Things change. Or do they?
By Thomas


(Outside the Morgendorffer's house. Daria is standing outside the door with a suitcase in her hand. Her hair is in a ponytail. She's wearing a blue sweater, jeans and black boots)

Daria: (voiceover) Maybe I could sneak in. Grab my Christmas presents, leave the ones I bought, and run back to Stanford before anyone notices. But if I did that, how could I be sure I got all my presents?

(The livingroom. Quinn and Stacy are watching a fashion show on TV. Daria comes in)

Quinn: Daria!

(Quinn runs over and hugs Daria. It seems that Quinn is now half a head taller that Daria)

Quinn: My little Daria.

Daria: Oh sure. Rub it in will you.

Quinn: Look at you. You're ... (beat) ...still a fashion nightmare. Oh my god. I have to change for dinner.

(Quinn runs upstairs)

Daria: I missed you too.

Stacy: You must be Quinn's sister. Quinn is always telling us how proud she is of you.

Daria: (surprised) She is?

Stacy: Like, you're a great scientist and all.

Daria: Pretty good for a freshman isn't it. Especially since I haven't even published anything yet.

Stacy: You remind me of someone. Are you related to that girl who used to live here?

Daria: Excuse me?

Stacy: There was a girl living here. But she left last summer. Quinn said her mom had finally been released from jail. I think she was her cousin. She scared me sometimes.

Daria: I see. And did Quinn by any chance mention where I went to highschool.

Stacy: She said you went to a boarding school. That's why we never met before.

Daria: (beat) I see.

Stacy: What are you studying?

Daria: Molecular biology. I'm hoping to succeed where Dr. Frankenstein failed.

Stacy: Biology? You're not doing any experiments on animals are you?

Daria: (voiceover) Not that question again. Molecular biology and biology are NOT the same thing (outloud) Why do you ask?

Stacy: I'm dating this guy who's protesting against experiments on animals.

Daria: In Lawndale?

Stacy: I know. But he said that just because we don't have a medical industry here, there's no reason not to be vigilant.

Daria: (evil smile) Actually I do lots of experiments on animals. But only on cute ones. Like bunnys.

Stacy: (horrified) Oh no.

Daria: I put electrodes on their ears. And then I shock them to get them to jump. (raises her arms in the air) HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!

Stacy: Waaaaaaa!!!


(Later. At dinner. They're having steak)

Jake: Here, kiddo. You get to have the big one.

Daria: Three things, dad. I'm 19 now so you really ought to stop calling me kiddo. I can't eat the "big one" as my stomach is too small. And since when do you know how to cook a steak?

Quinn: He doesn't.

Helen: Quinn!

Quinn: And Stacy didn't say why she left?

Daria: I think she went to see my boarding school.

(Quinn laughs nervously. The doorbell rings)

Jake: I'll get it. (leaves)

Quinn: Look, I'm sorry, Daria. But I ...

Daria: Was caught in a web of lies. It's okay.

Quinn: You mean that?

Daria: Since I'll only get to see you a couple of times a year from now on I guess we really shouldn't be arguing anymore. (pause) And I'm proud of you too.

Quinn: Thanks, Daria.

Helen: (smiles) My sweeties.

Daria & Quinn: Mooom.

(Jake comes back)

Jake: Our lawn is filled with protesters. They want us to hand the animal abuser over to them.

(Helen and Quinn look at Daria)

Daria: What? I've only been here four hours.