There are five people in the Lester family: the father, the mother, Brandon, Alice, and Wasan. They live in a house on top of a hill. Brandon is nine years old and goes to school in the nearby town. Alice, his 4-year-old sister, and Wasan, his 3-year-old brother, are too young to go to school, so they spend most of their time at home with their mother. Brandon comes home from school. He enters the living room where his father is sitting comfortably in an armchair while his mother is in front of the dressing table.
BRANDON: Good afternoon, Dad.
FATHER (reading the newspaper): Good afternoon. How was your day at school?
BRANDON (looking excited): It was good Dad. We had a competition and I…
FATHER (still reading the newspaper): Did you wash your hands?
BRANDON: No, but first let me tell you about the compet…
FATHER (putting down the newspaper angrily): Go and tell your Mum!
BRANDON: Hello, Mum!
MOTHER (doing her nails): Hello darling. How was school today?
BRANDON: It was good Mum. We had a competition and I…
MOTHER (still doing her nails): First go and wash your hands right away! Dinner is ready.
BRANDON (quite disappointed): Ok, Mum.
Brandon goes to the bathroom and washes his hands. During this time the messengers see the Ironman across the field, heading towards the house. They come to inform the family about the danger.
WASAN: What’s that noise, Alice?
ALICE: I don’t know. It’s coming from outside!
WASAN: Then let’s go and see!
They go outside and meet the messengers.
ALICE: Who are you?
WASAN: And what do you want?
CHIEF MESSENGER: We are the messengers and we are here to inform you that he Ironman is coming your way. Warn your family!
MESSENGERS: Warn your family!
The messengers leave.
ALICE: We have to tell Brandon!
WASAN: Yes, yes, let’s tell him now!
Alice and Wasan run to the bathroom where Brandon is drying his hands on a towel.
ALICE and WASAN: Brandon, Brandon!
BRANDON: Calm down! What happened?
ALICE and WASAN: We saw the messengers.
BRANDON: And what did they say?
WASAN: They said the Ironman is coming this way.
BRANDON: Oh, no! Let’s go and tell Dad!
The three of them go to the dining room where their parents are waiting for them at the table.
BRANDON: Dad, Dad…
FATHER: Did you wash your hands?
BRANDON: Yes, Dad, but the messengers…
FATHER (getting ready for dinner): Ok then, sit down and eat. All of you!
BRANDON: But Dad, the Iron…
FATHER: Not now! Tell your Mum!
BRANDON: Mum, the Iron…
MOTHER (eating): Sit down and eat.
ALICE and WASAN: But…
MOTHER (with her mouth full): Do not talk while you’re eating.
BRANDON: Just listen…
FATHER (shouting): Sit down now!
The Lesters have dinner in silence. When dinner is over, the father stands up and talks to his armchair. His mobile phone starts ringing.
FATHER: Now go to your room and sleep for one hour. You must be tired.
BRANDON: But, Dad, listen…
FATHER (talking on the mobile phone): I’m busy now. We’ll talk when you get up.
BRANDON: Mum…
MOTHER (turning on the TV): No, no. You need to get some rest first.
ALICE and WASAN: But…
FATHER (angrily, still talking on the phone): You too, go to bed. Now!
Illustrations by Eric Barrientos
