The Little Girl's Cigarette.

I wrote the following script as my first creative writing assignment. I'm trying to push the boundaries of my writing outside my usual creative nonfiction boundaries while still staying in touch with my roots. Basically, I'm going to try to write more. Whether or not it makes it on here is entirely up in the air. I've been doing a lot of writing on 750words.com, more rough in style, but I may start posting snippets from those pieces on here. Anyway, I'll get on with it. Enjoy the script, ignore the formatting if it didn't translate correctly from where I wrote it, and give some feedback if you want!


“THE LITTLE GIRL’S CIGARETTE”

FADE IN:

INT. MEDICAL CLINIC- DAY

Fade in on what seems to be a generic doctor’s office. The walls are lined with chairs, interrupted every 5th one by a waxy, plastic potted plant. Abbigail sits in the row of chairs facing the receptionist’s window. Her hair is pulled back in a ponytail, loose ends fraying around her face like a lion’s mane. She wears grey sneakers that were once white, and a rosy pink sunburn lights up her otherwise perplexed face. She sits quietly, swinging her feet and picking at her nails.

From behind the reception counter, Ellen squints at Abbigail through circular, red glasses. Her wide eyes and beaky nose give her an owl-like appearance, and ironically enough, she turns her head…

ELLEN:

Who… who is that sweet little girl?

Her thick southern accent is reminiscent of a traditional upbringing somewhere old-fashioned, maybe Savannah. It seems to clash with her pink scrubs adorned with cartoon puppies.

Marleen sits to her right, finger on a computer mouse and nose in the newspaper. Though the clock reads 4:39 p.m., her hair has the unkempt grace of bedhead. Her clothing, too, is wrinkled, and sea creatures smile from her scrub top while flowers adorn her oversized bottoms. We see now that their colorful scrubs clash with the faded walls as the screen grows wider. We see the girl from Ellen and Marleen’s point of view. Even the plastic plants seem to droop.

The room is still for a moment until Ellen disappears, reappearing through a door and crossing the waiting room to sit beside Abbigail. Ellen sits with her hands in her lap, and due to her stature, her feet dangle just above the ground. Thick and boisterous despite her height, Ellen is tiny Abbigail’s opposite, yet she wears a smile so easily that the little girl forces a smile through her bunched mouth. Her eyes remain concentrated, obviously filled with questions. She speaks with a stutter.

ABBIGAIL

Do you know my mommy?

ELLEN

Well darlin’, I just might. What’s your momma’s name?

ABBIGAIL

Well, I heard her called a lot, but most the nice people call her Laura. Her whole name’s Laura Bowler, ‘cause mine’s Abbigail Bowler.

Abbigail lets a small smile spread across her face, proud of her deductive reasoning. The name seems to strike a chord with Ellen, and her famous smile sinks an inch.

ELLEN

What brings you here, sweetheart? Are you lookin’ for your momma?

ABBIGAIL

No ma’am, I… I was lookin’ for my little sister.

Ellen shifts her eyes from the little girl and clasps her hands tightly together in her lap.

ELLEN

Abbigail, why did you think you’d find your little sister here?

ABBIGAIL

Well, mommy walks me to school most days. Yesterday, she held my hand the whole way, ‘stead of just when we crossed the street. She told me she had to stop here ‘cause she was sick. She gave me a big ole kiss and made me promise to walk safe, and I did, but she never told me when I got to see the baby. I didn’t say nothing to her though, cause she never told me bout the baby, but when I got home, I heard her tell the man that the baby wasn’t in her no more. I membered where she stopped, so I came here on my way home from school. Did mommy leave the baby here? You think I could hold her just a minute?

ELLEN

I wish you could, sweetheart, but your little sister was very sick, so they sent her someplace where a very special family could take care of her. She would’ve been lucky…

ABBIGAIL

(interrupts)

But mommy told that man she was gonna take care of her! I was gonna share my books with her and teach her the secret to living forever like Gramma!

In an excitedly desperate fashion, she pulls a cigarette out of the pocket of her overalls. Ellen’s owl eyes grow even larger. She speaks with a question behind every word.

ELLEN

This is the secret to livin’ forever?

ABBIGAIL

No no no! These are what make you die! Gramma tells mommy all the time these are killin’ her slowly, every time mommy lights one on fire. So I come up with a plan- Every time mommy picks me up or gives me hugs, I take one from her pocket. She keeps ‘em right here (pats right over her heart), so it’s easy as pie to sneak ‘em. I musta sneaked at least a hundred of ‘em, and if each one gives her just one more minute… that’s one hundred more minutes with my mommy! If a hundred minutes isn’t forever, it’s gotta be close. I hope somebody tells my baby sister like Gramma told me.

Ellen’s eyes brim with tears, and fog has gathered around the edges of her glasses.

ELLEN

Well, you’re in luck sweetheart, cause I know the family that’s taking care of your little sister. I’d be happy to tell her family myself.

Abbigails eyes light up, and she brings her under her body on the chair and leans over to Ellen, handing her the cigarette.

ABBIGAIL

Thank yuh so much, ma’am! Make sure you give her this, so she knows what they look like. She’s just a baby and I don’t want her settin’ no fires on accident.

ELLEN

I will sweetheart. I’ll even tell her her big sister says so.

She jumps from the chair and turns around, as if ready to leave. Her smile falls, and she turns around.

ABBIGAIL

You promise she’s gonna be happy? We got room in our family for her if she gets better. I’ll even share my room if I gotta!

ELLEN

She’s never gonna know a minute of sadness, sweetheart, I promise you.

Abbigail smiles and grabs Ellen’s hand.

ABBIGAIL

Could you tell her that her big sister loves her?

ELLEN

I sure can, darlin’, and I promise I will.

Abbigail walks out the door slowly. Ellen sits, unmoving, staring at the cigarette in her hand. Marleen walks out from behind the reception desk.

MARLEEN

What did that little girl want?

ELLEN

She just needed to drop something off.

Marleen’s gaze drops to the cigarette in Ellen’s hand.

MARLEEN

I didn’t know you smoked.

ELLEN

I don’t.

Marleen looks at Ellen like she’s crazy and shrugs.

MARLEEN

Whatever. See you Monday.

Ellen stays seated, motionless, eyes content on the cigarette.

EXT. MEDICAL CLINIC- DAY

Abbigail walks on the side walk away from the clinic. Behind her, the name of the establishment comes into view, “Fairmont Women’s Clinic.” Four people stand on the curb in front of it, black and white signs in hand. One reads, “God loves all children.” Abbigail walks by them, oblivious, still wearing a smile on her face.

FADE OUT.

THE END