Luxembourg

Scene 1

A WOMAN (Elanore, the protagonist) is walking towards her childhood home, dragging many suitcases and bags behind her. It is late afternoon, and the sun has just set over Luxembourg. She turns down the familiar street with a line of pollarded trees along the middle. Tears well in her eyes but she brushes them aside with the edge of her knitted sleeve. Her steps slow as she reaches the gate of her childhood home and the suitcases bump against the cobblestones. Her hand reaches out and touches the gate, memories swelling inside her as her pale hand brushes the cold metal. She crumples in a broken heap, crying out. Nora and Claire rush out of the house, having heard a woman's cries. Elanore glances up, tears still streaming down her face. Having stopped on the threshold, her mother and sister hasten down the stairs to greet her. Elanore registers their actions and clumsily wipes away her tear and walks up the footpath, trying to pull herself together. She makes a small smile in their directions and sniffs, and wipes her eyes and opens the door. Nora and Claire exchange a look and follow after her, their hopes of a jubilant reunion forgotten.