by Charlotte T Martin
INT. LIVING ROOM – AFTERNOON
KAI (20s, enby, home for the quarantine) naps on the couch, a book fallen open on their chest. Their DAD watches television in the armchair. The volume is turned down low.
Kai’s MOM comes in from the backyard, airpods in and slickwith sweat. She takes off her sunglasses and big floppy gardening hat.
MOM
Woo! Hot out there. Anyone want a drink? I’m makin’ Tom Collins.
Unbeknownst to Mom or Dad, Kai half wakes up and overhears the following.
DAD
Shhh, honey. They’re sleeping.
MOM
Who?
Dad gives her a look.
MOM
Oh, right! Right. Shit. It’s just–
DAD
I know, I know. Just takes practice. We can do this.
Mom cuts lemons at the kitchen island. Dad watches his show.
MOM
They fall asleep reading?
DAD
(chuckles)
Yep. Just like when they were little.
Mom smiles to herself. Dad chuckles again. Kai smiles the tiniest smile as they drift back to sleep.
FADE TO BLACK
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Charlotte T. Martin (she/they) is an award-winning writer and actress. Their short film, CHEMISTRY, has screened at more than 15 festivals across the country, and has won a wide variety of audience choice and social impact awards. Their short, MELISSA, was one of five projects selected for Tribeca Film Institute’s Through Her Lens program, and is now being developed as a feature. Charlotte is also the newly-appointed Education Director for Children’s Film Academy of Madison, a non-profit dedicated to creating opportunities for young artists curious about the art of filmmaking.