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int. Stephan's House - night

The all clear sounds outside. Stephan walks up stairs with the coffee in hand. He puts the coffee outside a cupboard door, then goes into a bedroom.

OVER THE SHOULDER: another bedroom has a real bed in it

He lays down on a cot, not even bothering to take his clothes off. He puts the hat on the floor and closes his eyes.

int. modern bedroom - morning

CLOSE UP: digital alarm clock

The alarm clock starts ringing. A hand slaps the top and snoozes it.

PAN: bed

The bump in the bed rolls over. A few seconds later the alarm sounds again. A different hand turns it off. A woman sits down next to the lump on the bed and shakes him gently.

mom

Wake up, hon. You'll be late for class. I brough coffee. Stephan, wake up.

cut to

int. Stephan's House - evening

MEDIUM CLOSE UP: Stephan's face

STEPHAN

(groggily)

Mom?

CLOSE UP: nancy's face

NANCY

I am not your mother, Captain Broom. Wake up, it's late. I've got the children downstairs to meet you.

PAN: Out, to show whole room

Nancy leaves the room. Stephan drags himself up to sit upright. He rubs his face. He looks around, then stands slowly and shuffles out.

INT. Stephan's HOUSE

Stephan comes down the stairs.

OVER THE SHOULDER: dining room

He stops, looks and sees Nancy lining up the children by age. There are five of them. Stephan sighs and goes down the rest of the way. He comes to stand at the foot of the stairs, leaning casually on the banister.

NANCY

Right. This is Gerald, the eldest. Then Henry and Norma. The youngest are Allison and Jaime. They're the same age. Everyone, this is Captain Broom, our host.

STEPHAN

(dryly)

How do you do?

NANCY

(prompting)

Say hello.

Everyone gives a limp hello. Stephan just raises an eyebrow.

NANCY

All right, off you go. Try to stay out of trouble while I fix dinner.

gerald

(murmuring)

There's not much to break.

Stephan's gaze follows him out.

NANCY

What do you think?

STEPHAN

Not much to look at, are they?

They cross into the kitchen.

NANCY

Could you at least try to keep a civil tongue in your head?

STEPHAN

How was I not civil?

NANCY

You said four words to them.

STEPHAN

Four very civil words. Why don't you talk to the one who insulted my furnishings? Henry.

NANCY

Gerald. See? You're not even trying.

Stephan opens his mouth to argue, but thinks better of it.

STEPHAN

What's for dinner?

NANCY

Supper now.

STEPHAN

What's the difference?

NANCY

Supper's later in the day.

STEPHAN

(rolling his eyes)

What's for supper, then?

NANCY

Soup.

STEPHAN

Chicken?

NANCY

Lentil.

Stephan makes a face.

STEPHAN

(sarcastically)

Great. I'll go tomorrow and pick up rations for everyone. No more stealing.

NANCY

We need more blankets, sheets, and pillows. Clothes, if you can get them, especially shoes and pants. You might try for more beds. You never know how many kids are gonna sleep with you and it could get very uncomfortable in here without more places to sleep.

Stephan sighs audibly. He goes over to a cupboard and reaches into the high shelf and pulls out a bottle of scotch and a glass. He takes a swift drink, pouring another.

STEPHAN

First, make a list. Second, I can't get more beds, plain and simple. The rest are in the hospitals, so we'll just have to make do with what we've got. I'm not a miracle worker. Now, what can I do in the immediate future to make you and the children more comfortable?

NANCY

It's cold in the house.

Stephan hangs his head. He gulps down his drink and puts the cup and bottle back. Then he leaves. Nancy starts to cook.

INT. dining room

Stephan finishes with the fire. He takes a moment to lite a cigarette, then stands. He hears pans clatter in the kitchen and creeps into the hallway. He peaks into the kitchen.

Nancy is standing over the stove, stirring the soup. Suddenly she jerks around and opens the oven. She reaches in, bare handed, burning herself. She grabs a rag and pulls out the toast. It's burnt. She looks at it, disappointed. Then she jerks back to the soup, which is scalding.

Stephan steps back, and sighs. There's a knock on the door.