Act Eleven - The Visitor at Dinner

Kitchen Table. Everyone at seat. Randolph Howard in Lori’s seat. Awkward silence (Camera spans different faces) Lori brings in food. (Plates already dished up) Asks Skyler to help. 

Everyone: (Taking small bites and making weird faces. RH eats quickly and enjoys. Ian eats but more slowly.

Evangeline: (Look at food. Didn’t try it)(motions for Lori to come over. Lori bends over) Can you put some chicken nuggets in for me? (medium loud voice)

Ian: (Glares at Evangeline) 

Lori: (nods, glances at Ian) Okay. (Whispered tone. Walks out)

Ian: So … What have you kids been up t today?

Zooey: Well – 

Ian: Actually, let’s start with Evangeline today.

Evangeline: I had a chat with the president today.

Randolph: You know the president?

Evangeline: Well, Sort of. A couple of phone calls and a few hundred bucks and you’ve got yourself conservation with the president of Switzerland. He’s actually a pretty cool guy. 

Ian: Where did you get said money?

Evangeline: I memorized your pin number from that one time you sent me to the grocery store when I was 10. And really your wallet is not very well hidden. 

Ian: (Glares, then moves one) Amelia, How about you?

Amelia: You know old Mr. Ivan down the street? I showed him the disadvantages of smoking and the benefits of quitting and he has agreed to stop smoking.

Ian: That’s great! I’m very proud of you. Isabelle, you’re next.

Isabelle: I researched the Cold War and learned about many of its underlying causes. Did you know that the Soviet Union still exists today?

Ian: Really?

Isabelle: Yeah, but they’re supposedly in hiding.

Ian: Interesting… (He and RH make eye contact) How about you, Whittney?

Whittney: I didn’t really do much actually. I had a really bad headache. 

Ian: (stares at W for a moment before turning to make eye contact again with RH.) We’ll look into that later. Zooey, now it’s your turn.

Zooey: I read five chapters in my calculus textbook and worked the problems. It was so easy!

Ian: Very Good! Calculus… I’m impressed. Skyler?

Skyler: I’m working on a new invention.

Ian: What is it?

Skyler: I uh... (Uncomfortable under RH’s stare) can’t tell you yet. It’s not ready.

Ian: Well, alright then.

Lori: (sets small plates of chicken nuggets in front of Evangeline) 

Everyone stares, longingly

Evangeline: (Eat one) (look up) You didn’t ask (crumple up napkin – hand cut off while setting it on stack. – camera zooms out and you see giant stack of napkins!)