IN THE CAR-GREEK COUNTRYSIDE-MORNING
Yiannis is eating a bougatsa, a Greek sweet cream pie, while Alec is driving, drinking an ice-cold coffee with a straw.
YIANNIS
-Fantastic breakfast! Incomparable!
He sounds like a natural English speaker. The way he talks and acts shows he is a well-mannered person.
ALEC
-I’m glad you like it! I told you, this place serves the best bougatsa with cream filling!
(His accent is broken, showing a person who speaks decent English but is a foreigner)
YIANNIS
-Greece is the holiday place to have the best food EVER! The whole country makes you feel so relaxed… Look at the surroundings!
-HOW CAN YOU TOP THAT? YEAH, MAN!!!
(He looks over excited, munching his pie with pleasure).
ALEC
-It’s a good point, son, I agree. But don’t forget that for us it is more than that. For us, THIS IS home.
YIANNIS
-Dad! CAN YOU PLEASE STOP SAYING THAT? OH, DEAR DOD! NOT THIS AGAIN!
-CAN’T YOU UNDERSTAND? I’m growing up in the UK! How can I feel that this place is my homeland? You keep repeating the same old story… Our home, our glorious past, our ancestors, the need to always talk about them, blah blah (sighs).
(He puts his food into its wrapping, places it in a plastic bag and throws it on the back seat. Then, he looks out of the window and crosses his hands angrily in front of his chest.)
ALEC
-PLEASE SHOW SOME RESPECT YOUNG MAN!
-DON’T FORGET WHAT WE CAME HERE FOR!!!
His driving becomes more nervous and reckless. He looks upset and sad at the same time.
YIANNIS
-How can I forget? HOW? I was standing next to you at the funeral yesterday, wasn’t I? As a reminder, Grandma to me wasn’t a close relative. Grandma was the person who raised me up when mum and yourself were BUSY WORKING!!!
(Yiannis is getting emotional.)
ALEC
(Also upset)
-THEN SHOW THAT WITH YOUR ACTIONS!
-YOU LOOK NOT BOTHERED AT ALL!!!
YIANNIS
-What do you want me to do? Lose myself in grief?
-Will that make YOU feel better?
-Will misery bring grandma BACK? Is THIS something she would like?
- Grandma always wanted us to smile and be happy! Look how pathetic we sound right now!!!
(Yiannis looks like he is about to burst into tears.)
ALEC
(Apologetically)
-Sorry…I didn’t… I’m…Sorry!
(He stays silent for a while but then his face changes looking surer of what he wants to do)
-Let me show you something.
(He turns the car left and goes down a steep road. The road condition is terrible as there is no asphalt on)
YIANNIS
-Where are we going?
ALEC
-Somewhere nice and quiet. One of the many places I have strong memories of.
(As they go down they see a fantastic beach in front of them).
YIANNIS
-This is amazing! Wow!
ALEC
-The last few days, since my mum was gone, I can’t stop picturing the first memory I can fully recall… …I was just a toddler when I had almost drawn. I was playing on the seaside with a floating toy, a yellow duck, which I accidentally pushed off my reach and the last thing I remember, I was screaming to get out.
YIANNIS
-You told me that story before! All you can remember was a hand, pulling you out and literally saving your life. It was Grandmother’s hand.
(The car stops. They are in front of a beautiful beach)
ALEC
-What I have never told you is how scared I was when I got out soaking wet, thinking my mum would punish me for being naughty and the sweet, warm hug I received instead… What a lovely feeling of comfort it was!
-I kept it deep inside me all these years … When I had you; I promised myself I would do my best for you to feel the same!
(They both come out of the car and they stand staring at the glorious sea)
YIANNIS
-I can’t complain… I received a lot of love from the whole of my family… Except for YOU AND MUM!
ALEC
-WHAT?
-Do you say this to hurt me even more? Is this how you thank me for everything WE provided you? WE WORKED DAY AND NIGHT TO MAKE SURE YOU WON’T MISS A THING!!! THAT’S NOT FAIR!
YIANNIS
-Who said I wanted all of this? Were you there for me when I fell off the bed and I nearly broke my arm? Were you there to put me on the bus on the first day of secondary school, when I was shivering from anxiety and fear before the unknown? Where have you been when I needed someone to talk to about girls, studies, bullies, and myself…?
ALEC
(Sighs)
-I’m terribly sorry son! I guess… Being an immigrant, this is my payback, my fate!
Trying to build up life from ruins, working day in, and day out, I lost my goal, and I forgot what my family really needed!
(Alec shaking his head in regret, looks Yiannis in the eye)
-How can you ever forgive me?
He bursts into tears.
Yiannis makes a clumsy move to hug his dad but he does it in a way that they both fall on the hot sand which makes them stand straight on as the heat is unbearable!
They both start laughing!
YIANNIS
-That was a hell of a tackle!
ALEC
-Caught me off, guard mate! But it was a good one!!!
YIANNIS
(Holds his father’s hand)
- I need you to be more around dad!
ALEC
-I’m sorry son! I’m so sorry! It was not deliberate! That’s how life is.
-I guess… In order to achieve something, you lose something else, unfortunately.
YIANNIS
-I… it’s alright dad. I understand now…
He hugs his father tightly and sighs with relief.
ALEC
-Let’s make a new start today! Let’s use this opportunity to get closer to each other and spend more fun time together! Let’s make an unforgettable holiday out of this!!!
(He sounds relieved now. He goes back to his seat. Yiannis takes a look on the beach and gets back in the car. )
YIANNIS
-That’s the best idea ever! How many days have we got left? I’ve lost count!
ALEC
-Three weeks! Plenty of time to spare!
YIANNIS
-Another unexpected gift from grandma! It seems like she made sure we’ll enjoy the most of our stay here!
ALEC
-She is still looking after us for sure… What shall we do then?
YIANNIS
-I would say a road trip is a must-do!
ALEC
-GREAT! Any ideas where to start from?
YIANNIS
-I’ve actually got it… I’ll give you a hint. City, named after Alexander the Great’s sister turned to be a mermaid and stopped the ships asking: Is King Alexander still alive?
ALEC
-MY Thessaloniki… That’s an offer…
YIANNIS
-…you can’t refuse! Yes!
ALEC
-Greek myths are too good to be forgotten!
(He starts the car and drives)
-I’ve got an idea! To make our drive more fun, there is a podcast we can listen to. It’s this archaeologist who talks about our…
YIANNIS
-OUR Great Greek heritage? SERIOUSLY? Will you start over again?
ALEC
(Laughing)
-You are right son; I got overexcited, once more!
-Let’s listen to some music instead!
YIANNIS
My choice this time!
Grabs his father’s phone and sets the tune-up to play on the radio using Bluetooth technology. He chooses a song from a playlist containing U2 songs. Music starts playing. He sings along… << It’s a beautiful day>> … The car starts moving. Drives up the hill, back on the main road. Further down, yellow wheat fields with cypresses are on either side. Yiannis pops his head out of the car and shouts the lyrics out loud. His father is feeling bliss and blows the horn shouting with relief << It’s a beautiful day>>…
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