Blizzard at the Diner!
Scene: Inside of an old diner off a seldom used State Road. It is the morning of Christmas Eve. It is snowing outside. Other than LOIS the Waitress, LOU the Cook and an elderly regular named MERLE; the establishment is quite empty.
Merle: It's really coming down. I hope that I can make it back to the antique shop and close her down before it's up over my knees.
Lois: How are you getting home from there, Merle?
MERLE: Josie's son has a snow plow on his truck. He said he'd pick me up after he got off work with the phone company.
LOIS: My! It's really blowing hard out there. There ain't a soul on the main drag.
LOU: Merle? You want some more coffee? I'm thinking of pouring the rest all out and closing up early.
MERLE: I did. And some of that apple pie over the counter.
LOU: You want that heated up?
MERLE: If it's no bother!
LOIS: I lied! There is a car. Coming right down the middle of the road. It's heading this way.
MERLE: Is it a car?
LOIS: They see us, but found a patch of that ice by the corner. Lou! Come see this!
LOU: Do I need my coat? Anybody hurt?
LOIS: Nah! He corrected her out. They just parked out front! But come see this lady. She looks like she is about to pop.
LOU: What? (He goes to the window) Oh! The lady is pregnant! Well! Let me get my coat anyway. Don't need her falling down in front of the diner and hurting herself.
MERLE: Where are their plates from?
LOIS: Looked like Ohio when they spun around the first time. Look! They got two kids! Open the door! Open the door!
A very pregnant TAMMY, husband JACK and their 2 kids ZACK and MOLLY quickly duck in from the cold.
Jack: Wow! We couldn't have found this place any sooner!
LOU: Anyone hurt or sick?
TAMMY: I'm sorry! Pee break!
JACK: Every hour on the hour like clock work!
Molly: (To MERLE) It's because she is having a baby!
MERLE: Is that so?
JACK: I'm sorry! Are you even open? Being Christmas Eve and all.
LOIS: Don't you mind! We are open, warm and have coffee, soda or anything you'd like.
TAMMY: I'd like the bathroom first.
LOIS: Oh, Darlin' Follow me! Right this way!
LOIS and TAMMY exit off to the back of the Diner.
JACK: We just drove over from Easton! We're heading to Spiceland. Thought we could make better time on the side roads since holiday traffic was so bad. Didn't count on the weather. Boy! I was wrong!
LOU: Grab a booth! Wait! With your wife, maybe you'd like a table!
MOLLY: Daddy? Can we sit at the counter?
JACK: Sure we can!
LOU: Are you hungry?
JACK: Starving! We were supposed to save our appetites up for dinner at my wife's aunt's house, but the kids and I must be starving. And my wife could eat a cow right about now.
LOU: Let me fire up the grill! You like burgers?
MOLLY: Double cheeseburgers?
LOU: Make one special for you!
MOLLY: And a milkshake?
JACK: Molly!
LOU: In this cold? How about hot chocolate?
MOLLY: With a marshmallow?
LOU: Deal!
MOLLY: Deal!
MERLE: (To ZACK) You don't talk much! My name is Merle! Are you hungry?
MOLLY: He doesn't like bad weather!
MERLE: I don't blame him. But snow's not so bad!
MOLLY: He's afraid of lots of stuff. Especially bad weather like blizzards and the radio said we are in one.
MERLE: Not to worry! You're going to be OK! I've got to walk a whole quarter mile back to my store after lunch... and I'm not too scared.
MOLLY: See Zack! Don't be scared. He has to walk a mile and he's like 80.
JACK: Molly!
MERLE: Aw! Don't mind her! Sometimes with my arthritis it makes me feel 80.
LOIS reappears.
LOIS: Your wife's freshening up. She's gonna be OK! Said that you are heading over to Spiceland.
JACK: Well! We're trying.
LOIS: Spiceland's about 40 more miles east. How long a drive Lou?
LOU: To Spiceland? Less than an hour! But in this snow? I can't tell! Maybe 2 hours?
LOIS: What's everybody having!
MOLLY: I already gave my order!
LOIS: You did?
MOLLY: Double cheeseburger and hot chocolate!
LOIS: And you sir?
JACK: Same all around! Except for my wife. Can she have chicken strips... but no breading?
LOU: I think we can do that! Anything else?
JACK: I hate to ask this...
MOLLY: No, Daddy!
JACK: But she'd really like a side of baked beans!
MOLLY: She likes them alot she says because she's pregnant... but they make her fart!
ZACK: Molly!
MOLLY: I mean gas. She can clear a room!
ZACK: Molly! Don't say that!
MERLE: Ah, so he can speak!
MOLLY: He's just afraid of the weather!
ZACK: Oh, be quiet! You talk too much!
ZACK crosses the room and sits in a booth looking out the window at all the falling snow.
JACK: The kids are hungry and a little bit tired!
MERLE: (To JACK) Mind if I talk to the boy?
JACK nods
MERLE: Can I sit with you? Some snow, huh? Look at those tire marks! That was some spin, huh? Was it scary!
ZACK: Not really!
MERLE: That's probably because you didn't have time to get scared! It seems like the more time you have to think about what really scares you, you're really just scaring yourself from the thought of being scared. (Reaches into his pocket and pulls out a handful of coins) Here! Now why don't you and your sister take these over to that jukebox and play some music you like. Bet that will take your mind off of... what ever it was it that you were scared of in the first place!
MOLLY: We both have a new $50 bill from our Grandma for Christmas, but we aren't supposed to spend it!
MERLE: Well then let these coins be my Christmas present to you!
MOLLY: Come on, Zach! I want to pick some songs. I want to pick some with you!
TAMMY returns from the bathroom.
TAMMY: All better! Are we ready to go?
JACK: I just ordered some food for us to eat!
TAMMY: You what? You know that Aunt Hannah has been cooking all morning...
JACK: And we have been driving for hours. We need a little break. Just for a while! Then it's back out there and off to Hannah's.
TAMMY: I don't know! Maybe the kids won't eat later and...
LOIS: Here! (Placing baked beans and a small salad in front of TAMMY) You look like you may need some energy!
MOLLY: Beans make Mommy fart!
ZACK: Stop it, Molly!
TAMMY: I don't know if I should?
JACK: Eat! It's been a long day!
MERLE: (Looking out the window) Uh Oh, Lou! Here come Lukas!
LOU: Lois! Go lock the door! Or just stand by it! Tell him to move on!
LOIS: I'll just stand by the door and shoo him from inside.
JACK: Who is it?
LOU: Town vagrant! Lives under a bridge, I guess, down by the train trestle.
LOIS: He's a bum. He used to come in here and beg for food, but all he does is bother people. He used to scare away customers. So we don't allow him in. If he had money that would be one thing, but he hasn't got a dime to his name.
TAMMY: But it's Christmas Eve...
LOIS: He's got family somewhere. I'm tired of cleaning up after him. He tried to wash his socks in the bathroom sink once. He can just move on!
LOU: Burgers are up!
The family sits at the counter while some Christmas songs play. They all look over their shoulders and watch as LUKAS looks through the window. He is shaggy with a beard and a tattered coat. The family can hardly finish their meal. They whisper.
ZACK: Dad! Do something!
JACK: Like what?
ZACK: Buy him something to eat.
JACK: He's not allowed in. Why should we bring someone like that in here?
MOLLY: Because Zach is NOT afraid of him... and he's afraid of everything.
JACK: Excuse me Lou... Can I get a take out?
LOU: For the road? Sure thing!
JACK: A burger, fries, beans, soup, salad... whatever you got!
LOU: Coming up!
LOIS: Your husband plans ahead. Food in case you have trouble on the road with the car.
TAMMY: (Catching on) My husband is quite the thinker.
MERLE: Lukas is still wandering around out there. Poor fella. Wonder why he don't get help somewhere. They have them agencies.
TAMMY: Maybe no one ever got him to an agency.
MERLE: Cops will pick him up, no doubt. He'll be warm for Christmas down at the station, I imagine.
Horn honks. It is the truck MERLE has been waiting on.
MERLE: Rain check on that pie, Lou! Well... make it a snow check, right Kids? I'm going to head on home and...
JACK: I'll take that warm pie. Put it in the bag and total us up.
LOIS: Sure thing! It's $12.24.
TAMMY: (To JACK) It's 12 - 24, Jack!
JACK: Yes! It is!
MERLE: Well! I'll pay my tab on Friday, as usual, if that's OK with you, Lois!
LOIS: We trust ya, Merle.
JACK: Wait up! I'll walk out with you! I've got to start the car and warm it up. Kids! Eat up! We have to get back on the road!
TAMMY: Listen to your Father.
JACK and MERLE walk outside. MOLLY goes to the window booth to pick up some left over change and bring it back to LOIS. She sees her Father and gives the play by play.
MOLLY: Mommy! Dad and Mr. Merle just walked over to that man with the beard. He is sitting on the ground. Now he is getting up. Daddy just gave him our food. Now he is eating it under that store sign. Mr. Merle is talking to Daddy. They are coming back to the car. Daddy is opening the trunk. He has a suitcase. Mommy! Daddy must be looking for something... It's gloves... and socks... and a sweater... and a snow jacket. He's going back to that man and...
MOLLY comes back to her seat at the counter. She can hardly speak. The diner is quiet!
TAMMY: Yes, Darling! I love, Daddy too! Very very much!
ZACH plays one more song on the jukebox as JACK walks in.
ZACH: Great news! Merle's son in law is going to lead us with his plow all the way back out to the highway. We should be at Hannah's before 2:30!
TAMMY: Great! My cellphone is recharging in the car. I'll call her and tell her we're on our way!
JACK: Are we ready? Then let's go!
MOLLY: I love you, Daddy! And if Aunt Hannah asks, you can say Mommy had to stop for gas!
JACK: Get in the car, Silly!
ZACH: You are pretty cool for a Dad!
JACK: I have a pretty special kid, too! (To LOU and LOIS) Thanks, Folks!
LOIS: Now you all be careful! And be extra careful with that baby.
LOU: Drive safe!
As they start to get in the car the man thanks the family. He even shakes hand with Molly she takes his hand for a moment. The family gets in their car and they follow the truck out of town. LUKAS walks in the Diner. He is wearing a nice coat, gloves and scarf.
Lukas: Yes! If it's no bother... I'd like to get a cup of coffee! Do you have change for a fifty?
Lights fade out to the glow of a small Christmas Tree in the window.