POSTER KID, oc

002. the vanishing glass

ACT ONE, CHAPTER TWO

THE VANISHING GLASS

'I'm going to kill my sister'

•••

[We are brought back to 10-year-old Belle. Her eyes blink open.]

Petunia (O.S): Up! Now! I said now!

[Belle wakes up, pulling her glasses on. Dudley suddenly runs down the stairs, stopping half way and jumping on the stairs.]

Dudley: Wake up, cousin! We're going to the zoo!

[Belle looks up seeing the dust falling onto her. Dudley laughs running down the rest of the way, closing the cupboard door when Belle tries to leave. Petunia stands in the kitchen.]

"YOU SLEPT IN A CUPBOARD?" Apollo, Ron, Hermione, Lily, James, Sirius, Peter and Remus exclaim.

Belle laughs nervously, rubbing the back of her neck. "Uh, yeah."

Apollo pulls Belle into him. "Why didn't you tell me, love?"

She shrugs. "I-I dont know."

Petunia: Oh, here he comes, the birthday boy!

Vernon: Happy birthday, son.

[Petunia and Dudley giggle as Belle walks into the kitchen.]

Petunia: [To Belle] Why don't you just cook the breakfast, and try not to burn anything.

Belle: Yes, Aunt Petunia. [Belle gets to work cooking the bacon.]

"When did they make you start cooking?" Lily asks her daughter.

"Uh." Belle hesitates. "Since I was able to see over the oven."

Lily sighs. "I'm going to kill my sister."

Petunia: I want everything to be perfect for my Dudley's special day.

Vernon: Hurry up! Bring my coffee, girl!

"She has a name you know." James counters.

Belle huffs out a laugh. "To him I don't."

Belle: Yes, Uncle Vernon.

[Petunia leads Dudley to the sitting room, revealing the large number of presents.]

Petunia: Aren't they wonderful, darling?

Dudley: How many are there?

Vernon: Thirty-six. Counted 'em myself.

Dudley: Thirty-six?! But last year last year I had thirty-seven!!

Lily, Euphemia and Molly roll their eyes at the boy.

Vernon: Err yes, well, some of them are quite a bit bigger than last year.

Dudley: I don't care how big they are!

Petunia: [calming him down] Oh, now, now, now. This is what we're going to do, is that when we go out, we're going to buy you two new presents! How's that, pumpkin?

"He sure looks like a pumpkin." Sirius mutters causing James to laugh.

[Later on, the family head to the car.]

Petunia: This will be a lovely day at the zoo. I'm really looking forward to it.

[Belle goes to get in the car but Vernon stops her, pointing his car keys at her.]

Vernon: I'm warning you now, girl. Any funny business, any at all, and you won't have any meals for a week. Get in.

"Don't threaten my daughter!" James shouts.

Belle smiles at her dad, always longing to hear someone call her their daughter.

[The family is in the reptile house at London Zoo, looking at the Boa constructor.]

Dudley: Make it move.

Vernon: [Taps the glass] Move!

Dudley: [Raps on the glass much harder] MOVE!

Belle: He's asleep!

Dudley: He's boring.

[Dudley and his parents walk away leaving Belle alone.]

Belle: Sorry about him. He doesn't understand what it's like, lying there day after day, having people press their ugly faces in on you. [The snake looking up, blinking.] Can you...hear me? [The snake nods] It's just...I've never talked to a snake before. Do you...I mean...do you talk to people often? [The snake shakes its head] You're from Burma, aren't you? Was it nice there, do you miss your family? [The snake turns to the sign which says 'bred in captivity'] I see. That's me as well. I never knew my parents, either.

"Y-You're talking to the snake?"

[Dudley, seeing the snake, comes over to the enclosure.]

Dudley: Mummy, dad, come here! You won't believe what this snake is doing! [He places his hands on the glass, Belle glares at him. The glass suddenly disappears, Dudley falls forward into the enclosure. Belle laughs at the sight.] Whoa! Ahh! Ahh!!

The hall bursts out laughing at the sight.

[The snake gets out of the exhibit, stopping in front of Belle.]

Snake: Thanks

Belle: Anytime. [The snake leaves.]

Man: SNAKE! [Many in the room scream. Dudley tries to leaves but the glass is back.]

Dudley: Mum, mummy!

Petunia: [seeing Dudley] AHH!

Dudley: Mum, help! Help me!

Petunia: My darling boy! How did you get in there?! How did you get in there? Dudley, oh, Dudley!

[Belle snickers, Vernon sees this and glares at Belle. Belle's grin drops, knowing she's in trouble.]

James glares at the man. "He better not do anything to you."