The Dining Room Table by Casey Bell

This Play is the copyright of the Author and must NOT be Performed without the Author's PRIOR consent

SCENE ONE

The month is January this scene begins in the SMITH household. This
scene begins in Anthony’s and Mary’s bedroom.

Jeremy is looking through drawers, dressers, desks, and closets.

After going through a certain set piece, he makes sure to put it back
the way it was.

As he continues to search, he trips over a shoe and hits the
bookshelf. A book falls.

JEREMY: Damn it.

He picks up the book, and papers fall out of it.

He goes to pick up the papers, and notices something.

He sits and reads the papers. As he reads the papers tears begin to
flow from his eyes.

After a short pause he hangs his head.

MARY: (off) Jeremy, come on down. It’s time for super.

Frightened, he jumps.

JEREMY: I’m coming!

He puts the papers back in the book, and the book back on the shelf.

BLACKOUT

LIGHTS UP.

The scene continues in the dining room

The dining room table is now set for dinner.

It is old and worn. The legs are wobbly and the surface is rough.

Mary is placing the food on the table.

ANTHONY: (to Mary, referring to table) Don’t you think it’s time
to get a new one?

MARY: A new what?

ANTHONY: A new table. Look at it. It’s old, rusty, and ugly.
It’s time to buy a new table.

MARY: We can’t do that. This table has been in the family for
decades. It’s a family heirloom.

ANTHONY: It’s a piece of junk.

MARY: Anthony, I am not getting rid of this table. I’ll just fix it
up a bit and everything will be okay. I’ll fix the legs, and clean
the table. Maybe add a table cloth to it, to hide the scuffs and
scratches.

ANTHONY: Why can’t you just buy another one?

MARY: We are keeping this table and that is final. Case closed. Go
get the children, it’s time for supper.

He exits.

Mary continues to set the table.

A few moments later, BRIAN, DONALD, JEREMY, and ANTHONY enter

They sit at the table

JEREMY: When are you going to buy a new table? This one is ancient.

DONALD: I know. I hate eating on this thing.

ANTHONY: I was just talking to your mother about it. She said–

MARY: We are not getting rid of this table it’s a family heirloom.
It’s been in the family for centuries–

ANTHONY: I thought you said decades–

MARY: It’s been in this family for a very long time and we are not
getting rid of it. That’s enough talk about the table.

She sits

Now everyone, hold hands, it’s time to pray

They hold hands and bow heads.

Heavenly father, we thank you for this food we are about to consume.
We thank you for providing us with more than enough so that we may
have the strength to praise you. We ask that you consecrate this food
and protect us from all things that may harm us, In Jesus’ Mighty
Name. Amen.

They all say Amen.

Everyone begins to make their own plates separately

After a short pause

MARY: So, Jeremy how is college going?

JEREMY: Can’t wait until I get out and start working.

MARY: You make it sound so boring. I know when I was in college, I
enjoyed every minute of it.

JEREMY: I’d rather be working then in school.

MARY: I still don’t understand your major. Video Game Design?
Where is that going to get you?

JEREMY: I’m going to make video games for a living.

MARY: Video games? Why would you want to do that? Those games are so
violent and full of evil.

JEREMY: Not all video games have violence. It’s a great profession
and I enjoy design. You didn’t mind my major when I was providing
you free business cards.

MARY: That’s different. People need business cards. We don’t
need video games.

JEREMY: No, we don’t, but we have them. Besides, I’m working on a
cool video game. It’s called Kidnaper. The point of the game is to
find the kidnaper before he kills the child.

MARY: (Uneasy) Is that some kind of joke? You can’t be serious
about that.

JEREMY: Why not? It’s an every day event.

MARY: Well, you don’t have to go making games about it.

JEREMY: It’s just an idea. I have others.

MARY: Well, I still hope you think about another major. You should
think about Nursing or Medical Technology.

JEREMY: How about criminal justice. I can become a police officer and
catch the kidnapers myself.

MARY: That’s enough, Jeremy. (Changing the subject) Brian, how
about you? How’s college going? Are you keeping yourself out of
trouble?

BRIAN: Yes mother. I am staying out of trouble.

MARY: How are your grades?

BRIAN: They’re fine.

MARY: I hope so. Donald–

DONALD: My grades are good and I am staying out of trouble.

MARY: Good Donald. Is there anything you would like to ask your sons
Anthony?

ANTHONY: No thank you. I’m good.

MARY: Don’t you care about how your children are doing in your
classes?

ANTHONY: I am sure they are doing fine.

MARY: How do you know?

ANTHONY: If there was a problem the college would have called us.

MARY: It is not the college’s job to keep up with our children. It is ours.

ANTHONY: Mary, don’t do this in front of them.

MARY: Do what? What am I doing Anthony?

ANTHONY: Mary, just drop it.

MARY: All I am saying is the least you can do is care about their
education. I can’t care by myself.

ANTHONY: Which one’s do you want me to care about?

MARY: Is that some kind of a trick question?

ANTHONY: I care about all of my children. All of them.

Frustrated, he leaves the table.

[End of Extract]