Ann hangs up the phone, looking over to Billy and Scott with a rather bewildered expression.
“My parents aren't doing Thanksgiving. Their friends decided to go to Las Vegas last minute, and they invited my parents.”
“Woah, Thanksgiving in Vegas. Interesting.”
“I can't believe they're going to Vegas. My mother won't even play instant lotto.”
“Well Vegas is special. Besides, with all the Broadway show strikes, the best shot at getting a ticket is going to Vegas.”
Ann laughs, “That's true. My mother said she really wasn't looking forward to cooking anyway. They're going to go to buffets every night and have a grand Thanksgiving without me.”
“And get some quality alone time. Who knows, you could have another sibling in 9 months.”
Ann groans. “Scott! I don't need to hear about that.”
“You're right. What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas. Does that mean the kid would have to be given away to Nevada?”
“Maybe. Forever an orphan growing up in a casino, learning the games, eventually falling in with the wrong crowd.”
“Until one day he decides to get even and stages an elaborate con on the casino bosses, taking it for millions of dollars.”
“And as the police are tracking him down, he unexpectedly finds his birth mother who helps him avoid the cops and they form a new bond of friendship.”
“Brilliant! Alert Spielberg! We've got his next movie!”
“Ummm...sure. I'll get right on that. But first I'm going to try and find Tabitha. Since we're all apparently going to be here for Thanksgiving, we should do it right. Turkey, Pie, Cranberry sauce..”
“Pumpkin pie!”
“A real Thanksgiving meal! This beats Frank's offer to buy everyone turkey cold cuts and a can of pumpkin filling.”
Ann is making a pot of tomato sauce for dinner, and Tabitha is nearby, studying for a test.
“Going home again this year Tabitha? Got a big meal planned?”
“Actually, I'm staying here. I know it's not that much money on Metro North, but I was just home last weekend and my mother rarely remembers that I'm a vegetarian and makes almost all the food with chicken broth or meat of some kind.”
“Bummer. I'm looking forward to going home. We're having deep fried turkey, and my father makes a delicious stuffing.”
“Deep fried turkey just sounds so disgusting. I'm just going to miss my uncle's apple pie. I'll have to have him make one for my birthday.”
“I think most of us are staying home. So you should have some company at least. Just don't let Scott try to cook anything.”
“I know better than that. I think I'll make a pumpkin pie.”
“Sounds terrific. I'm sure there won't be any left when I get back though.”
“Probably not with those two vultures staying.”
“Wow, you're right. I'm the only one leaving aren't I? Don't have too much fun without me.”
“I'll try to restrain myself. I'll probably end up doing some schoolwork anyway.”
“Oh poo. You can't do schoolwork on a holiday, that's just wrong.”
“If you stopped drilling me about thanksgiving plans and pies, maybe I could study now.”
“Oh? It's my fault is it?”
“Probably mine for trying to study out here. I figured it'd be semi-quiet since the guys and Sara went to the bar to watch the Islanders-Rangers game.”
“Well, it is quiet. I don't need to talk if you don't want me to.”
“Can I turn the tv off? It's just Ace of Cakes anyway, and Frank has this episode on DVD.”
“Frank has the Ace of Cakes DVD? That's kind of weird.”
“It was probably just an impulse buy. Him and Sara are not very good at saving money.”
“You know what? Forget it. I'm too hungry and the sauce smells too good to study. Let's watch Ace of Cakes!”
Sara arrives home after having dinner with some coworkers Friday night. The apartment is oddly empty, except for Frank, who is just watching cartoons and drinking a beer.
“Hey Frank. Where is everyone? You drinking alone tonight?”
“Oddly enough, Ann, Billy and Scott are all working, and Tabitha’s on a date.”
“Right right, she’s got that date with the lawyer tonight.”
“Still, drinking alone and watching cartoons isn’t your proudest moment.”
“At least I’m watching Family Guy, it could be worse. I could be watching ..I dunno, Fraggle Rock?”
“Hey! Don’t knock the Fraggles!”
“You’re right, the Fraggles are cool. I could be watching Dragon Ball Z or something. Better?”
“Yes. Okay, at least you’re not watching that. I guess, how about I join you and then you won’t be alone at least.”
“Grab a beer, pull up a chair, make yourself at home!”
“Luckily, I AM at home. I’ll sit on the couch though, more comfortable.”
Frank moves his feet from the couch, sitting in a more upright position and reaches for his beer.
“I’m empty. Better bring me a refill.”
“And if I don’t?”
“Then it’ll be you that’s drinking alone and watching cartoons.”
“Good point.” Sara replies, walking over with two beers.
“This beer is pretty good, what is it? Why is there no label?”
“That would be Scott. The last time he drank too much he decided he liked the surprise of not knowing what kind of beer he was getting, and removed all the labels.”
“What’d he do with the labels? I hope he didn’t eat them.”
“I think he just threw them out. Why would he eat them? ”
“Why would he pull the labels off?”
“Touche.”
They sat in silence a while, watching the tv and drinking their beers.
“It’s a little later now, I guess Tabitha’s doing okay on her date, hasn’t bailed yet.”
“Depends on where they went. Tabitha’s not the type to duck out of a movie or dinner before the check has arrived.”
“She ducks out of movies, what about when we all went..”
“Aqua Teen Hunger Force? She said she makes exceptions for really really bad movies, and I don’t blame her decision on that one, I wish I had gone with her.”
“I’m surprised you guys went to see it was us anyway. By the way, what are you doing for thanksgiving? You sticking around?”
“Yeah, I was planning on it. Unless no one else is going to be here, I don’t want to be alone.”
“I’ll be here. John is going to be away and he's the only one in my family that doesn't relentless implore me to give up poker and get a 'real job'. The last time I was home, my mother handed me the phone and said 'it's for you'. It was a job interview she had set up for me!"
"Ouch. That sucks. I'll be here too. We'll have to make a point to have some turkey and rolls on Thursday."
"Pumpkin Pie also. It'd help if Tabitha or Ann were staying, they're the ones that really cook."
"I know. I'm pretty sure they're both going home to their families though."
"Bummer dude."
“Bummer dude? Are you a Ninja Turtle or something?”
“Now there's a cartoon we could watch next!”
“Billy has some of them on DVD somewhere doesn't he? I'll go grab them. I always had kind of a crush on Raphael.”
Frank bursts out laughing. “Oh, I'm never letting you live that one down!”
Sara glares at Frank and retrieves the DVDs, and goes to the fridge to get another round.
“Uh, Frank...We're out of beer.”
“Out..but there was so many..” Frank trails off as he sees the many empty bottles littering the coffee table. “Oh..I guess that kind of makes sense.”
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