Tournament of Minds 4

Our finals are in one and a half weeks and we are going fairly well, we have our whole performance organised and all we have to do is finish props and costumes and then practise.

So, where was I up to? I think Maddie and Jacqui had just finished singing Mamma Mia, right?

They are slumped in their chairs when Taylor comes home. She walks through the door and looks at Maddie and then asks, 'Mum, who's this?'

Jacqui replies in an edgy voice that really shows that she's not happy about any of this, 'Taylor, this is your Aunt Maddie. She's going to be staying with us for a while because she has been kicked out of her house.'

Maddie buts in, 'Well your mother has lost her job.'

Taylor turns to Jacqui, 'What about my new shoes! Mine have holes in them, look'

Jacqui - 'Sweetie, we're just going o have to go without these things for a while...'

Taylor - 'But Mum'

SCENE CHANGE
We now have a group of politicians sitting around a table. George is Kevin Rudd and I am his banker, sorry, treasurer. Maddie is also an important politician (some deputy-something). I turn to Kevin Rudd and say, 'So what has been happening that you need to talk to us about?'

Mr Rudd replies,'Well, I have just received a letter from the public. This is what they have to say...
'I work all night I work all day to pay the bills I have to pay!'
Maddie - 'Ain't it sad'
Rudd - 'But still there never seems to be a single penny left for me.'
'That's too bad!'
'In my dreams I had a plan,' (I'm drumming on the table)
'If I got me a wealthy man.
'I wouldn't have to work at all, I'd fool around and have a ball.'

Mr Rudd (still) with Jacqui singing back up - 'Money, money, money. Must be funny (funny) in a rich man's world.
'Money, money, money (money), always sunny (sunny) in a rich mans world.

'Ah ah ah ah ah ah, all the things I could do. If I had a little money, its a rich mans world.
'Da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da (he sits back down)
'Its a rich mans world.'

There's a pause and then I (the treasurer) turn to Kevin Rudd and ask, 'What are going to do about this?'

Rudd - 'We could give out some money.'
Me - 'No we can't! It won't help anything if our government goes bankrupt!'
Rudd - 'But it would help the economy if we gave out money.'
Me - 'And how do you plan to afford this?'
Maddie (the deputy-something) - 'We could sell one of our mansions.'
Me - 'And whose mansion are you planning to sell? I bet it won't be yours! Exactly how much money are we talking about here, anyway?'
Rudd - 'How about $900 for every family, per child?'
Me - 'That's gonna send our bank balance negative even if we do sell a mansion!'
Rudd - 'Its worth a try. Press! Make up!'

Hayley and Taylor come on the scene as reporters with cameras.
Kevin Rudd turns to the press and sais, 'It has come to my attention that the public has not been getting a fair shake of the sauce bottle. Our government has decided to give out a $900 stimulus to every family per child to help the economy.'
Taylor (as a reporter) asks - 'And how will the government afford this?'
Rudd replies - 'We'll manage.'

SCENE CHANGE
Back at Jacqui's house. Back with the same characters as before. Jacqui as Taylor's mum and Maddie's big sister.

Jacqui and Maddie are eating cereal for breakfast when Taylor comes downstairs.

Jacqui sais to Taylor, 'Sweetie, can you go get the mail?'

Taylor - 'Yes Mum.'

Taylor gets the mail and returns to the kitchen excited. She's holding a letter.
'Mum! Its from the government!'

'We get letters from the government every day, Taylor. They're called taxes.'

Jacqui opens the letter and her face lights up. Taylor is reading over her shoulder.
Taylor turns to her Mum, 'Kevin Rudd's given us $900! Can I have my new shoes now?'

Maddie explodes. 'why do you get money! That's so not fair! I should get money too!'
Jacqui (angrily) - 'I have a child to support and right now I'm supporting you, too!'
Maddie - 'So! If the government gave me money then maybe you wouldn't have to support me too!' She pulls her hand back ready to punch.

We hit a triangle and the scene freezes. Georgina comes from the back, dressed as the Granny from 2063 again. 'I think we'll just stop that there. Keep it PG rated.'
I'm back as her grand kid and I complain, 'But Gran! That was gonna be interesting!'
Gran ignores me. She puts Maddie's hand back at her side and puts a smile on Taylor's face. The triangle rings again.

Jacqui - 'Fine then! Go! We don't care!'

Maddie - 'I will!' She walks out and slams the door.

Taylor turns to her Mum, 'Where will she go?'

Jacqui - 'Just leave it, OK.'

Again, there's still more. And again, I need a break from typing this.