"I can't keep my heart from you, baby, but you keep it on a string." - Candi Staton, Heart on a String (Candi Staton)
What Jessica wrote was for true.
This is almost.
INT. KITCHEN. CHRISTMAS NIGHT.
A MOTHER, FATHER, and SON are milling about as they each put the finishing touches on their parts of dinner. The SON, single and soon-to-be thirty, hovers over the ham, grazing as his FATHER talks to no one in particular about the day's gifts.
FATHER: What I want to know is was anyone surprised by any gift this year?
SON: Well, I didn't ask for anything so I was, of course, quite surprised.
MOTHER: I didn't even ask you what you wanted.
SON: I like that better. I do for myself at this point so I'm more curious to see what people think I might want or might like or might need. That's also why I never ask what anybody wants. The fun is in the picking and the giving. Am I right?
FATHER: Well, I'm wearing the cologne you got me, son, but I was most surprised by what your sister gave. She's been paying attention.
SON: Really, I'm glad that we are all prosperous at the same time.
MOTHER: Yeah, isn't that great? [She turns towards her son, considering him for a moment.] You're looking thinner. I can see it in your face.
SON: I haven't lost any weight. Leaner maybe, I've been working out.
FATHER: You're living pretty well, aren't you? I tell everyone that you're the only person in this family I don't have to take care of.
MOTHER ignores the comment and continues.
MOTHER: You should get married.
FATHER: You're about to turn thirty, son. Your mom is worried about you. [chuckles]
MOTHER: That's not it. I just think you'd make someone a great husband.
FATHER: Yeah, that's true. Are you dating anyone? Seriously?
MOTHER: Don't pressure the boy.
FATHER: You're pressuring the boy.
MOTHER: I'm not. I just think there are lots of assholes out there and some nice girl could have a real man with our son.
SON: Well, I have this joke with Tracy. She'll say,"You know what? We're desirable" and I say, "You know what? If you were to look up 'catch' in a dictonary...well, there's a picture of me but right next to me, there's a picture of you."
MOTHER: See that? You're charming and funny, too.
FATHER: But here's what else I want to know: What do you think about, uhhh, same-sex marriage?
This non-sequitor leads to a long and powerful conversation about rights and prejudice and government and child rearing and morality and the bible and what the SON believes. At the end of it, MOTHER considers her son again.
MOTHER: You really should get married.
SON [smirking]: To a man?
FATHER: Oh God, no. You're kidding? He's kidding, right?
SON: I gotta go.
MOTHER: Okay, dear. Get married, okay?
SON: Okay.