deck

Question 1

Hailey: Everything will be okay. I’m going to go out, and it’s going to be fun. Yes. Fun.

Answer 1

Stella: Where do you think you’re going?

Question 2

Hailey: The city.

Answer 2

Stella: With who?

Question 3

Hailey: My friends. Why do you care?

Answer 3

Stella: I don’t remember you asking me permission.

Question 4

Hailey: I don’t need your permission. I’m nearly an adult.

Answer 4

Stella: Nearly being the key word. Besides, you live in my house, so you abide by my rules.

Question 5

Hailey: Mhm. Those are the rules you’ll be living by in the nursing home.

Answer 5

Stella: Excuse me?

Question 6

Hailey: Nothing

Answer 6

Stella: Is this what you’re wearing?

Question 7

Hailey: Yes, mum.

Answer 7

Stella: You’re going to attract all sorts of attention–

Question 8

Hailey: I’m not asking for any attention, mum.

Answer 8

Stella: Fine, have it your way. Just promise me, you’ll be careful right?

Question 9

Hailey: Yeah, I know.

Answer 9

Stella: You don’t know. You think you do but you don’t.

Question 10

Hailey: Mum leave if you’re just going to attack me.

Answer 10

Stella: I’m not attacking you, Hailey, I’m just trying to get you to listen. People will try to take advantage of you.

Question 11

Hailey: I’m not an idiot, Mum. Stop treating me like one.

Answer 11

Stella: That’s not what I’m saying

Question 12

Hailey: Ow [stands] what the hell is wrong with you?

Answer 12

Stella: What did you do? When that boy pulled your hair?

Question 13

Hailey: (Scoffs) In middle school? Nothing, he liked me. Kids don’t know the difference between good and bad, do they?

Answer 13

Stella: Of course they do. Maybe not always, but boys? They’re taught that the bad is good, that they’re entitled to push boundaries. You’ve heard it a thousand times: ‘boys will be boys.’ It’s bullshit.

Question 14

Hailey: I don’t know why you’re bringing this up now.

Answer 14

Stella: Well, when that happened, what did you do?

Question 15

Hailey: I’ve already told you—there’s nothing to say!

Answer 15

Stella: And this—this is what I’m talking about. You never do anything, Hailey. You just take it. You’re too nice, too scared to speak up. That’s how it starts.

Question 16

Hailey: What did you do? When that man took credit for your work, what did you do?

Answer 16

Stella: [beginning to sit down] I suppose… not much. I mean what could I do? He’s my superior. I can’t disrespect him.

Question 17

Hailey: What are you talking about? He disrespected you! He stole your idea! He is the disrespectful one, not you. What did you do?

Answer 17

Stella: Nothing…you don’t understand the logistics behind my job. I didn’t want to be a bitch, I’ve always been very thankful for my position, I’ve always held respect for Mitch-

Question 18

Hailey: Yeah and who got your promotion?

Answer 18

Stella: That doesn’t matter-

Question 19

Hailey: What, was he promoted on behalf of you? Employee of the year on behalf of you?

Answer 19

Stella: I love my job. I worked hard to get to where I am, and I did it for you. It would be stupid to give it up just because I can’t keep my mouth shut because of some silly interruptions. It’s not a big deal.

Question 20

Hailey: Don’t you find it wears on you? You’re always hammering on about not letting people take advantage of my kindness, and here you are. Awfully ironic isn’t it?

Answer 20

Stella: Stop, you’re being disrespectful.

Question 21

Hailey: Oh so now you know how to tell somebody not to disrespect you?

Answer 21

Stella: It’s different, Hailey.

Question 22

Hailey: Really?

Answer 22

Stella: (Bitterly) Yeah…What did you do? Last week, when that man shouted at you.

Question 23

Hailey: What are you talking about? You’re imagining things.

Answer 23

Stella: No I’m not.

Question 24

Hailey: It didn’t happen.

Answer 24

Stella: Mrs. Martha told me, Hailey. Not my own daughter who can’t even talk to me–

Question 25

Hailey: Yeah—you freak out about everything. You’re such a, like, a weird freak about these things that happen to everyone.

Answer 25

Stella: I’m worried about you, you didn’t stand up-

Question 26

Hailey: What do you want from me? You want me to fight him? I’m not stupid, I’m not going to risk getting hurt.

Answer 26

Stella: Okay, no, but-

Question 27

Hailey: Yeah, exactly, there’s not a lot you can do but pretend you don’t hear someone who is shouting at you.

Answer 27

Stella: I know. But why didn’t you do something when he started to follow you? You could’ve called me. I would’ve come to get you.

Question 28

Hailey: At that moment, I didn’t feel it was the right time to call you-

Answer 28

Stella. You never feel like it’s the right time to call me. You’re lucky you know. Lucky that you ran into the neighbour. Lucky that Mrs Martha helped you. I wasn’t so lucky.

Question 29

Hailey: Yeah, see you’re doing this again where you want to make me feel bad for being out because of your experiences. I knew Mrs. Martha would help me, but you just want to believe I’m helpless. It makes you feel better about yourself, doesn’t it?

Answer 29

Stella: Don’t talk back to me, you should call me–

Question 30

Hailey: As if you would be of any help to me. What did you do, when that man on the bus wouldn’t leave you alone? What’s your excuse?

Answer 30

Stella: It was-

Question 31

Hailey: What? One time, two times, what was it?

Answer 31

Stella: He just didn’t get the hint that I wasn’t interested in him.

Question 32

Hailey: Yeah, and he started to take your route all the time so he could get closer to you–

Answer 32

Stella: Stop.

Question 33

Hailey: What? What did you do?

Answer 33

Stella: I changed route. I didn’t know what else to do.

Question 34

Hailey: How are you going to lecture me when you can’t even face your own problems? You’re just hiding behind your ‘advice’.

Answer 34

Stella: It’s... this makes me sad, Hailey. You’re too quick to dismiss me and label me as out of touch. You don’t understand where I'm coming from, you’re too…

Question 35

Young?

Answer 35

Sorry. I’ve been thinking about that a lot lately, you know. This week, I haven’t been able to stop thinking about how old I’ve gotten.

Question 36

Hailey: Old? You’re 31. Is this all because you finally stopped getting carded?

Answer 36

Stella: No, I am getting old. If you stop and think about it, every second you’re older than the second before. My whole life people have been saying I’m too young. Too young to drop out at 14. Too young to smoke when I was 15. Too young to be pregnant at 16, with you.

Question 37

Hailey: Yeah, well, I get it. People really love inserting themselves, don’t they?

Answer 37

Stella: It pissed me off. I mean, you’re not wrong about them thinking they have this amazing opinion. Funny, considering it wasn’t their business, but I kind of miss it. In a weird way. Nobody tells you you’re too young when you’re 31. Instead, I’m sitting here, with my daughter, having to lecture her about being too young.

Question 38

Hailey: (rolling her eyes) Yeah, see that’s the thing, right? Who decided you’re suddenly supposed to be viable for advice? You think you’ve got it all figured out, like you’re entitled to tell me what I should be doing, or when I should know better.

Answer 38

Stella: Hailey–

Question 39

Hailey: It’s like every time I try to take a step, you’re there, ready to remind me about how I’m not there yet in my own life. It’s rude. Really rude. And condescending, honestly. It’s like you think I’m this half-person just because I haven’t hit whatever age milestone you think matters.

Answer 39

Stella: I know it’s easy for you to look at it that way. But I don’t do this with any sort of condescending intent, I want to be able to support you in some way.

Question 40

Hailey: Yeah, well, I just want space to mess up without feeling like I’m on trial every time I do something you don’t agree with.

Answer 40

Stella: And I get that, but I draw the line when screwing up means compensating your safety. I don’t want you ending up in a situation that you can’t handle, Hailey.

Question 41

Hailey: (scoffs) You don’t trust me to handle anything.

Answer 41

Stella: It’s not about trust. You’re my kid. I’m not going to just—

Question 42

Hailey: I’m not a kid who needs you to swoop in every time something happens.

Answer 42

Stella: I’m not saying you are. But when I hear about things, it’s like you’re just letting them happen...

Question 43

Hailey: (rolling her eyes) Letting them happen? Wow…like, at this point, I don’t know what you want me to do, okay?

Answer 43

Stella: Well, not everyone’s going to help like Mrs. Martha did. Are you going to pretend it’s nothing?

Question 44

Hailey: No. I just don’t make a big deal out of everything.

Answer 44

Stella. You need to get better at avoiding danger–

Question 45

Hailey: And how do you suggest I do that? Call you every time some random guy gets too close? What do you want me to do, Mum, just freak out about everything that happens to me?

Answer 45

Stella: I’m not trying to make it the end of the world. I’m just... trying to be here. And you don’t trust me enough to help you. I don't know how to help you.

Question 46

Hailey: (walking away to grab her bag) It’s not about trust. I just... I don’t need you in my face about every little thing. I’m fine. Just... stop worrying so much. I’ll change my outfit, okay? Is that what you want?

Answer 46

Stella: It’s not just about the outfit. It’s about you.

Question 47

Hailey: I’ll change. (pauses, looks over her shoulder) But I’m leaving now.

Answer 47

Stella: (looking over her shoulder) Call me when you’re coming home.