The Word Cloud

Alice:  Oh, how could you have done this to me, Mum? How could you? How could you have done it to Dad, to Granny, to your sisters, your brother? Why did you have to go? Why did you have to go? Now you're never coming back, are you? Oh God, I don't even know where you are...Where you have ended up. It's times like these that I wish...I wish I was deeply religious and faithful and maybe then...maybe then, I don't know, I'd feel content in knowing that you were in God's hands and you were safe...up there. But I don't even believe in God, damn it, so what am I supposed to assume about you, Mum? Maybe I should be a scientist and come to terms with the fact that your mind and soul have died along with your body...all three are disintegrating right now...
(Alice suddenly hears the front door slam closed and thumping of footsteps coming upstairs. Her Dad, Stephan, wearily walks into her bedroom and sits himself at the end of the bed.)
Stephan: Oh dear...you really are crying your eyes out, pet.
Alice: Well...what do you expect? You're not much of a picture either, Dad, with your sad grey eyes and tear soaked cheeks...
Stephan: I don't expect you to be anything other than upset, pet. Your mother was...she was a wonderful person.
Alice: She was. But she never will be again, will she? She's gone forever.
Stephan: Oh, don't say that, Alice. You'll see your mother again someday.
Alice: But, will I? Will you? How do we actually know that, Dad? All that is is faith alone.
Stephan: Kids these days...they question bloody everything.
Alice: It's called having a point of view, Dad.
Stephan: No, don't get me wrong, it's a good thing that you're so...so...obtuse. Opinionated people are smart people.
Alice: Mum was opinionated.
Stephan: She certaintly was...Why, when you were born she refused to do the housekeeping for two months! She claimed that partaking in such activities would completely over-exagerrate her maternal role. After having you, she said that that was enough wife/mother business for at least half a year. The last thing she wanted was to become a hyper domestic goddess and leave behind her precious bakery...that was her independance, that bakery. God knows where she would have ever been without it.
Alice: She was so much more than your standard mother, your standard wife, your standard anything. She was...she was special.
Stephan: You're damn right she was. She put a smile on someone's face every single day.
Alice: I'll bet. She was such a character...
(There is utter silence for a couple of minutes. Stephan pats Alice's shoulder awkwardly)
Stephan: At least...I mean, at least we were expecting it.
Alice: That's no kind of consolation, Dad.
Stephan: What I mean is...Look, it's not like your mother randomnly got hit by a bus one merry old day. It's not like it was some freak accident that killed her.
Alice: Stop it, Dad.
Stephan: We knew she was going to die. We both knew it in our hearts and souls. At least we had a year's notice. Could you imagine how much harder this would be if, by chance, she got murdered or something.
Alice: God Dad, you certaintly do have a way with words.
(Alice is clearly angered and stands up from her bed. She goes towards the door)
Stephan: Oh, for Gods' sake, Alice, where do you think you're going?
Alice: I don't care wherever the hell I'm going. As long as it's away from you.
Stephan: Alice! What is the matter with you?
Alice: What is the matter with me? Oh Jesus, if you could only hear yourself, Dad...you just...you...
Stephan: What are you trying to say, Alice? Whatever it is, just spit it out!
Alice: You don't care about Mum dying!
Stephan: I what?
Alice: You heard me and it's the truth. All you can do is go on and on about us being...being...lucky? Lucky? Sorry Dad, but I fail to see anything lucky about your own mother dying.
Stephan: Okay pet, I hope you don't mind me saying this but you're being just a little bit ridiculous.
Alice: Oh, am I? Well sorry if that bothers you. Hey, you have a know-it-all ridiculous daughter...but, you must be lucky because she isn't a serial killer...
Stephan: I'm warning you, Alice, you're beginning to hit my last nerve.
Alice: Oh well, you know what they say, like mother, like daughter.
Stephan: And what do you mean by that?
Alice: Everyone knows that Mum hit your last nerve, Dad. She drove you to insanity...You couldn't handle it, could you?
Stephan: What the...?
Alice: Let's face it, you married an attractive and carefree young woman and you were as happy as hell but she stopped being so attractive and carefree when her legs stopped working, didn't she? You weren't so sure you'd made the right choice after all - in marrying her. Your plan was that the two of you would live happily ever after - your plan was that you two would share the Dream. But it never happened when she had to use a wheelchair. It's hard to live the Dream when you have suddenly become the carer for your own spouse.
Stephan: Shut up, Alice.
Alice: You really couldn't deal with it, could you? You couldn't deal with the fact that she had become so moody and uptight about things. You couldn't deal with the fact that she now spent all day at home instead of at the Bakery - because she was always available to keep a keen eye on you, wasn't she? It wasn't the same as the olden days - when she would work endlessly at the Bakery every weeknight until she was tired and sore...When you had the house to yourself most evenings...
Stephan: I really am warning you, Alice...
Alice: Except it wasn't to yourself at all, was it, Dad? It was lovely and cosy here in the house - just you and Cheryl. Alone...
Stephan: You don't even know what you're talking about! It wasn't like that, Alice! It wasn't like that! It...
Alice: Oh, really? It was just an innocent daily visit, was it? Just an innocent role around on your and Mum's bed...
(At this moment, Stephan lunges forward and slaps his daughter across the face. There is silence between the two for awhile. Then, Stephan speaks. But he is speaking loudly, almost roaring)
Stephan: Now you listen here, Alice. You are far too young to even understand this! You are too young to understand anything! Christ above, you're only a little sarcastic kid with a wide vocabulary! But that doesn't make you grownup! That doesn't make you bloody well anything! All you are is a goddamn kid - you're nothing more! Now, you know bloody nothing about Cheryl! You know bloody nothing about what went on! So just don't act like I'm solely to blame for everything that happened! You're just taking your mother's side now! I bet she never told you about what she got up to?!
Alice: What do you mean?
Stephan: Ha, ha, ha! I thought not! Let me tell you something, Alice...your mother...she wasn't always little miss innocent Baker...No...your mother fooled me around more times than I...
Alice: I don't believe you! Mum could have never done it!
Stephan: Well, Mumsy did do it, Alice...We were only married one year when she'd already had her first affair...with this unemployed useless slacker...she was more devastated than me when she discovered I knew about it. She begged for forgiveness, of course, she started crying and sobbing and being all weepy and pathetic and I loved her so much that I took her back. She claimed it hadn't been anything serious - the occasional kiss and flirt - but that was as far as it had ever gotten. But I'm no idiot and I knew there was much more to her other relationship. Much, much more...
Alice: I know you're making it up, Dad, I know it!
Stephan: It's hard, isn't it? Discovering what your mother was really like.
Alice: You're just saying all this stuff to make you out as being the good guy.
Stephan: Fine. Don't believe me if you don't want to - Fine. But it's the truth, Alice. And the truth is that your mother was a little bit, well...
Alice: She was a little bit what, exactly?
Stephan: Let's just say she got around.
Alice: I hate you! I've never hated anyone more than I hate you! You're a jealous and spiteful old man! Your own wife has just died one week ago and now look at how you're talking about her! You should be ashamed of yourself, Dad. I wish you weren't related to me. I wish it was you that died, not Mum!
Stephan: Oh, do you?! What an unlikely coincedence! Because I never wanted you either! That's right - I never wanted one bloody kid! But your mother forgot to take the pill, you see, and...
Alice: I don't believe a word you say anymore!
Stephan: It's the truth, Alice! You were nothing but an accident! Ha, ha, ha - your mother didn't want you! I didn't want you! I really thought that a smart girl like yourself would have figured this all out years ago! Think about it for a minute, Alice, okay? Your Mum and I - we are - we were - a loving young couple! We both made great money! We both wanted nice furniture! A nice home! A nice car! Neither of us wanted nice children. I was utterly suicidal when I discovered your mother was pregnant! A child! What would I want with a goddamn child?! And as for your mother, she was so busy with her Bakery that she was completely uninterested, too! You were a lousy mistake, Alice! You were never anything else!
Alice: You...you...don't mean it...Y-you're just saying it because...because...
Stephan: Ha! Because what?!
Alice: I don't know! I don't care! I don't care about you! No-one has ever cared about you! Right, whatever, you and Mum didn't want me - but there are plenty of people now who do! More people for me than you! Let's count all the people who want you, shall we? Cheryl? Oh, sorry, she was more interested in your wallet...Your mother? No, she prefers Uncle Nigel...Your sisters? No, they're not close to you...Any neighbours? Any friends? Well, no, because you give a crap about either! You know what your problem is?! Yourself! Are you so insecure that you had to prove to us all that you could get another girl as well as Mum? Are you so insecure that you need to purposely buy a new car every six months and show it off in a blatantly obvious way in our front yard by parking it half out on the road, for Gods' sake!
Stephan: People only like you because your parents have money, kiddo. Sorry but that's how it works! Where would you be without this house, all of your lovely things? For a starter, none of your friends would be over to play half as much - actually, you probably wouldn't have any friends at all. Let's face it, you're not exactly likeable, are you?
Alice: Well, I...If I am not, it's because I take after my evil, twisted father!
Stephan: Father? I'm not your father...