THE LAST SUPPER: A comedy

By Alan Elsner

Ben and Susan Zucker-Feld arrive at the home of Rev. Jack Reed and his wife Virginia. Their children, Jessica and John, have recently become engaged. This is the couples' first meeting. The Reeds are Christian evangelicals who recently moved from Wichita, Kansas to the Washington DC are. The Zucker-Felds are Jewish liberals. The two couples try to bridge the gaps between their two worlds -- but find it difficult to forge a common language. When their children arrive, the Reeds unveil a surprise and the evening spins out of control.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Jun 1, 2021
• ISBN: 9781098374358

Book preview

explode.

ACT I

We are in the Reed’s living room, in a small house in the Maryland suburbs of Washington DC. The furniture is neat but well-used. Couch, bookshelf, some armchairs, old-style boxy TV in one corner. Big photo album on coffee table. On one wall a cross-stitched sampler reading God Bless Our Home; on another a framed oil painting showing a lurid sunset, clouds vividly stained by setting sun and the silhouette of a figure on a cross atop a hillside. A sideboard with family pictures. At the left-hand corner of the stage, we see the front door of the house; there is space on the other side for actors to stand and still be visible to the audience. On the right, a small kitchen, separated from the main room by a partition. Again, when actors are there, we see and hear them.

Ben and Susan stand outside the front door. He has a bottle of wine, she’s holding an extravagant bouquet. On the other side, inside the house are Jack and Virginia. The couples can’t hear each other as they speak between themselves.

SUSAN (speaking to Ben)

OK, remember what we agreed. No politics, no religion.

BEN (to Susan)

You told me a thousand times already. I get it.

JACK (speaking to Virginia)

That must be them; they drive a Prius. Figures.

VIRGINIA

I’m afraid they’ll look down on us with their fancy degrees.

JACK

We didn’t choose them nor they us; our kids chose each other.

SUSAN

And no politics. Stick to small talk.

VIRGINIA (to Jack)

I’ll do my best to welcome them. I’ve been cooking all day.

JACK

We just have to trust John to follow the right path, the way we raised him.

SUSAN (to Ben)

John seems like a good man. And Jessica loves him. This is for her, not us.

BEN

It’s just that - him an pastor, an evangelical ...

SUSAN

I know, I know. Our grandkids celebrating Christmas and Easter, becoming like …

BEN

Like strangers. My grandparents would roll in their graves.

SUSAN

Ben, let’s try to put all that aside, at least tonight.

VIRGINIA

As long as our grandchildren know Jesus and take Him into their hearts … Perhaps over time, Jessica will also draw nearer to Him.

JACK

I pray for that too. But for tonight, let’s just try to get along in a spirit of good fellowship.

BEN

OK ring the bell already. Let’s get the show on the road.

(Susan rings the bell. Virginia opens the door)

VIRGINIA (maybe a touch over-effusive)

Come in, come in, so wonderful to meet you. Jessica’s told us all about you. Welcome to our home.

JACK

Be it ever so humble. I’m Jack, this is Virginia.

(Ben and Susan step in. Jack sticks his hand out, after a tiny pause Ben shakes it. Virginia reaches out to hug Susan who is unsure how to react. They end up kissing each other awkwardly).

VIRGINIA

Please call me Ginny. All my friend do – and I just know we’re going to be friends. What gorgeous flowers. And so many. I’m not even sure I have a vase big enough to hold them all.

SUSAN

So lovely of you to invite us, er … Ginny. I’m Susan, this is Ben. We were going to reach out after the kids got engaged but you beat us to the punch – so to speak.

VIRGINIA

What can I get you to drink? Soda, fruit juice, tea, coffee, milk. I bought some herbal teas. I thought you might like them.

SUSAN (shocked)

Milk?

BEN

I have wine. A Pinot from the Russian River. (Reads from back of bottle) Smooth with hints of rose petals and red cherries. Scored 97 on Wine Spectator.

SUSAN

What delicious smells coming from your kitchen.

VIRGINIA

I’m making leg of lamb. I thought it was seasonal for the holidays coming up, yours and ours. I called Jessica to make sure you’d eat it. Lamb seemed like the obvious choice. I found a wonderful recipe in The Settlement Cookbook.

SUSAN

My mother used to cook from that book. I remember the cover. The Way to a Man’s Heart, it said in big letters.

VIRGINIA

We’ll eat as soon as the kids get here. By the way, John just texted us to say they were running a bit late.

BEN

I love lamb. The Pinot should go perfectly with it. Maybe open it a half hour before we eat, let it breathe a little. (He hands it to Virginia.)

VIRGINIA

Oh. So nice. Only …

BEN

You think white would go better? I could see that working. A nice oaked Chardonnay perhaps. Don’t worry, I won’t be offended if you have a nice white you think would go better.

VIRGINIA

I’m sorry, I should have had John tell you. We don’t drink alcohol. We don’t use it in our church for communion out of respect for recovering alcoholics and I guess we just got used to not having it. We saw first-hand what alcohol can do to people. Terrible. I never liked wine that much anyway. I prefer sweet things.

JACK

But of course, you Ben and Susan are more than welcome to drink it with the meal. We have no theological objections. I know that J.J. occasionally indulges.

SUSAN

J.J? Is that what you call him? That’s cute. (Her phone buzzes