INT. DINER. Tense silence between ABIGAIL and DAD.
ABIGAIL
I’m so sorry.
(silence)
Dad. Please say something.
(silence, continued eating, snippets of conversation and bussing tables.)
JOHN
Make an appointment.
ABIGAIL
Will you come with me?
JOHN
(still cold)
Well, of course. I have to see that this goes through.
ABIGAIL
Thank you.
JOHN
Don’t thank me.
WAITRESS enters.
WAITRESS
Y’all finished over here?
ABIGAIL
Yes, thank you. We’ll just take the check please.
JOHN
(insistent)
How about some dessert?
ABIGAIL
Okay… yeah, sure.
JOHN
We’ll have a slice of carrot cake.
WAITRESS
(skeptical)
I’ll get that right out for ya.
ABIGAIL
(more relaxed, but still timid)
So... do you have any ideas?
JOHN
About what?
ABIGAIL
(hopeful)
A name.
JOHN
A name?
ABIGAIL
I know it’s early, but -
JOHN
(cutting her off)
Why would we name it?
ABIGAIL
(timid again)
Oh... I guess we can wait a couple months.
JOHN
Wait--- you need to take care of this now.
ABIGAIL
You just said not to name it, though?
JOHN
You don’t name a mistake, Abigail!
(WAITERS come out singing “Happy Birthday” to a different table.)
JOHN
What in God’s name - forgive me, Father - would lead you to believe that our community would accept this?
(continued)
I will not allow you to make a mockery of this family.
ABIGAIL
I can’t just get--
JOHN
You can. And you will.
ABIGAIL
Daddy, please, it’s a sin!
JOHN
What you did was already a sin.
ABIGAIL
Please, I’ll go to confession and plea for forgiveness, I’ll do anything just please don’t take him away Daddy!
JOHN
(overlapping)
This is not up for discussion. The Church will not accept this and you will not drag my good Pastor name through the mud!
(silence)
WAITRESS
Alrighty, one slice of carrot cake and two forks. Can I get anything else for ya?
JOHN
Just the check, please.
(John takes a fork and goes in to take a bite. Abigail sits there, too scared and ashamed to move. As JOHN goes in for his second bite...)
JOHN
Well, are you gonna eat?
Well, are you gonna eat?
(Abigail picks up her fork, but just stares at the cake, not taking a bite.)
JOHN
(hushed)
I would like to share one damn meal with my grandson.
I would like to share one damn meal with my grandson.
ABIGAIL
Or granddaughter…
WAITRESS
Granddaughter?! Oh, congratulations! I knew from the moment you walked in, honey, you got that beautiful pregnancy glow. My cousin just had her first baby and oh, is she just the sweetest thing, you’re gonna love being a mother! Have you thought of a name yet?
JOHN
No.
No.
WAITRESS
Well, here’s the check. Good luck to the both of ya!
Well, here’s the check. Good luck to the both of ya!
(Exeunt WAITRESS)
JOHN
And we’ll never pick one either.
And we’ll never pick one either.
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