A Very Special Thanksgiving Family Dinner
A dinner table, the door to the kitchen up center, and the front door is downstage left. Carolyn, an older woman, is setting the table, she opens a bottle of wine, maybe music is playing, she finishes setting the table and the door bell rings. Hearing it pains her, she takes a large swig from her bottle of wine and hides it. The door bell rings again.
Carolyn: It's open!
Doris enters
Doris: Hi Mom, happy Thanksgiving, how's Dad?
Carolyn: Oh you know your Father, it's not a holiday unless he's voiding his bowels as the family arrives.
Doris: of course, how's his heart? I heard he went to go see Dr. Tevelowitz last week?
Carolyn: His hearts fine, built like an ox, that man. He just went in for his check up and to call the doctor a shifty Jew.
Doris: Classic Daddy. (Looks around, panics) Oh shit, where are the kids. (Shouts) You little shits have three seconds to get in here, One! Two! (Two kids enter, Candy and Bryan) Say high to Grandma, and be nice about it.
Candy: Hi grandma! Did you know that Bryan got caught cheating on his math test last week?
Bryan: Shut up Candy! Hey Grandma, do you guys have Cable yet?
Doris: Bryan, what did I tell you? No tv. Hey, where is your brother?
Bryan: I dunno, Candy said he's an illegal so we don't have to watch him.
Doris: Candy you little bitch, Dylon is not an illegal he is your brother, he came out of me just like the two of you did, so I expect you to treat him like you would Bryan.
Candy: So I should hate him unreasonably?
Bryan: Hey!
Candy: And besides, that's not what I said! I said that he is an illegitimate so who cares what happens to him?
Doris: Candy, go get Dylon! (Candy Exits)
Carolyn: I don't remember Dylon, which one is he?
Doris: Oh sure you've met him Mom, I'm sure you'll remember him when you see him. (Candy enters with Dylon, a black kid.) Dylon, you remember Grandma?
Dylon: She left me in the middle of the street, and told me to wait until the police picked me up.
Candy: Shut up Dylon! No I didn't!
Doris: You kids go get ready for dinner, Candy, you're on thin ice young lady!
Candy: That's how your real parents died, they fell through the ice. (Kids Exit)
Carolyn: I don't remember the black one.
Doris: Mom, you've met him before, remember Dylon? My son?
Carolyn: No, that doesn't sound right...
Doris: Do you need help with anything Mom?
Carolyn: No, no, everything's been ready for since two, it's ok that everyone is three hours late. Now we're just waiting on your brother and Patrick, and your sister.
Doris: Uh oh, he's bringing Patrick? You know Dad's gonna flip out.
Carolyn: I've already dealt with your father, he will play nice tonight.
Doris: Alright, is there any wine?
Carolyn: Just a bit in the kitchen. (Doris exits, Carolyn takes another large swig from the bottle she has hidden, the door bell rings, she takes a swig, hides the bottle) It's open!
Danny and Patrick enter, Patrick is Latino
Danny: Hey Mom, happy thanksgiving!
Carolyn: Hey Danny! Happy Thanksgiving Patrick, you look thinner every time I see you.
Patrick: Oh Carolyn, you charmer. Happy Thanksgiving.
Danny: Are Doris and her kids here? I saw the Mom van parked out front.
Carolyn: Oh yeah, she's in the kitchen, she's got a black kid now.
Danny: Yeah, Dylon, I met him last week. Jeeze Mom, judge much? (Exits to the kitchen)
Carolyn: I just wish my kids would tell me when they have kids, even black kids. So Patrick tell me, how are things with my Son? Is he as stubborn as his father?
Patrick: Well, he had to get something from his father.
Carolyn: Well I sure hope it wasn't his father's tiny penis.
Patrick: Ok, so he got two things from his father.
They laugh and Patrick pulls out a flask and Carolyn pulls out her wine bottle, they toast and take drinks. She examines his face and rubs off some makeup
Carolyn: Ah I see he got another thing from his father, come on, I'll show you how to cover up like a champ, I've been doing it a lot longer. Bring the booze.
They exit. Danny and Doris enter from the kitchen, followed by a cloud of smoke, laughing and coughing.
Doris: Oh my god we haven't done that in Mom's kitchen since forever. So how are things with Speedy Gonzales?
Danny: Shhh!!! Not so loud, he doesn't know I told you that, he also doesn't know that three and a half minutes is not long enough for intercourse. Things are all right, he's been drinking more since we had that fight.
Doris: What fight?
Danny: Oh it's nothing, we just had a little fight, about coming over here, about dad, his drinking, my smoking, that failed three way we had.
Doris: Well if those videos I've seen are any indication, it gets better. I mean at least he's here with you, Gerald left me for that slut Ruth, his Slutty Secretary.
Danny: Ouch.
Doris: I mean, come on, how am I supposed to compete with that? Her job title is Slutty Secretary, I never had a chance.
Door bell rings
Danny: It's open!
Dahlia enters, she is the frumpy sister.
Dahlia: Hey guys, long time no see.
Doris: God Dahlia, I guess...
Danny: When will you stop lording over the rest of us? Just because you've been in school forever doesn't mean you are any better than us.
Doris: How is school, since that's all you want to talk about.
Dahlia: Uh, I've been out of school for like five years, you guys came to my graduation.
Doris: I think I would remember that.
Dahlia: Maybe it's all the pot you've been smoking, jesus guys open a window at least.
Danny: Oh Dahlia quit being such a wet blanket, marijuana is proven to increase your memory, so I guess I'm smarter than the school girl. Besides, it's medicinal, it says so on the bottle.
Dahlia: Yeah it's medicinal, for Dad, it's for his insomnia, not for you two to get high on.
Danny: (Danny and Dahlia laugh) Dad doesn't have insomnia. Look Dahlia, I know you don't know how things work in the real world because of your study groups and your adderall addiction, but Dad just SAID he has insomnia so he could get his weed card, and if we smoke a little of it to get through a family dinner no harm no foul.
Dahlia: Uh, except it's illegal Danny.
Doris: Oh Dahlia, quit being such a nerd. You need to get your head out of your test grades and your computer sciences. Now where are my kids? KIDS! (Kids enter) Kids, say hi to your aunt Dahlia.
Bryan: It smells like when Mr. Hill visits in here.
Doris: Shut up Bryan, sit down and get ready to eat. Ma, everyone's here we're ready to eat.
Carolyn: (Off stage) Hold your damn horses, we're coming. (Carolyn and Patrick enter) Alright time to eat. (She takes a large swig of her wine, finishing it. Goes into the kitchen and brings out food. The kids are messing around Doris is dealing with them, Danny and Patrick are arguing about what Patrick was doing with Carolyn in the bathroom, while he drinks from his flask, Dahlia is on her smart phone, Doris judges her for it. Carolyn sits down and begins to pray) Dear lord, who art in heaven, we thank you for this bountiful feast in front of us, not that you were the one who slaved in the kitchen all day. You didn't do anything to help prepare this meal, but still here I am thanking you for it, because well, that's the way it is. So thank you, thank you for all you've given me over the years, my shitty husband, my drinking problem, and three shitty kids. Doris, the whore who brought three children into this world two little shit stains and a bastard, Danny, who, if Patrick's bruises are any indication, is as big a piece of shit as his father, and finally lovely Dahlia, too smart to ever be happy, and too much of a sarcastic cunt to ever get a man. So thank you lord, for all the precious moments you've given me on earth, the fights, the ungratefulness, the bruises, and the wine, I can't thank you enough for the wine. Also I would like to thank you for the only thing I actually have to be thankful for this year, my shitty husband died on the toilet five minutes before everyone got here.
The family doesn't know how to react to any of this, this last part most of all. Then Dennis walks out.
Dennis: I ain't dead yet you old bag!
Carolyn: Thanks for nuthin! Amen.
Dennis: Hey, who's the black kid?
Black out.