Truce

Oh, I'm sorry, am I interrupting something?

No, Sister.

Then shut up. I've had enough of the whispering. Yes, Inspector, as I say, they're here with me now. They were the last ones to see her, aye. Half nine, they said. No. Well, you have to understand, Sir, we're quite short-staffed at the moment--we've nearly two hundred children at our facility. That they are, Sir, aye, desperate times. Yes, we'll be expecting you. Yes, of course, Sir, they've all been sent back to their rooms for the time being. Mm-hm. Yes, Sir. Thank you very much for your time, we do appreciate it very much. And hopefully, we'll have her back within the hour and this whole trip of yours will have been more of a visit than anything. Aye, Sir, we can only hope. Mm-hm. We'll be expecting you. Bye now. Right, the Inspectors coming round now, your games done--where is she?

We don't know, Sister.

Aye, so you've said.

I'm not really sure why you keep asking if I'm honest.

Oh, you aren't?

No, Sister.

Well, considering you were the last ones to see her-

The hallways busy after breakfast, you see loads of people.

-and considering your...less than perfect record; would you say that's a fair description?

...I might.

Well, then you can see why I might be a bit suspicious.

I don't.

Mm.

Respectfully, Sister, we're sixteen. She's seven. She's not exactly top on our list of priorities-

I see. How very mature of you, Abby. And that little incident with the snake in your toothbrush holder, that wouldn't have anything to do with this, would it?

Of course not-

Because I assured you when it happened that she would be properly dealt with, as she has been, by me, and that if you or any of your little friends decided to take matters into your own hands that there would be serious consequences, did I not?

You did, Sister.

Right. I just find it funny-

So you said.

...

Can we go now, Sister? Sonny and Cher starts soon-

No, you may not. There'll be no television tonight, not till she's found. Are you not the slightest bit worried, girls? She's been missing for almost ten hours-

Then shouldn't you have called the Inspector sooner?

Hold your tongue. We are surrounded on all sides by woods, and it is dark and it is cold out there, as you well know--you've been here long enough. Now I'm going to need you to think. Hard. And I will ask you again--where is she? No one? For the love of the Father, Josie, stop your sniffling and spit it out! No? What, Abby, have you suddenly gone mute?

You told me to hold my tongue, Sister.

Enough. Just answer the question.

Well...it's like you say, Sister. She's probably out in the woods, isn't she? Where else could she go? There's nothing else around. Just trees.

When you saw her, did you stop and speak to her?

Might've. Briefly.

And what did she say?

She didn't say anything.

But you spoke?

We spoke. She didn't.

Fine then, what did you say?

Told her that her jacket makes her look like a feckin' party clown-

That is quite enough, Miss Murphy-

What? That is what I said. I'm trying to be honest, Sister. Isn't that what you want?

Do you mean that she wasn't in her uniform?

No. She was wearing that stupid yellow thing. Rubbery, with all the buttons on. And those stupid red boots--the ones her Auntie sent. Seems funny they can afford to send her loads of shite but can't afford to get her out of here-

Was there anything else you noticed that was out of the ordinary?

No.

Was she carrying anything?

Aye. She had her pack on.

Her pack?

Aye. The one she takes out to her fort.

And you didn't think that was important to mention?

No. She's always walking around with that. And anyway, shouldn't her fort be the first place to look? Loads of the wains know where it is.

I'm sure that was one of the first places the staff checked-

Are you sure? You don't sound sure. Is that why we're here, Sister? To help the staff do their jobs?

You are here because you did something to that wee girl-

What could we have done? We've been around all day.

Do you lot intend to let her speak for you like this for the rest of your lives?

...

Mm. Evidently. What's this about, Abby? Power?

Might ask you the same thing-

Detention. All three of you--tomorrow evening-

We'd love to, Sister, but we've already got one with Sister Bridgett.

For?

Couldn't tell you.

Tuesday, then.

Fine.

That'll be Mr. Flood just come in. Sit here and stay quiet till I get back. Maybe mull some things over.

Abby-

Shh! Wait. Give it a second. She can still hear us. Did you hear that squeak? That's how you know she's gone around the corner. Seriously, Josie? Crying?

I'm sorry-

What are you, four years old?

I'm sorry! I'm just...I'm worried about her.

Oh my God-

Abby, we shouldn't have done it, it was terrible!

You didn't say that while we were planning it-

Because I didn't think about it, it was supposed to be funny, this isn't funny!

Not since you started crying it's not-

She could be dead, Abby. Actually dead. We have to tell someone.

Tell them what? She's lost, they already know that-

But it's our fault she's lost!

Doesn't change the fact she's lost though, does it?

What if they find the map? What if they find the map and her pack and not her? Then what? Sister Margaret's right. She's wee, she's only seven.

Sister Margaret hates her-

Aye, but Sister Margaret didn't send her out into the woods on her own.

...Pffff, I can't believe she bought it!

It's not funny!

What do you think she took to dig? A spoon?

What if she stole something from the shed? What if she stabbed herself or something by accident--anything could've happened!

...If they do find the map--we were just jokin'. We helped her draw it up because she asked us, but we didn't think she was actually gonna follow it-

They aren't going to believe us, it's too detailed-

Oh, and whose fault is that?

YOURS! You told me the first one wasn't believable enough!

Was the shore road on there?

It was, aye. And the water's high now. If she made it all the way down there-

She didn't. There's no chance--she can hardly tell her right from her left.

But what if she did? What if she fell in?

...Then they should all come inside. No use searching if she's clear downstream.

Come off it, Abby, you care!

I don't. She earned it. She's a mouthy little-

She's no mouthier than you are!

What's that supposed to mean?

You care about her.

I hate her-

No, you don't. You hate that she has a family, that's all. You hate her Auntie, not her.

How about you go back to crying while the rest of us think of a plan-

Feck off-

Who died and put you in charge?

It's my handwriting on the map. I'm telling.

Josie-

Don't. You don't get to decide what we do anymore. I'm done listening to--SHIT!

Sister Margaret-

Shit shit shit!

Everyone just shut up!

Ladies-

Oh my God! YOU'RE ALIVE!

Oh, is Josie doing the talking now?

N...No, Sister.

Mm. Well, as you can see, Miss O'Donnell has been found in...less than ideal conditions. Poor girl's nearly frozen to death. Stand here in front of the fire. And don't move. It'll be hard enough getting all that mud out of the hall. Abigail, you stay here, I'm not through with you yet. You two, come with me--you can help Mr. Flood with the cleanup. Don't give me that look, she's told us everything. Now--shift it!

...

Well. Wouldja look at you. Fancied a dip, did you? Ach, you should've known better. Seven years old--are you telling me you haven't learned to swim yet?

I...I'm...g...g...gonna...kill you....A...bby.

Me? What did I do?

L...l...liar!

Eejit.

Sh....shut up!

Sh...shut up! How bout you m...m...make me!

S..stupid!

Arsehole-

SHITEHAWK!

Super Grass!

STUPID BITCH!

...Fair play. Truce?

...Truce.