Event

Alfred Thinks We're Aliens

ALFRED, an imaginative seven-year old boy, dreams of going to space and discovering 'lots of types of aliens.' His passion is displayed by his self-made spaceman costume, which he wears proudly around the house. Though his personal ambitions are evident, his relationships with his teenage sister, GRACE, and most notably with his detached mother, CAROLINE, leave something to be desired.By approaching her the only way he knows how, with quiet sneakiness and a playful jump across the lap, Alfred attempts to gain the attention and affection of his mother.After rejections from both his mother and sister, Alfred finds an unlikely playmate with his mother's new boyfriend, BRYAN. One afternoon, as Alfred returns from school, he presents Caroline with a drawing he made. The sketch features Caroline and Grace as skinny green aliens while Alfred and Bryan are depicted as regular humans. Caroline, puzzled by the picture, reluctantly hangs it on the refrigerator.After another rebuff by his sister, Alfred sneaks up on Caroline while she pretties herself in the bathroom and fires his laser gun at her. Startled, Caroline snaps at him, telling him he has to stop playing around, adding, 'We are not in space, and I am certainly not an alien!' Alfred storms out of the room, strips off his space suit, and cries on his bed.Later that night, after gazing once more at Alfred's drawing, Caroline apologizes to Alfred and embraces him in his bed as they both stare up at his star-filled ceiling.