Overview
- Female: 1
- Male: 1
Context
Jessica and Jackson are college students returning home for the Christmas holidays. Jackson had invited himself to stay with Jessica's family, as he is estranged from his own parents. However, Jessica has just revealed that her family do not know Jackson is coming...because he isn't. She gives him the ultimatum to finally reconcile with his parents, as she is fed up of being his only emotional support.
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Jackson: I don’t “entertain the idea of you.” Don’t say that. It’s Christmas. I know I haven’t been always fair. Over the past few months. But the time of year… it makes things clear. You know?
Jessica: I know.
Jackson: And I’m saying, I want to watch you eat pancakes on Christmas morning.
Jessica: And I’m saying I think you should go home.
Jackson: I’m trying to say I’m sorry.
Jessica: That might have made a difference in October. It really might have. But it’s too late, Jack.
Jackson: It’s never too late.
Jessica: Then go home. I didn’t ask you to give them up for me. And it’s making you awful, you miss them so much.
Conductor: (over the loudspeaker) All aboard! Next stop, Yonkers!
Jackson looks at Jessica. Their eyes are locked.
Jackson: I don’t miss them.
Jessica: It’s making us awful. And I can’t do that anymore.
Jackson: So that’s it?
Jessica: I don’t know. Maybe.
Jackson: So just, “Merry Christmas. Get off my train”?
Jessica: Not just “get off my train.” I’m saying go home. I’m saying stop punishing her for what he did. Stop punishing him. It’s Christmas, Jack.
A beat.
Jackson: You didn’t even get me a gift, did you?
Jessica: I got you the ticket, Jack.
Jessica takes the strewn socks off her bag and holds them out to Jackson.
Jessica: (cont’d) Now… Merry Christmas.
Jackson: “…but get off my train?”
Jessica can’t quite look at him. But she nods gently. Jackson rises. He looks down on Jessica.
Jackson: I’m just going to get the return train back to Philly. You understand?
Jessica: I think he’d be sorry, Jack. If you’d let him.
Jackson eyes her, then hurriedly wrangles up his bags. He turns to Jessica.
Jackson: Tell your folks Merry Christmas.
Jackson hustles off the train, leaving Jessica with the socks dangling limply from her hands. She looks at them, then folds them and tucks them gently into her backpack. She sits for a moment.
The train doors clunk shut. And the train begins to move.
Links
Winter Break was developed with The CRY HAVOC Company
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