[Scene: A chilly autumn afternoon in a small UK village. Two friends, Emma and Jack, are walking past a row of houses decorated with vibrant holly bushes.]
Emma: (pointing to a holly bush) You see that, Jack? That family’s got the right idea—big, healthy holly right by the front door. Proper protection against witches.
Jack: (laughs) Witches? Emma, it’s 2025, not 1625. You do realise witches aren’t out there plotting against you, right?
Emma: Don’t roll your eyes at me! It’s an old tradition for a reason. Holly wards off evil spirits, especially witches. My nan swore by it. Never had a single bit of bad luck.
Jack: Your nan also thought tea cured everything, including broken hearts and sprained ankles.
Emma: And she lived to 92! That’s got to count for something.
Jack: Or it could be down to genetics, good diet, and the fact she didn’t smoke. Not a magic shrub.
Emma: You can joke all you want, but holly’s been used for centuries. People don’t keep traditions alive for nothing. It’s got those spiky leaves—nature’s own security system.
Jack: Security system? What’s it going to do, poke a witch in the eye if she tries to hex you? Come on, Emma. There’s zero scientific evidence for that. Witches aren’t real, and plants don’t have magical powers.
Emma: Easy for you to say now. But what if you’re wrong? What if there are things science can’t explain yet? You love your science, but it’s not got all the answers.
Jack: True, science doesn’t know everything, but that doesn’t mean anything goes. If you think holly scares witches, where’s the evidence? Show me a controlled experiment: house with holly, house without holly, and a witch attack in one of them. I’ll wait.
Emma: You’re ridiculous. Witches aren’t going to sign up for your little experiment, are they? “Excuse me, madam, could you please hex this cottage for science?” Yeah, that’ll go well.
Jack: Exactly my point! If we can’t even find a witch, why are we still planting anti-witch bushes?
Emma: It’s not just witches, Jack. It’s about tradition, good vibes, and… I don’t know, a sense of safety. Plus, it looks pretty, especially at Christmas. Doesn’t hurt anyone.
Jack: I’ll give you that—it does look nice. But believing it actually keeps witches away? That’s like saying garlic keeps vampires out. Fun in stories, not reality.
Emma: Tell that to Bram Stoker. Look, you stick with your science. I’ll stick with what feels right. And if some old witch decides to curse this village, guess whose house she’s avoiding?
Jack: Yours? Fine. I’ll just borrow some holly from you when that day comes.
Emma: (smirks) Too late. You mocked it. The holly spirits won’t help you now.
Jack: Oh no, I’ve angered the shrub gods. Better go apologise to a tree.
Emma: Make it a holly tree. And take a gift.
Jack: Sure. I’ll bring a packet of biscuits. Witches love biscuits, right?
Emma: Absolutely. Chocolate hobnobs are like witch kryptonite.
(They both laugh as they walk away, Emma still half-serious, Jack shaking his head with a grin.)
Science Vs Superstition 
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