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.