Scene I
“I don’t want to.”
“But you have to.”
“Amelia, we buy you so many clothes can’t you find anything better to wear.”
“What are you doing?”
“I’m getting the game ready for grandpa’s party. Everyone we have to leave in 15 minutes. “
“Hayden go change your clothes.”
“You cant’ be outside if you aren’t ready to go.”
“I am ready.”
“No you are not. Okay, give me the ball. Stop everyone and listen. Your grandfather was born 90 years ago. We are going to look nice for his birthday party today. The grandparents grew up in a time when everyone looked their best when they left the house and if you show up looking like that they’ll think you’re street urchins. So go change.
Mother starts cleaning up kitchen. Gathering gifts and putting them in central location.
“I can’t find anything to wear.”
“If they weren’t all over the floor it would be a lot easier. “
Will you help me find something.
Where is your father.
I don’t know.
Mom gathering up socks and clothes strewn all over house as kids began to undress. Peaks in rooms as head up the stairs.
Hayden please put away the legos.
Enters room and husband asleep on the couch?
What are you doing?
No answer
We have a party we have to be at. We need to leave in 10 minutes. You know how my grandfather is we can’t be late.
Mom throws laundry in the basket. Shouting erupts from boys bedrooms. Mom runs into hall and finds the boys fighting.
“He took my crystal.”
“No I did not!”
“Yes you did.”
Mom struggles to separate boys and physically drags them into their own rooms.
“Just get dressed, we have to leave.”
“Can you help me tie my shoes”
Yes. Sit down.
Mom ties shoes and comes downstairs. Amelia sitting down playing at the computer.
“Amelia! Get to your room NOW.”
“I don’t have anything to wear.”
“Okay, if I go into your room and find outfits without any problem you are grounded for the weekend. “
Mom stomps into the bedroom and wades through cltohes and nick nacks on the floor as picking up articles of clothing here and there and entering closet and finding more lays several outfits out on the bed. Then returns to living room.
Guess what? I found you some clothes. Turn the computer off now.
Mom yell, “Okay everyone get into the car. “
Mom makes several trips to the car carrying, game board, extra food in a cooler.
“Where’s grandpa’s present? We have to go! Everyone get in the car”
Hayden appears in his nice church suit, way over dressed.
Hayden you can’t wear that.
“Yes I am!”
Simon appears.
Isaac – I can’t find a sock.
Look in the laundry room.
Have any of you seen the gift I wrapped for grandpa. It was about this big, green wrapping paper with Christmas trees on it?
Isaac reappears with mismatched socks.
Dad comes down the stairs and mom loading up one last bag to take to the car.
“What can I do to help?”
“It’s a little too late for that. We have to go now, you know how my grandpa is, he notices every second that you are late.”
Dad mills around kitchen getting a snack.
Have you seen grandpa’s present?
“No.”
Dad sees Hayden.
“Hayden go change you can’t wear your nice suit.”
“Yes I can stupid head. “
“Just let him wear it. I would rather they be overdressed.”
What time is it. We have to go NOW! Why are you eating?
It’s a long drive.
Anyone seen grandpa’s present
Mom frantically searches all over house as passes Hayden’s room notices wrapping paper protruding from closet. Enters in and finds present half unwrapped and shoved in closet.
“Crap.’
Meet me in the car. Last one there is the loser. Mom grabs the present, some wrapping paper and tape and races to the car. As opens back of minivan sees the dog’s head poke up from the back seat.
“Amelia we are not taking the dog.”
“Why not?”
“Because we are not.” She jumps all over everyone is loud and messy and barks at everyone.
“I promise I’ll watch her.”
“No Amelia we are not taking the dog. Go put her in her crate.”
As Amelia goes back inside the other boys file out of the house. Hayden with arms lade with oversized toy horse and other stuffed animals.
Hayden you can’t take all those toys.
“Yes I can stupid head. “
“Just choose two. Okay”
Mom goes in house. Everyone’s in the car now. Amelia exits and mom follows.
Everyone in the car, except Father.
Mom leans from passenger seat to start the car.
Father comes out munching on sandwich.
“No fair. I want a sandwich.” Says Hayden
“I want a sandwich no fair.’ Says Isaac
“Let’s just go.”
“Did you get Hayden’s medicine?”
No.
Father gets out of car to go get medicine.
“Get me a sandwich too.”
“I want a drink of water.”
Scene II Parents house
Megan Christian _ Abby Jason
Super organized. Mom all ready.
Christian keeping little kids out of the ornaments
Dad and Megan not home at Mall.
Where are they? We have to be leaving.
Take two separate cards.
Scene III
Who’s going to be there?
My parents, Megan and her family.
Will Chris be there?
Who knows?
I’m hungry.
Hello Hungry.
Stop it.
Stop it.
Mom Amelia’s copying me.
Mom Amelia’s copying me!
That’s enough be quiet.
When my Dad called to tell Chris he said they were really busy with Rachel’s family this holiday season. And since they spent Thanksgiving at my parents house, you know the whole two hours they spent at Thanksgiving, they needed to be with her family. He said they had some family birthday party that they were suppose to go to.
A birthday party more important than his grandfather’s 90th?
Well, it gets better. So then last weekend when we were at the Nutcracker with Rachel she said of course they would come. Mom mentioned the birthday and she said, the only birthday was that of her sister’s foster child, but they were having that on Saturday.
Scene IV Chris and Rachel
Scene V
Grandparents
Arrival
No grandfather present. Where is he?
Kids wacky wild.
We need to burn this energy off somehow.
Where can we take them?
There’s the miniature golf course.
Need grandma’s resident card.
Search the house for the card. Meanwhile children running wild, mother fretting that grandfather still absent.
We drive the cart to the course. Let one of children drive. Pulled over by local police. No minors can drive.
Bark but no bite. Its all right you used to drive the cart all the time when I was little.
Kids hanging out. Police stop again. Only one child in the cart.
At miniature golf course kids fighting over color of ball.
One wacks the ball each time sending it into the bushes.
Others run down the middle of greens. Senior citizen in the office yells, “Please stay on the paths”
Refuse to wait turn, hit ball repeatedly. Stand on green, in way of others, who’s balls bounce off them and they get angry.
Scene VI Chris and Rachel arrive
Car scene
Arrival
I think we need to call the police, grandpa is still missing.
Should we call the Olive Garden and see if he’s there?
Scene VII
Grandfather arrives home. “No one told me! No one ever tells me anything that goes on here.”
Mom yells at grandfather. Tension rises.
Chris and Rachel need to leave.
What you just got here.
No you just got here. We have another birthday party
Well, let’s eat the cake.
Where are the kids.
Went to play golf.
Well no one is even here. We’re not ready for the cake.
Call others and tell them to come home.
Cell phone left in car, ringing ringing.
Scene VIII
Miniature golf. Finally everyone calmed down and playing nicely. Divided into two groups.
Teaching not to whack ball, soft.
Mom arrives in huff and stomps through golf course. We’re calling and calling. Grandpa’s home, Chris Rachel waiting.
Scene IV
Stop golfing halfway through. Return clubs. Fight over who gets to go into cart.
Kids falling out, begging to drive.
Once turn corner into residential neighborhood, allows one of kids to drive in his lap.
Dad get ticket on way back, same police man.
Scene V
Happy party
Grandpa complaining about cake. Just want a simple cake. This too fancy. Just simple cake.
Aunt Anne who never stops talking.
Play historical game.
Kids have created Jeopardy of life of Grandpa jack. One category for every era.
Can’t hear. What?
Kids see coyote midway through game, sizzles afterwards.
Sing Songs – pouting kids, want to ride cart, didn’t get turn to drive. Santa hats, trying to get all to wear one but refuse.
Screaming kids tired.
Megan offers sleepover, Amelia grounded Allison upset, crying both girls. Kids fighting. Put some in one car, others in another.
Mom writes letter put in pocket reminding Grandpa about Christmas Eve. “Just so you can’t say no one told you.”
“Old man don’t jump.”
Closing scene:
Each car pulling off.
See you in two days for Christmas Eve!!
Door shuts.
It didn’t turn out so bad.
Notes:
White carpet, White furniture.
Grandma’s kisses – lipstick. Grandpa’s kisses on lips.
Everyone sitting around talking about grandpa’s life.
Our car loud noisy, Chris, Rachel quiet. Megan kids sleeping, when get to party have to decide to wake up, kids cranky when woken up.
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