14 June 2015

PROMPT:  "rest," she said, as she held the knife in her hand 

Caridad Svich, playwright, translator, songwriter, lyricist and editor 

Flossie, 39, picks up the knife from the table.  A large roast sits on the table in front of her.  Trisha, 17, stands next to Flossie watching intently.
FLOSSIE
I know it’s tempting to carve the roast right away, but first, we need to let it rest.
Flossie sets the knife down.
TRISHA
(picking up the knife)
Rest?!  I’m hungry!
FLOSSIE
I know you’re hungry, but it’s important to let it rest.
TRISHA
Why is it important that we...
(air quotes, mocking)
... “let it rest?”
FLOSSIE
Well, first of all, Trisha, patience is a virtue.
TRISHA
What crap!
FLOSSIE
It’s not crap.  We all have to learn to wait for things.  It’s a skill, like learning to tie your shoes.
TRISHA
That such bullshit.  That’s just something adults say to torture children.
FLOSSIE
I admit that sometimes I say it just to torture you, but not today.  Today, there are two other reasons to wait.
TRISHA
(annoyed)
And they are...?
FLOSSIE
We haven’t told everyone that dinner is ready and they need time to... wash their hands.
TRISHA
You mean, pee.
FLOSSIE
Okay, pee.  And the other reason is actually that the roast will taste better if we let it rest.
TRISHA
Why?
FLOSSIE
The juices inside are hot.  If we cut the roast now, they will all flow out onto the plate rather than staying in the roast.
TRISHA
(liking the idea of blood)
By juice you mean blood, right?
FLOSSIE
Some of it, I’m sure is blood, but there are fats...
TRISHA
Ewww...
FLOSSIE
Fats aren’t ewww...
TRISHA
I’m trying to stay thin and beautiful.  I don’t want any fat.
FLOSSIE
You need fat.
TRISHA
No I don’t!
FLOSSIE
Nutrition-wise, you do and you’re skinny enough...
TRISHA
(pinching her side and holding it out for Flossie to see)
That’s all fat!
FLOSSIE
No.  Mostly that’s skin...
TRISHA
And fat.
FLOSSIE
And those skinny women you see all over TV and the internet are not beautiful...
TRISHA
Dennis thinks they are.
FLOSSIE
If Dennis doesn’t like you for what’s on the inside...
TRISHA
He does!
FLOSSIE
I hope so...
Silence.
FLOSSIE
(continuing the lesson about resting a roast)
And the fat is where most of the flavor is.  It also helps keep the meat moist and tender.
Silence.
TRISHA
I still don’t want the fat.
FLOSSIE
Don’t eat it.  You’re seventeen years old.  You get to decide what you put in your mouth...
TRISHA
That doesn’t sound right.
FLOSSIE
Because you mind is always in the gutter.
Silence.
TRISHA
Should I call the family?
FLOSSIE
(big sigh, giving up)
Call them.
TRISHA
(shouting)
Dinner!
FLOSSIE
It’s no wonder they call us the loud family.
End of play.