Paradise Diner
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Final Scene-XI
(The diner is decorated with banners for the Rally that read “Save Our Diner!” and “Stop the Developers!” A band is getting set up, the tables and chairs have been pushed back and everyone is excited. Susan is passing around buttons to people that have a bulldozer with a red line through it. Jill comes up to her, excited)
Jill: Mom! Channel Three called and they’ll be here soon! They said we’ll definitely be on the 11 o’clock news and that they’ll rerun it tomorrow at dinner time!
Susan: (Hugs Jill) This is exciting! Well, if we go out, we’re going out with a bang!
Jill: Don’t say that mom, we’re not going out! We’ve been working our tails off! Our lawyer says they might not give up for quite awhile, but if we can keep up the pressure, we might just win.
(Jason and the others come over and crowd around them.)
Susan: Jason, do you kids have the speech all ready?
Jason: Yep! We’re all taking a turn–it’s really good, too. We’ve put all sorts of stuff in there-how we’ve all grown up around the diner–how much we respect you and your Dad for being successful, hard-working businesspeople–
Bo: How depressing it is for us as young people to see the smaller guy getting shoved out by the one with more money...
Rachel: How we’re not going to give up and how we’re going to fight this because you can’t give in to bullies–
(There’s a commotion by the door. Jaspar and Smitty come stomping in looking for Buck and Susan. Buck comes out of the back.)
Jaspar: Buck! Susan! You’ll never guess what happened! We shot that developer–that Todd Hering weasel!
Buck: You shot him?
Smitty: With this! (holds up a video camcorder) We’ve had him under our surveillance and you’ll never guess what we saw. (Holds up the camcorder while everyone crowds around it and watches.)
Susan: Who is that...Chris?
Jill: Oh my gosh...
Jason: Hering’s acting like his best friend...
(They all gasp together.)
Buck: What the Sam hill...did he just give him a pay off! I can’t believe it...
Jaspar: Oh there’s more. We’ve been doing a little investigating and it seems that Mr. Camello has taken a number of trips compliments of the Hering family. That little jaunt he took to Jamaica recently? That was all set up and paid for by Todd Hering’s parents–there’s a paper trail too.
(Susan looks in shock.)
Darla: That snake…
Jill: Oh Mom, I’m sorry...
Darla: Boy, you think ya know someone! What a yellow-livered-yellow-bellied-yellow-eyed...well, he’s yella!
(Woman lawyer walks in and talks to Buck for a second. They go back into the kitchen. Carrie comes rushing in wearing an elaborate gown with a sash across it that reads “Design by Carrie.”)
Carrie: Is Channel 3 here yet?!
Jill: Carrie, what on earth are you doing?
Carrie: This is a big chance for me….
Rachel: I thought this was about the diner.
Carrie: (Looking out the window for the TV van.) It is, it is. But I’m just showing off this season’s latest in “protest wear.” It’s all connected, Rachel.
Jason: Here comes the TV crew!
(A reporter and two camera people enter the diner. Buck comes out from the back and there’s a few seconds of milling around and positioning everyone. The reporter gets ready to interview Buck and Susan, the cameras in position.)
Assistant cameraperson: And we’re taping in three, two, one.
Reporter: We’re here with Buck and Susan Richards, whose diner has been threatened by local developers. Mr. Richards, tell us how this all happened.
Buck: No, I don’t have to.
Susan: (looks at him sideways.) Dad….
Reporter: I’m sorry?
Buck: I said, I don’t have to.
Susan: Forgive us, my Dad gets a little confused sometimes. (Aside to Buck.) Dad, what are you doing? We want to tell them the story so everyone will know about it.
Buck: No we don’t.
Jill: Grandpop, they want to know about the threat to the diner, would you like me to tell them?
Buck: No, you don’t have to, either. And you’re going to Princeton in the fall, as planned!
Jill: What are you talking about?
Buck: (Smiles really big). The township supervisors have flatly denied the Hering Brothers proposal—WE WON!!
(Everyone cheers! The band starts playing something and everyone dances around. Darla, Randy, Susan, Buck, Reese, Jaspar, Smitty, Miss Mamie and Dot all dance with the teenagers. Carrie makes sure she’s in front of the camera as much as possible. Eventually Reese comes out of the back wearing an apron.)
Buck: AND EVERYONE—MEET OUR NEW DISHWASHER!! (everyone cheers) KIDS…you believed in something and you made it all happen! You’re the heroes!!
(More dancing and celebrating. Buck awkwardly climbs up on a table and carefully dances a victory dance. Everyone is jubilant. Jason pulls Jill over to the side of the stage.)
Jason: (Shyly) I applied to Texas A&M—I sent them a few of my poems…anyway—I got a small scholarship to study English Literature…it’s not a lot of money…
(Jill gives him a big smile, they kiss.)
Buck: (From the table) PULL THOSE TABLES BACK OUT! GET OUT THE MENUS!! WE’RE SERVING LUNCH JUST LIKE WE DO EVERYDAY HERE AT PARADISE DINER!!
(Perform Another Lunchtime in Paradise Reprise)
THE END