TIA:

... You and Cammeo against me and ... Aless.

ALESS:

M-me? B-but I don't even like t-tennis. And you always

yell at m-me when I m-make a mistake.

TIA:

Cammeo, are you any good with a racket?

CAMMEO:

Oh no. I don’t believe I could.

HERITA:

Go on ol’ girl, it’ll do ya some good.

CAMMEO:

I’d rather not. I’ve got Lithium to look after

… perhaps you could go in my place?

HERITA:

And why not? I could partner with 'im.

MEZ:

You want to be my partner?

CAMMEO:

I think that’s a splendid idea. It’s alright Mez. I don’t mind.

Herita’s quite good, at least she was … before.

HERITA:

You mean you’d actually let me play with your boy?

CAMMEO:

He’s not my boy. Why do you insist on calling

him that? He has a name.

HERITA:

Never said 'e didn’t.

CAMMEO:

Then why not call him by it? It’s downright rude of you 

to act as if he’s my pet or something.

MEZ:

Hey - sitting right here.

CAMMEO:

So sorry, but she just infuriates me.

HERITA:

My, ‘ow ya do love to carry on sis. Fine then, I won’t play, 

doesn’t matter to me either way.

TIA:

Oh no you don’t - you’re playing. We’ll do boys against the girls instead. We’ll kill them. Come on, gotta get some extra rackets.

The girls leave.

ALESS:

B-but I d-don’t want to play. She n-n-never l-listens to me.

MEZ:

Io, you play?

IO:

The genie is unsure.

MEZ:

It’s pretty easy. What if you and Aless took turns?

ALESS:

I d-don’t think my sister will allow th-that. 

How w-would she keep score?

MEZ:

We don’t have to keep score.

Later ...

JESSE:

Is that breakfast? I'm starved.

CAMMEO:

Did you just wake up?

JESSE:

No, I’ve been watching TV with the kids. Where is everyone?

CAMMEO:

They went to the park to play tennis. I don’t expect them back for … 

Magic swirls through the air …

JESSE:

Dammit Io, how many times do I hafta tell ya to stop 

popping in like that?

CAMMEO:

Has something happened?

HERITA:

Aless took a ball to ‘is eye. Ya shoulda

'eard the pop - it was fantastic! I ‘aven’t ‘ad this much fun since before I was dead.

TIA:

God Aless, I can’t believe you ran right into the ball.

MEZ:

Looked to me like you aimed it right at him.

TIA:

You’re just sore cause we were winning.

ALESS:

whimpering

It hurts …

MEZ:

Better sit down.

CAMMEO:

Poor thing, let me have a look at you. I've brought some

ice to keep the swelling down.

ALESS:

OW …. It’s c-c-cold.

CAMMEO:

Sorry love. It’ll help, I promise. 

TIA:

Oh c’mon Aless, it’s not that bad, you gotta shake it off.

How are you related to me? What a whimp.

MEZ:

You’re not helping. Just leave him alone.

TIA:

I only wanted to some fun. It’s not my fault he can’t duck

when a ball’s coming right at him.

JESSE:

Ya know what they say - it’s all fun 

and games till someone loses an eye - right?

JESSE:

Here we go again …

TIA:

I don't want you around, understand? You better find another

place to live Jesse!

JESSE:

You’re throwing me out? You gotta be kidding me.

TIA:

I was here first. You wouldn’t even be here if it wasn’t for me. 

I’m serious - get out! Out of this room. Out of this house. Just go!

Tia swings at Jesse with her tennis racket

JESSE:

Are you freakin' crazy! You almost hit me …

MEZ:

Give me that!

TIA:
Get your paws off me Mez! I won’t miss this time, 

I swear. Let go of me …

CAMMEO:

All of you stop it right now. Can’t you see Aless is upset? Isn’t it

enough that he’s injured?  Mez I think he should see Syrrah straight away. Perhaps Io could …

MEZ:

Good idea. Io, I wish you to take Aless to Syrrah.

IO:

Thy wish is granted.

Io and Aless vanish.

CAMMEO:

Tia, I should think you could show a little concern for your brother.

TIA:

So now I don’t care about about Aless, right? Well I do so 

- but there’s nothing I can do for him. Everything I say is wrong.

TIA:

… And why is he still here? Tell him to go.

JESSE:

Now wait just a friggin' minute ...

TIA:

Mez make him go. You don’t want him here either, you’re 

just too nice to say so. I never should’ve asked him to move in.

MEZ:

Tia calm down. You’re being unreasonable and …

TIA:

Calm down. Unreasonable. Oh I see - you’re taking his side.

I just remembered - you’re a cheater too.

God - you’re all alike. I hate you too!

Tia storms off.

HERITA:

Blimy - she’s a real pistol - ain’t she?

HERITA:
… All that carrying on because of the likes of you!

JESSE:

It's not my fault.

HERITA:

Oh no? ‘ow's it not?

CAMMEO:

Herita, perhaps you should see if Syrrah needs anything?

HERITA:

Being dismissed am I? Must’ve been a bad girl and

said things I shouldn’t have, eh? No matter. I’ll go sis,

but only ‘cause you asked me so sweetly.

JESSE:

Mez, is what Tia said true? Do you want me to leave too?

CAMMEO:

Oh Jessie, Tia's just putting words in his mouth. She spoke in anger.

JESSE:

Answer me, Mez.

MEZ:

What do you want me say? Sometimes you’re a real pain in the …

but that doesn’t mean I want you to move out.

JESSE:

It’s not like I haven’t thought about moving out.

CAMMEO:

Jesse - no. Where would you go?

JESSE:

That’s just it … I don’t know. 

Even if I did, what would I do with Neve?