INT.AIRPORT ? LUGGAGE PICK UP
Ripley picks up a black and white Adidas gym bag. Izzy and Christina each have small suitcases with wheels. Derek picks up a large suitcase and a small one on wheels.
������������������������ MEREDITH
��������� What did you bring?
������������������������ DEREK
��������� Clothes. What did you bring?
������������������������ MEREDITH
��������� An empty suitcase.
������������������������ DEREK
Really? Well, that will make for an interesting Christmas morning.
�������������� MADELINE
DEREK!
Madeline runs over wearing a black blazer, black skirt, red satin shirt and heels. Her hair is pulled up into what was once a neat bun, but tendrils have since fallen out.
������������������������ DEREK
��������� Madeline!
Derek pulls Madeline into a warm hug.
������������������������ RIPLEY
��������� Original McSister?
������������������������ MEREDITH
��������� Yes.
������������������������ MADELINE
��������� Meredith. It?s good to see you again.
Madeline gives Meredith a quick hug, too.
������������������������ DEREK
��������� Maddy, this is Izzy, Christina and Ripley.
������������������������ MADELINE
We met at Thanksgiving. But it?s nice to meet you again.
Madeline loops her arms through Meredith?s and Derek?s.
������������������������ MADELINE
Come on. Mom is just twitching to meet you guys.
�������������� DEREK
Twitching?
�������������� MADELINE
Twitching. It?s my new word. Carrie is too, for that matter.
�������������� DEREK
I thought Carrie didn?t believe in divorce.
�������������� MADELINE
Oh, she doesn?t but she?s dying to meet Ripley.
�������������� RIPLEY
Me?
���� ��������� MADELINE
She?s a Neuropsychologist, too. She?s dying to talk to you about the studies you?ve been doing. Especially since Derek said you were helping him with a patient recently.
�������������� RIPLEY
So, Madeline. What do you do?
�������������� MADELINE
Please, call me Maddy. Only Mom calls me Madeline. When she?s mad. I?m a General Practitioner.
�������������� IZZY
Is there anyone in your family that?s NOT a doctor?
�������������� DEREK
Just mom. She was a nurse.
�������������� MADELINE
So, we?re going to get you three to the hotel and drop your bags off, then Mom has this big elaborate dinner planned.
�������������� DEREK
But Christmas isn?t until tomorrow.
�������������� MADELINE
You know how Mom is. The queen of hospitality.
�������������� DEREK
Same ole Mom.
�������������� MADELINE
She?ll never change. I?m genuinely surprised she could get the whole crew together for two days in a row. She is kinda pissed, though. She?s been fuming since you blew the family off last year and this year for Thanksgiving. And Christmas last year. You?ve got a lot of making up to do bro.
�������������� DEREK
I had to work.
�������������� MADELINE
This is Mom we?re talking about here. The one who believes you can move mountains. The chosen one. The only son to carry on the magnificent Sheppard name.
�������������� DEREK
Now, you?re just playing it up.
�������������� MADELINE
I wish.
INT. MRS. SHEPPARD?S HOUSE ? FOYER
Madeline opens the door to the magnificently large house. Derek, Meredith, Izzy, Christina and Ripley all walk in, gawking a little bit.
������������������������ MADELINE
��������� Mom, we?re here!!
The house began to come alive with adult voices and children voices, then there were feet pounding and screams of ?Uncle Derek!? Several kids ranging from ages 5-10 came tearing for Derek and were immediately wrapped around his legs, trying to climb on his back. Four women entered next, one quite a bit older than the rest who was obviously Viola Sheppard, then four men. ����
������������������������ VIOLA
All right, all right. Settle down kids. I?m sure you?re uncle Derek would like to get his stuff settled. Plus, we have a fabulous dinner where we can introduce ourselves to the new guests.
�������������� MAGGIE
Ahhh. Grandma. Can?t we play with Uncle Derek? We haven?t seen him in forever!
�������������� VIOLA
That would be your Uncle Derek?s fault. You can tackle him after dinner.
There was a chorus of ?yay!?s and the kids were off again.
������������������������ VIOLA
Carrie, can you and Lena make sure the kids are all seated? Justin, Dan and Tony, go get settled in at the dinner table.
�������������� CARRIE
Yes, Mom.
�������������� VIOLA
My son. Come here.
Viola hugs Derek tightly before letting him go. Viola turns to Izzy.
������������������������ VIOLA
You must be Meredith. You?re just as beautiful as Derek described.
�������������� IZZY
Awkward. Actually I?m Isobel. Izzy.
�������������� VIOLA
Izzy? This is awkward.
�������������� DEREK
This is Christina and Ripley. And this wonderful creature here is Meredith.
Viola takes Meredith?s hands in her own and squeezes them until Meredith?s hands begin to hurt.
�������������� VIOLA
It?s finally nice to meet you after hearing all about you from Addison.
�������������� DEREK
I wouldn?t believe everything that Addison has to say.
�������������� VIOLA
We?ll see about that, Darling.
Viola lets go of Meredith?s hands and turns away towards the hallway.
�������������� VIOLA
Come, come. We have a fabulous dinner to eat.
Derek and Madeline exchange a look, Maddy looking severely innocent and Derek looking slightly irritated at the lack of warning of his mother?s feelings towards Meredith. Ripley follows close behind Viola and Derek and Meredith take up the rear of the group. Derek places his hand on the small of Meredith?s back and leans close to her ear.
������������������������ DEREK(whispering)
��������� Are you okay?
������������������������ MEREDITH
��������� Never better.
������������������������ DEREK
I had no idea how she was going to react to you.
�������������� MEREDITH
It?s fine. I?m fine. Everything is just fine.
The group enters the dining room and takes seats where they?re available around the large table.
������������������������ VIOLA
��������� Carrie, why don?t you say Grace?
������������������������ CARRIE
Sure Mom. Thank you our heavenly father for providing us with this fabulous meal in front of us. Thank you also for bringing Derek safely back to us and for him to bring the slutty intern that he slept with while he was still married to Addison with him for this meal. As well as all of her friends. Amen.
Derek could feel Meredith tense up next to him and shot a glance at Ripley, who?s mouth was set in a determined line, while Izzy?s and Christina?s mouths were slightly ajar.
������������������������ VIOLA
��������� Dig in!
������������������������ DEREK
Mom. You?re not going to say anything about that?
�������������� VIOLA
Carrie is entitled to her own opinion.
�������������� MADELINE
As long as it?s your opinion.
�������������� VIOLA
Maddy! That is not true.
�������������� DEREK
It is true. You don?t even know the whole story.
�������������� VIOLA
Honey, you won?t tell me the whole story. All I?ve received is what Addison-
�������������� MADELINE
Who is the most unreliable source in this whole ordeal. Why would you even believe anything that Addison said?
�������������� NATALIE
What else are we supposed to believe? We?ve got Addison and what Maddy told us from Thanksgiving.
�������������� DEREK
Maddy?
�������������� MADELINE
It was nothing but good things! Don?t even give me that look! I?m on your side.
�������������� RIPLEY
Why don?t we slow down here a minute and take a few deep breathes. Enjoy this fabulous meal in front of us. Preferably without throwing anything and talk about it civilly after dinner.
�������������� IZZY
I?m with her.
�������������� CHRISTINA
Me, too.
The table is quiet for a moment before Carrie, Natalie, Madeline, Viola, Nancy and Derek start yelling at each other.
������������������������ CHRISTINA(to Izzy)
Would it be rude to start eating while the host is fighting?
�������������� IZZY
No more rude than the fighting.
�������������� CHRISTINA
Excellent.
Christina digs into her food. Ripley looks at Meredith who looks a little shocked about the whole fight. Ripley mouths ?are you okay?? and Meredith responds with a slight nod and a sigh. Meredith squeezes Derek?s hand rather forcefully to get his attention.
������������������������ MEREDITH
Excuse me! Since this fight is about me? I was kind of thrown into this situation with Derek and Addison with no warning. I had no idea that they were married and honestly, I never tried to break them up. Regardless of what has been said about me.
�������������� CARRIE
How could you not have known that he was married?
�������������� DEREK
I stopped wearing my wedding rings the night that I found Addison and Mark together.
�������������� NATALIE
Shame on Addie for screwing Mark, but honestly. He?s like the town bicycle. Everyone?s had a ride at least once. He?s a right of passage in New York.
�������������� VIOLA
Natalie!
�������������� NATALIE
Mom. Stop that holier than thou attitude. I know even you took a ride on Mark.
�������������� DEREK
WHAT?!?
�������������� CARRIE
Before we were married, yes. Come on Derek. He changed women about as often as I change my underwear.
�������������� IZZY (Christina)
I like Sheppard family functions. They?re kinda fun.
�������������� CHRISTINA
Better than Hanukah at my house.
�������������� DEREK
You all say shame on me for leaving Addison, but did you know that she stayed with him? For a few months before she came crawling back to Seattle?
�������������� VIOLA
We didn?t know that.
�������������� DEREK
No. You didn?t.
�������������� CARRIE
Derek, it?s just that you?re on the other side of the continent now. And there?s a lot of stuff you?ve stopped telling us. You used to tell us everything. We?ve never seen you like this before.
�������������� DEREK
Why don?t we eat? Mom has made this amazing meal and it?s going to go cold if we keep fighting like this.
Ripley?s phone goes off and everyone at the table turns to look at her while she stuffs food into her mouth. She takes her phone out of her pocket, sees that the call is from George. Hits end and closes her phone back up and continues eating. She finally looks up to see everyone staring at her.
������������������������ RIPLEY
What? I?m sorry Mrs. Sheppard. But the food on the plane was absolutely gross and this food just smelled so fabulous and I was positively starving?
�������������� VIOLA
Let?s dig in. And call me Viola, dear.
A small smile plays at the corner of Viola?s lips while she motions to the food.
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