Seder, the Sundance Movie by Chaim Haas

HE YOUNGEST CHILD: You guys, does tonight seem … different?

(A beat.)

THE MOTHER: Different how, honey?

THE YOUNGEST CHILD: Nothing. It’s not different. Never mind.

THE MOTHER: No, if there’s something—

THE OLDEST CHILD: You always do this.

THE MOTHER: Let her—

THE YOUNGEST CHILD: What? What do I always do? Tell me.

THE FATHER: Doesn’t seem different so far.

THE OLDEST CHILD: Excuse me?

THE YOUNGEST CHILD: (to oldest child ) You’re dipping your food.

THE OLDEST CHILD: Am I?

THE MOTHER: I tried. I tried with both of you, I swear to—

THE YOUNGEST CHILD: Why is everyone leaning back like that?

THE FATHER: I’m not leaning back.

THE YOUNGEST CHILD: You were. Everyone was. Then I said that and you all—

THE MOTHER: (measured ) I want to know what you meant about this night being different. You opened the topic and—

THE OLDEST CHILD: You’re playing her game now. She’s got you—

THE MOTHER: I’m asking her.

(A beat.)

THE YOUNGEST CHILD: O.K., well, this bread. It’s not leavened.

THE FATHER: I like this bread. It reminds me of that time we were driving in Arizona, you remember, in the desert—

THE OLDEST CHILD: Do not tell the bread story.

THE FATHER: O.K. I didn’t … (A beat.) Fuck.

He fills his glass with Mogen David.

THE MOTHER: You might want to go easy on that. I mean—it’s very sweet.

THE YOUNGEST CHILD: Yeah, he’s drinking it for the flavor.

The father drinks the wine, gets up.

THE OLDEST CHILD: Where are you going?

THE FATHER: To close the door. Somebody left the door open.

THE MOTHER: (almost inaudible) That’s for Elijah.

THE OLDEST CHILD: Oh, wonderful. We’re going to talk about Elijah now.

Sound offscreen of a door slamming. They knew it was coming, but it’s startling anyway. A moment, then:

THE YOUNGEST CHILD: These herbs are really bitter.

They look at one another.

BLACKOUT.