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INT. MIRANDA’S DORM ROOM – NIGHT

Miranda sits on her bed, Toozie sits at the desk.

TOOZIE

Thanksgiving sorta sucks when you have to stay at college.

MIRANDA

Everyone goes home and the dining halls close, as does everything else.

TOOZIE

And I was hungry and lonely and thought you might be as well, so I came by and brought what food I could.

Toozie reaches into her sweatshirt pocket and pulls out two sardine cans, which she hands to Miranda to inspect.

MIRANDA

What is this, Toozie?

TOOZIE

Fish of some kind, beyond that I don’t know.

MIRANDA

What language is this label printed in?

TOOZIE

I’m afraid I don’t know that either.

Miranda LAUGHS.

MIRANDA

Well, it’s protein anyway. Look…

Miranda takes down a can of some kind and a hot pot from a shelf.

MIRANDA

I have one can of soup, and I have some crackers which I hope aren’t too stale, and we can pool our resources and have our own little thanksgiving dinner.

TOOZIE

Sounds good to me.

MIRANDA

I’ll fetch what’s necessary.

The women speak as the action goes on: Miranda fetches two bowels and spoons and a box of crackers. She plugs in the hot pot, pops the lid off the can of soup, and pour it in to heat.

TOOZIE

So why didn’t you go home like everyone else?

MIRANDA

Scholarship student. My financial aid only pays for two trips home a year, and I’d rather go home at Christmas. You?

TOOZIE

Well, I…

(contemplates for a moment)

I don’t have parents to go home to. They died in a car accident when I was twelve.

Miranda stops her preparations, shocked, genuinely sympathetic.

MIRANDA

Oh, Toozie, I didn’t know! I’m so sorry…

TOOZIE

It was hard, but for me it’s just something I’ve grown to accept. And I suppose at least now the loss of my parents is over. It’s not something I ever have to spend time dreading.

MIRANDA

Still, that’s terrible.

TOOZIE

I get to spend my Thanksgiving with you.

Miranda looks deeply moved, and almost as if she is about to cry.

TOOZIE

After Mama and Baba died I was brought up by an aunt and uncle who I don’t think liked me very much. Enough was left from my parents’ estate to pay for my schooling, so aunt and uncle packed me off to boarding school and I didn’t see very much of them.

MIRANDA

That’s really sad.

TOOZIE

The point is, I guess, that I don’t really feel like going “home.” I have plenty of studying to do.

Toozie pulls a lid off one of the cans of fish, sniffs it.

TOOZIE

It is…fish?

(looks up at Miranda)

Do you want to know something, Miranda?

MIRANDA

Yes, sure.

TOOZIE

This might be a very meager and humble meal, had by us in this big empty lonely dorm on a dark November night and yet…this is the first Thanksgiving in a long time when I’ve actually felt thankful for something.

MIRANDA

Oh, Toozie.

Miranda gives Toozie a big hug.

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