell McKenzie to call me at home tonight. Right - any time up till midnight. If I can't do this by phone, I'll have to come back tomorrow. [He rings off and turns to his wife]... I don't know what happened. When I left, everything was done. Now the whole deal's falling apart. I may have to go back to Seattle in the morning. [He turns to their daughter]... Hi, honey. How are you? Anything exciting happen while I was gone?

Helen Steves:
Clare got an "A" in math - and in the rest of her major subjects.

Robert Steves:
That's fantastic! See, didn't I say you could do it?

Clare Steves:
I always get an "A" in everything, don't I? That was your rule - anything below 90% might as well be an "F"... I also got offered the role of "Emily" in OUR TOWN. I didn't even audition; the director just came up to me during lunch and...

Robert Steves:
[sighs, cutting her off] I thought we talked about this.

Helen Steves:
[half-joking] Or at least *you* did.

Robert Steves:
[nods, serious] Bingo.

Clare Steves:
I just felt so lucky to receive this role. It'd be awkward if I had to...

Robert Steves:
[cutting her off again] I thought we all agreed - no extracurricular activities this semester. S.A.T.s are coming up. *That* should be your focus.

Clare Steves:
Is that what we all agreed on? Or did you agree on it for all of us? Two different things.

Robert Steves:
Not around here, young lady. Not as far as you're concerned.

Clare Steves:
Well, YOU haven't needed to explain that *repeatedly* for my classmates. Heck, most of THEM find time for extracurricular stuff - and even jobs. If they can juggle that kind of load, so can I.

Helen Steves:
[to her husband] Honey, the play only lasts a couple of weeks.

Robert Steves:
I'm sure there'll be rehearsals every night - no. Next semester, we'll see; but right now, your top priority should be making a good college.

Clare Steves:
[deflated] Meaning you think I don't care about that at all, just because it isn't all I *do* care about! [She excuses herself from the table and storms out of the dining room]

Robert Steves:
[his voice dripping sarcasm] Well... I'm glad I rushed home to be with my family. [He excuses himself from the table as well. Helen sighs]

Robert Steves:
[on the phone, at dinner]... I really can't believe this, Al. When I left, the Canadians said all outstanding issues had been resolved. All of a sudden, they get cold feet? [He scoffs; Clare comes in] I know it's a lot of money... [Clare greets him with a kiss]... but it's a good deal for everyone! Yeah - you tell McKenzie to call me at home tonight. Right - any time up till midnight. If I can't do this by phone, I'll have to come back tomorrow. [He rings off and turns to his wife]... I don't know what happened. When I left, everything was done. Now the whole deal's falling apart. I may have to go back to Seattle in the morning. [He turns to their daughter]... Hi, honey. How are you? Anything exciting happen while I was gone?

Helen Steves:
Clare got an "A" in math - and in the rest of her major subjects.

Robert Steves:
That's fantastic! See, didn't I say you could do it?

Clare Steves:
I always get an "A" in everything, don't I? That was your rule - anything below 90% might as well be an "F"... I also got offered the role of "Emily" in OUR TOWN. I didn't even audition; the director just came up to me during lunch and...

Robert Steves:
[sighs, cutting her off] I thought we talked about this.

Helen Steves:
[half-joking] Or at least *you* did.

Robert Steves:
[nods, serious] Bingo.

Clare Steves:
I just felt so lucky to receive this role. It'd be awkward if I had to...

Robert Steves:
[cutting her off again] I thought we all agreed - no extracurricular activities this semester. S.A.T.s are coming up. *That* should be your focus.

Clare Steves:
Did all of us really agree on that? Or did *you* agree on it for all of us? [He looks at her dangerously]... Same difference, huh? Well, YOU haven't needed to explain that *repeatedly* for everyone at school. Heck, most of THEM find time for extracurricular stuff - and even jobs. If they can juggle that kind of load...

Helen Steves:
[to her husband] Honey, the play only lasts a couple of weeks.

Robert Steves:
I'm sure there'll be rehearsals every night - no. Next semester, we'll see; but right now, your top priority should be making a good college.

Clare Steves:
[deflated] Meaning you think I don't care about that at all, just because it isn't all I *do* care about! [She excuses herself from the table and storms out of the dining room]

Robert Steves:
[his voice dripping sarcasm] Well... I'm glad I rushed home to be with my family. [He excuses himself from the table as well. Helen sighs]